acetorphine

Acetorphine is a highly potent synthetic opioid analgesic, structurally related to etorphine and classified as a morphinan derivative. It was developed in 1966 by the Reckitt research group for use as a strong tranquilizer in veterinary medicine, specifically for immobilizing large animals such as elephants and giraffes. Acetorphine is up to 8,700 times more potent than morphine by weight. Although it demonstrated some advantages over etorphine—such as producing fewer toxic side effects in certain species—it was never widely adopted for veterinary use. Its mechanism of action is presumed to be similar to other opioids of its class, acting primarily as an agonist at mu, delta, and kappa opioid receptors. Acetorphine is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance in the United States and is similarly restricted or prohibited in many other countries due to its high potential for abuse and lack of accepted medical use[1][3][5][7].

Other names

acetorfina