2020/09/02 by Emanuele Amorim Alves · 1 citation
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Computer Science · Medicine · Neuroscience · #Amputation #Analgesic #Biology #Codeine #Computational Drug Discovery Methods #Drug #Gangrene #Heroin #Medicine #Morphine #Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior #Pharmacological Receptor Mechanisms and Effects #Pharmacology #Psychiatry #Surgery #Toxicology
paper · doi:10.1021/acschemneuro.0c00495
openalex publication_date 2020/09/02 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/15
Krokodil is the street name for a homemade mixture that has been used as a cheap substitute for heroin. The main active substance in krokodil is desomorphine, an opioid that is 10 times more potent than morphine. Krokodil use began in Russia and Ukraine but has spread throughout several countries in Europe and North America. Krokodil is produced from codeine tablets in a bootleg reaction performed under clandestine and unsanitary conditions. The toxicity of krokodil is characterized by devastating symptoms that start as black ulcers at the injection site and evolve to gangrene and limb amputation. The dangerous effects of krokodil are associated with its homemade nature and lack of purification prior to use. In this review, we discuss the chemical and pharmacological properties and the metabolism of desomorphine, the preparation of krokodil, and how its homemade nature contributes to its toxicity. The synthesis of krokodil produces several other morphinans in addition to desomorphine that warrant further study as possible analgesic alternatives to morphine.