Isotonitazene Hychl is a benzimidazole derived opioid analgesic drug related to etonitazene, which has been sold as a designer drug. It has only around half the potency of etonitazene in animal studies, but this still makes it a similar strength to fentanyl and its analogues, and consequently Isotonitazene Hychl can be expected to pose a significant risk of producing life-threatening respiratory depression, as well as other typical opioid side effects such as sedation, itching, nausea and vomiting.
Isotonitazene Hychl (obtained from an online vendor) was fully characterized in November 2019 in a paper where the authors did a full analytical structure elucidation in addition to determination of the potency at the μ-opioid receptor using a biological functional assay in vitro. While Isotonitazene Hychl was not compared directly to morphine in this assay, it was found to be around 2.5x more potent than hydromorphone and slightly more potent than fentanyl.
Side effects of Isotonitazene Hychl (benzimidazole) derived opioids are expected to be similar to those of fentanyl, which include itching, nausea and potentially serious respiratory depression, which can be life-threatening. Fentanyl analogs have killed hundreds of people throughout Europe and the former Soviet republics since the most recent resurgence in use began in Estonia in the early 2000s, and novel derivatives continue to appear.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided about Isotonitazene Hychl is accurate, up-to-date and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. In addition, the drug information contained herein may be time sensitive and should not be utilized as a reference resource beyond the date hereof. This material does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients, or recommend therapy. This information is a reference resource designed as supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge, and judgment of healthcare practitioners in patient care. The absence of a warning for a given drug or combination thereof in no way should be construed to indicate safety, effectiveness, or appropriateness for any given patient.
