Brorphine Facts
Opioid;
Description
Brorphine (3-[1-[1-(4-bromophenyl)ethyl]piperidin-4-yl]-1H-benzimidazol-2-one) is a synthetic opioid of the piperidine benzimidazolone class. It activates opioid receptors in the brain, suppressing pain signals and slowing the drive to breathe.[1]
Subjective effects include deep pain suppression, euphoria, heavy sedation, warmth, and complete suppression of distress. The experience is defined by what it removes — pain, anxiety, and awareness of the body fade into a quiet, weighted calm.
Brorphine carries high abuse liability, and standard naloxone doses may not fully reverse its respiratory depression.[2] Every documented death involved fentanyl and benzodiazepines — brorphine has not been found in illicit supply as a standalone drug.[3]
Dose and durationby route · individual sensitivity varies
Starts in 5 – 15 minLasts 4 – 8 hoursAfter-effects 4 – 12 hours
Body and dependence
- Acute toxicity
- Critical
- Chronic toxicity
- High
- Physical dependence
- High
- Psychological dependence
- High
- Withdrawal
- Severe · medical supervision
- Compulsive redosing
- High
Tolerance
- Builds
- Rapid
- Fully resets after
- 14 days
- Carries over to
- morphine;
fentanyl; hydromorphone; methadone; heroin; oxycodone
Effectslikely at a common dose
- Perception
- Dreaming suppression;
Sleep-transition hallucinations; +5 possible, including Spatial disorientation, Vestibular distortion, Visual acuity suppression - Body
- Muscle relaxation;
Bodily heaviness; Body high; Breathing alteration; Constipation; Pain suppression; Pupil constriction; Respiratory depression; +17 possible, including Dizziness, Motor control impairment, Nausea - Thinking
- Cognitive fatigue;
Cognitive impairment; Focus suppression; Information processing suppression; Thought deceleration; +12 possible, including Analysis suppression, Compulsive redosing urge, Decision impairment - Feeling
- Euphoria;
+2 possible - Self
- none likely · 6 possible, including Craving, Communication suppression, Social disconnection
- Time
- none likely · 2 possible, including Temporal disorientation
Who shouldn't take it
Combinations60 recorded
Seek help immediately if
- Unresponsive / can't be woken, even to a firm sternal rub
- Slow, shallow, or stopped breathing
- Pinpoint pupils
- Blue/grey lips, fingertips, or skin (cyanosis)
- Limp body; pale, clammy skin
- Choking or gurgling sounds ("death rattle")
- Slow, erratic, or absent pulse
What to do
- Try to wake them — shout their name, firm sternal rub
- Call emergency services immediately
- Administer naloxone if available
- Give rescue breaths (or CPR if there is no pulse)
- Place them in the recovery position
- Stay with them; re-dose naloxone every 2–3 minutes if there is no response
- Reversal agent
- Naloxone (Narcan) — opioid antagonist. May require repeated doses; its effect can wear off before the opioid does.
With prompt naloxone and rescue breathing, reversal is usually rapid. Because naloxone can wear off before the opioid — especially with long-acting opioids (methadone) or high-potency ones (fentanyl) — a period of monitoring is needed even after the person revives.
988 Suicide & Crisis LifelineFireside Project: 62-FIRESIDE
References
- [1]^Vandeputte MM, Cannaert A, Stove CP (2020) In vitro functional characterization of a panel of non-fentanyl opioid new psychoactive substances — Archives of Toxicology doi:10.1007/s00204-020-02855-7
- [2]^Vandeputte MM, Bilel S, Tirri M, Corli G, Bassi M, Layle NK, Fantinati A, Walther D, Iula DM, Baumann MH, Stove CP, Marti M (2024) Elucidating the harm potential of brorphine analogues as new synthetic opioids: Synthesis, in vitro, and in vivo characterization — Neuropharmacology doi:10.1016/j.neuropharm.2024.110113
- [3]^Krotulski AJ, Papsun DM, Noble C, Kacinko SL, Logan BK (2021) Brorphine-Investigation and quantitation of a new potent synthetic opioid in forensic toxicology casework using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry — Journal of Forensic Sciences doi:10.1111/1556-4029.14623