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Oxymorphone (brand name Opana) is a strong prescription opioid for moderate to severe pain, a semi-synthetic derivative of morphine that is notably more potent. It is a full mu-opioid agonist, giving pain relief, euphoria, sedation and respiratory depression. It has a high abuse and overdose potential and, like all strong opioids, is reversible by naloxone.
- Strong pain relief
- Euphoria
- Sedation
- Respiratory depression
- Constipation and nausea
- Dependence and withdrawal
- Dangerous with alcohol or benzodiazepines
Mechanism
Oxymorphone is a semi-synthetic morphine derivative and a full at the mu-opioid receptor, the target underlying opioid analgesia, euphoria, sedation and slowed breathing. It is more potent than morphine, so it is active at smaller doses. 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, oxymorphone's central danger is respiratory depression, especially at higher doses or in people without tolerance, and it is deadly combined with other depressants such as benzodiazepines and alcohol. Alcohol can also cause dangerous dose-dumping from some extended-release formulations. Regular use leads to tolerance, dependence and withdrawal. Naloxone can reverse an overdose. Not medical advice.
Interactionsdocumented pairs only, not exhaustive
The interaction that kills is with other CNS depressants. Benzodiazepines, alcohol, gabapentinoids, sedating antihistamines and other opioids compound respiratory depression and sedation, and this combination dominates opioid mortality statistics.
Alcohol has a second, formulation-specific effect. Ethanol disrupts the extended-release matrix and causes dose dumping, delivering a large fraction of the dose at once and widening variability between people. The contrast is instructive: hydromorphone's osmotic extended-release product does not dose dump the way oxymorphone's does.
Oxymorphone is cleared by glucuronidation and reduction rather than CYP oxidation, so it sidesteps most of the CYP3A4 and CYP2D6 problems that complicate oxycodone and codeine.
Mixed agonist-antagonists and partial agonists such as buprenorphine, nalbuphine and butorphanol displace it at the mu receptor and can precipitate withdrawal. MAO inhibitors are contraindicated within two weeks. Anticholinergics add to urinary retention and ileus.
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Subjective profileweighing the evidence above
A strong prescription opioid for severe pain that belongs under a prescriber's control and nowhere else. Full mu-agonism brings respiratory depression, tolerance, dependence and withdrawal, and mixing it with benzodiazepines or alcohol is a common way people die. Naloxone reverses an overdose.
Resources
No suppliers are provided for compounds like this. This entry is here for reference.
Research
- 1.Ketorolac, Oxymorphone, Tapentadol, and Tramadol: A Comprehensive Review.
- 2.Recent Chemical and Pharmacological Developments on 14-Oxygenated-N-methylmorphinan-6-ones.
2 listed here; entry last updated August 2026
Reviews
My notesprivate to this device
FAQ
How does oxymorphone compare to oxycodone?
They are related, but oxymorphone is more potent and is one of oxycodone's active metabolites; both are strong mu-opioid agonists.
What is it prescribed for?
Moderate to severe pain, in immediate- and extended-release forms.
Does naloxone reverse it?
Yes. It is a mu-opioid agonist, so the antagonist naloxone can reverse an overdose.
Adverse effects
- Respiratory depression
- Constipation and nausea
- Dependence and withdrawal
- Dangerous with alcohol or benzodiazepines