Oxymorphol is

oxymorphone Oxymorphone (sold under the brand names Numorphan and Opana among others) is a highly potent opioid analgesic indicated for treatment of severe pain. Pain relief after injection begins after about 5–10 minutes, after oral administration it beg ...

which has been hydrogenated at the 6-position and consists of a mixture of 4,5α-Epoxy-17-methylmorphinan-3,6β,14-triol and 4,5α-Epoxy-17-methylmorphinan-3,6α,14-triol (

hydromorphinol Hydromorphinol (RAM-320, 14-Hydroxydihydromorphine), also is an opiate analogue that is a derivative of morphine, where the 14-position has been hydroxylated and the 7,8- double bond saturated. It has similar effects to morphine such as sedation ...

). . It is produced by the human body as an active metabolite of

and some bacteria as an intermediate in turning

morphine Morphine is a strong opiate that is found naturally in opium, a dark brown resin in poppies (''Papaver somniferum''). It is mainly used as a analgesic, pain medication, and is also commonly used recreational drug, recreationally, or to make ...

into

hydromorphone Hydromorphone, also known as dihydromorphinone, and sold under the brand name Dilaudid among others, is an opioid used to treat moderate to severe pain. Typically, long-term use is only recommended for pain due to cancer. It may be used by mou ...

. It can also be manufactured and is the subject of patents by drug companies looking for new semi-synthetic analgesics and cough suppressants. A derivative of oxymorphol, 8-hydroxy-6-α-oxymorphol, was discovered in the first decade of this century and the subject of a patent application by Endo for an analgesic and antitussive.

References

{{Opioidergics 4,5-Epoxymorphinans Opioid metabolites Semisynthetic opioids Mu-opioid receptor agonists