Heroin

Category: alkaloid

Aliases: diamorphine, diacetylmorphine, smack

Pharmacological Mechanism

Diacetylmorphine — a lipophilic morphine prodrug that crosses the blood-brain barrier rapidly, then is deacetylated to 6-monoacetylmorphine and morphine, the active µ-opioid agonists. The fast onset accounts for the intense "rush"; effects (analgesia, euphoria, respiratory depression) are morphine-mediated.

Half-Life (t½)

IV: 0.05h

Dosing Guidelines

Target Organ Systems