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Desomorphine is a potent semi-synthetic opioid derived from morphine, notorious in its crude homemade form 'krokodil'. It is a strong mu-opioid agonist with fast onset, short duration and heavy sedation. Its reputation for severe tissue damage comes largely from the toxic solvents and byproducts in home synthesis rather than the molecule itself, but as an opioid it carries the full overdose and dependence risk; naloxone reverses it.
- Strong pain relief
- Rapid euphoria
- Sedation
- Dangerous respiratory depression
- Severe tissue damage from crude 'krokodil' synthesis
- Fast, heavy dependence
- Short duration driving compulsive redosing
Mechanism
Desomorphine is a morphine derivative that acts as a potent full at the mu-opioid receptor, producing analgesia, euphoria, sedation and respiratory depression. It is several times more potent than morphine with a faster onset and shorter duration, which drives frequent redosing. As a mu-opioid drug it is reversible by the naloxone.
receptor fingerprint
Mu-opioid receptorFull agonist
Safetyrisks and cautions, not medical advice
As a potent opioid, desomorphine carries a high risk of respiratory depression and overdose, made worse by its short duration and the redosing it encourages. Combined with other depressants such as benzodiazepines and alcohol it can be fatal. The homemade 'krokodil' preparation is especially harmful because the impure mixture contains caustic solvents and byproducts that cause severe tissue and vein damage; this is a consequence of crude synthesis, not the opioid effect itself. Naloxone can reverse an opioid overdose. Not medical advice.
Subjective profileweighing the evidence above
Nothing to recommend. It is a potent, short-acting opioid whose brevity drives compulsive redosing, dependence forms fast, and respiratory depression is how it kills, especially with alcohol or benzodiazepines. The crude street preparation adds the caustic solvents behind its worst reputation.
Resources
No suppliers are provided for compounds like this. This entry is here for reference.
Research
- 1.The harmful chemistry behind krokodil (desomorphine) synthesis and mechanisms of toxicity.
- 2.DARK Classics in Chemical Neuroscience: Heroin and Desomorphine.
2 listed here; entry last updated August 2026
Reviews
My notesprivate to this device
FAQ
What is krokodil?
It is a crude, homemade desomorphine preparation; most of its horrific tissue damage comes from the toxic solvents and byproducts of the makeshift synthesis, not from desomorphine itself.
How potent is it?
It is a strong mu-opioid agonist, several times more potent than morphine, with a fast onset and short duration.
Does naloxone work on it?
Yes. It is a mu-opioid agonist, so the antagonist naloxone can reverse an overdose.
Adverse effects
- Dangerous respiratory depression
- Severe tissue damage from crude 'krokodil' synthesis
- Fast, heavy dependence
- Short duration driving compulsive redosing