Ethylmorphine Facts
Opioid;
Description
Ethylmorphine (codethyline) — also known as dionine — is a semi-synthetic opioid of the morphinan class. The liver converts it to morphine, which activates opioid receptors and produces the pain suppression and sedation characteristic of the opioid class.
Subjective effects include pain relief, warmth, bodily heaviness, mild euphoria, sedation, and anxiolysis. The experience is gentler than morphine — onset is gradual and the ceiling lower, reflecting the metabolic bottleneck of liver conversion.
Ethylmorphine produces physical dependence with regular use, and the fatal blood concentration is roughly nine times the level found in impaired drivers.[1][2] Genetics determine how much morphine the body makes from a given dose,[3] and combining with alcohol creates a dual-mechanism lethal risk.[4]
Dose and durationby route · individual sensitivity varies
Starts in 20 – 45 minLasts 4 – 5 hoursAfter-effects 2 – 6 hours
Body and dependence
- Acute toxicity
- Moderate
- Chronic toxicity
- Moderate
- Physical dependence
- High
- Psychological dependence
- High
- Withdrawal
- Moderate · medical supervision
- Compulsive redosing
- Moderate
Tolerance
- Builds
- Moderate
- Fully resets after
- 1.5 weeks
- Carries over to
- morphine;
codeine; oxycodone; hydrocodone; heroin; all mu-opioid agonists
Effectslikely at a common dose
- Perception
- none likely · 4 possible, including Spatial disorientation, Visual acuity suppression
- Body
- Muscle relaxation;
Body high; Constipation; Pain suppression; Pupil constriction; Sedation; +16 possible, including Respiratory depression, Dizziness, Motor control impairment - Thinking
- none likely · 15 possible, including Cognitive impairment, Analysis suppression, Decision impairment
- Feeling
- none likely · 3 possible
- Self
- none likely · 5 possible, including Craving, Social disconnection, Communication suppression
- Time
- none likely · 2 possible, including Temporal disorientation
Who shouldn't take it
Combinations62 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]^Kintz P, Jamey C, Mangin P (1994) Ethylmorphine concentrations in human samples in an overdose case — Archives of Toxicology PMID:8024470
- [2]^Jones AW, Holmgren A, Kugelberg FC (2008) Driving under the influence of opiates: concentration relationships between morphine, codeine, 6-acetyl morphine, and ethyl morphine in blood — Journal of Analytical Toxicology PMID:18430293
- [3]^Hedenmalm K, Sundgren M, Granberg K, Spigset O, Dahlqvist R (1997) Urinary excretion of codeine, ethylmorphine, and their metabolites: relation to the CYP2D6 activity — Therapeutic Drug Monitoring PMID:9421105
- [4]^Xu BQ, Aasmundstad TA, Lillekjendlie B, Bjørneboe A, Christophersen AS, Mørland J (1997) Effects of ethanol on ethylmorphine metabolism in isolated rat hepatocytes: characterization by means of a multicompartmental model — Pharmacology & Toxicology PMID:9140136