white → orange2 → purple2
dose.wiki is still in beta. Entries may contain inaccuracies and/or lack citations. See our docs for more info.
WARNINGDANGER OF DEATH
High doses alone or ordinary doses in combination with other depressants can fatally stop breathing.
Ethylmorphine
3-Ethylmorphine
Codethyline, Dionine, Ethyl morphine
Ethylmorphine is a semi-synthetic opioid of the morphinan classcitation needed, first created by Merck in 1884 as a weaker alternative to morphine. Its potency is generally placed below morphine and somewhat above codeine, a closely related compound. Today, ethylmorphine is most commonly encountered as an antitussive ingredient in cough syrup preparations1 and is also used in ophthalmic preparations2 to treat eye inflammations.
Dosage & Duration
Dosage
Doses are population estimates that vary widely between individuals.
Threshold~20 mg
Light20-50 mg
Moderate50-100 mg
Strong100-200 mg
Heavy200+ mg
Duration
Onset15-30 minutes
Peak2-3 hours
After Effects1-6 hours
Total4-5 hours
Subjective Effects
Legacy content. A statistically backed ontology from Mindstate Design Labs is coming soon.
Effects vary widely by individual, dose, and context.
Physical
The cognitive effects of ethylmorphine can be broken down into several components which progressively intensify proportional to dosage. The general head space of codeine is described by many as one of intense euphoria, relaxation, anxiety suppression and pain relief.
Cognitive
The physical effects of ethylmorphine can be broken down into several components which progressively intensify proportional to dosage.
Pharmacology
Pharmacodynamics
Ethylmorphine produces its effects primarily through activation of μ-opioid receptors, an action mediated largely by its active metabolites, particularly morphine.citation needed The substance has been described as less potent than morphine but slightly more potent than codeine.
Pharmacokinetics
Ethylmorphine functions as a prodrug that requires metabolic conversion to generate its active form, most notably morphine.citation needed As with codeine, there is an upper limit on how much of the parent compound can be converted into its active metabolite.
Dangerous
Highest riskThese combinations are considered extremely harmful and should always be avoided. Reactions to these drugs taken in combination are highly unpredictable and have a potential to cause death.
Unsafe
AvoidThere is considerable risk of physical harm when taking these combinations, they should be avoided where possible.
Caution
Use cautionThese combinations are not usually physically harmful, but may produce undesirable effects, such as physical discomfort or overstimulation. Extreme use may cause physical health issues. Synergistic effects may be unpredictable. Care should be taken when choosing to use this combination.
Tolerance
Tolerance timelines are rules of thumb, not exact schedules, and vary widely between individuals and use patterns.
Full Tolerance
Ethylmorphine tolerance can develop for many effects after ongoing repeated use. Different effects show different timelines, and tolerance to constipation tends to emerge more slowly than tolerance to other opioid effects.
Baseline Reset
1-2 weeks
Half Tolerance
3-7 days
Cross Tolerance
All other opioids
Harm Potential
Addiction & Dependence
Psychological
HighEthylmorphine has a high potential for abuse and can cause psychological dependence with chronic use.citation needed Compulsive redosing is commonly reported, and cravings develop once addiction forms.
Physical
HighPhysical dependence develops with chronic use, with withdrawal symptoms occurring upon sudden cessation.4 Chemical dependence may develop particularly at higher doses.citation needed
Toxicity
Central Nervous System
Long-term chronic use may result in cognitive and affective changes including memory loss and apathy.
History & Culture
Ethylmorphine is a semi-synthetic opioid first synthesized by the pharmaceutical company Merck in 1884. It was developed as a weaker alternative to morphine for therapeutic applications.…
Legality
International
Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs 1961 (Schedule III)
By Country
Controlled / restricted4
United StatesSchedule II/III/V (varies by preparation)Pure ethylmorphine is Schedule II.21 Combination products containing no more than 3mg/mL (or 15mg per dosage unit with non-narcotic ingredients) are Schedule III.22 Preparations with 1mg/mL or less are Schedule V.23 Despite this scheduling structure paralleling codeine, no ethylmorphine preparations are currently marketed for medical use.
GermanyAnlage II BtMG
United KingdomClass BControlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 as a Class B substance, the same classification as codeine.20 However, unlike codeine, no legal pharmaceutical preparations containing ethylmorphine are currently available.
Prescription4
FrancePrescription onlyFrench List II prescription-only medicine framework7
A valid ethylmorphine product is dispensed only by prescription under List II. The Ministry database recording this was updated 3 August 2026.
RussiaPrescription onlyGovernment Resolution No. 681 of 30 June 1998 (current consolidated Roszdravnadzor copy, as amended by Government Resolution No. 880 of 11 June 2025; List II); Federal Law No. 3-FZ of 8 January 1998, Articles 1, 2 and 14; Ministry of Health Order No. 1094n of 24 November 2021 (prescribing and prescription forms, effective through 1 March 2028); Ministry of Health Order No. 100n of 7 March 2025, Annex 2 (dispensing rules, effective 1 September 2025 through 1 September 2031); Government Resolution No. 1002 of 1 October 2012 (criminal-law quantity thresholds, edition 11 June 2025); Criminal Code Articles 228 and 228.1 (edition 4 August 2026).1011121314151617
Ethylmorphine is classified as a Schedule II controlled substance under Russian drug control legislation. Resolution No. 681 lists ethylmorphine in List II and includes generic isomer/stereoisomer/salt clauses. Government Resolution No. 880 is the latest amendment instrument for Resolution No. 681. Resolution No. 1002 establishes criminal-law quantity thresholds. Order No. 1094n governs prescribing and prescription forms, and Order No. 100n governs dispensing. The quantity table sets ethylmorphine thresholds at 0.5/2.5/500 g, and Article 228/228.1 consequences depend on conduct and quantity. Lawful medicinal dispensing does not include unregistered ethylmorphine products in Russia.
References
Source Pages
Citations
- Cosylan «Viatris». Felleskatalogen (n.d.). https://www.felleskatalogen.no/medisin/cosylan-viatris-54767612
- PubChem Compound Summary for CID 5359271, Ethylmorphine. National Center for Biotechnology Information (n.d.). https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/53592711
- Aasmundstad TA, Mørland J, & Paulsen RE. (1995). Biotransformation and pharmacokinetics of ethylmorphine after a single oral dose. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 39(6), 611-620. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2125.1995.tb05720.x1
- Rosenthal RN, & Goradia VV. (2023). Opioid Withdrawal. StatPearls. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK526012/1
- Opioid induced hypogonadism. BMJ (2008). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2974597/1
- J. Hinshelwood. (1904). Dionine: A New Ocular Analgesic. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.1.2261.1009-a1
- VEGETOSERUM ADULTES, sirop — French Public Medicines Database. base-donnees-publique.medicaments.gouv.fr (n.d.). https://base-donnees-publique.medicaments.gouv.fr/medicament/68338784/extrait1
- Anlage II BtMG – verkehrsfähige, aber nicht verschreibungsfähige Betäubungsmittel. Bundesministerium der Justiz (n.d.). https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/btmg_1981/anlage_ii.html12
- Solvipect comp. «Orifarm Healthcare» – Felleskatalogen. Felleskatalogen (n.d.). https://www.felleskatalogen.no/medisin/solvipect-comp-orifarm-healthcare-5640221
- Roszdravnadzor consolidated text of Government Resolution No. 681 and its controlled-substances list. roszdravnadzor.gov.ru (n.d.). https://roszdravnadzor.gov.ru/i/upload/images/2026/3/30/1774879151.29078-1-3386659.pdf1
Further Reading
Article Status
Step 1 · Automated synthesisAn autonomous workflow built by Josie Kins compiled this article's foundation from information published across the web.
- Step 2 · First-pass review
A first pass manual review and edit of article prose and copy has been performed by subject-matter expert Lyrea. This does not guarantee factual accuracy. An additional human review for each of this article's citations is yet to be performed.
- Step 3 · Citation reviewPending
No one has reviewed this article's citations yet. That second pass checks each claim against the source it cites.
Recent changes8 human edits · latest
Times are UTCNewest first
16 August 2026
Lyrea · Changed a word in Dosage & Duration › Routes 1 › Dose ranges › Light
24 January 2026
Josie Kins · Updated the article · also 1,4-Butanediol, 1B-LSD, 1cP-AL-LAD and 573 more
Josie Kins · Updated the article · also 1,4-Butanediol, 1B-LSD, 1cP-AL-LAD and 573 more
Josie Kins · Updated the article · also 1,4-Butanediol, 1B-LSD, 1cP-AL-LAD and 573 more
Josie Kins · Updated the article · also 1,4-Butanediol, 1B-LSD, 1cP-AL-LAD and 573 more
Josie Kins · Updated the article · also 1,4-Butanediol, 1B-LSD, 1cP-AL-LAD and 573 more
Josie Kins · Updated the article · also 1,4-Butanediol, 1B-LSD, 1cP-AL-LAD and 573 more
Josie Kins · Updated the article · also 1,4-Butanediol, 1B-LSD, 1cP-AL-LAD and 573 more
Suggest an edit
Spotted a mistake, an outdated claim, or something missing from the Ethylmorphine article? Send the editors a private note. Feedback lands in a moderation queue and is never shown on the site.
Wish to give generalised feedback? You can do so here.