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Dermorphin

An extremely potent opioid peptide from frog skin, many times stronger than morphine, with all the risks of a strong opioid.

2 min read 10 sources

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Vial with white powder, a blue cap and a black TPD label for Dermorphin on a white podium, next to it a chain of blue and white glass spheres as a molecule model in a bright lab
Older studies, none registered · not approved

Summary

At a glance

Sources checked on 26 Oct 2026

Length
7 amino acids

heptapeptide from frog skin with a D-alanine, unusual for an animal peptide2

Stronger than morphine
670 -fold

pain relief when given into the brain, mice1

Prefers the μ receptor
88 -fold

binds 88 times more tightly to μ than to δ opioid receptors, rat brain1

Pain-free after surgery
43.4 hours

given into the spinal canal, morphine 34.5 hours, 150 patients, 19855

Trials in the registry
0 trials

no trial with dermorphin on ClinicalTrials.gov, as of 26 Oct 20269

  • Dermorphin is a peptide of seven building blocks from the skin of the South American monkey frog Phyllomedusa sauvagei. It contains a D-alanine, which is very rare in peptides from animals.2
  • It binds very tightly and almost exclusively to μ opioid receptors, the target of morphine. Given into the brain it relieved pain up to 670 times more strongly than morphine in mice and 752 to 2,170 times in rats.13
  • In rats continuous dosing led to tolerance and physical dependence with withdrawal signs as with morphine, somewhat less pronounced in an early paper.43
  • In a study with 150 people after surgery pain relief lasted 43 hours after a dose into the spinal canal, 34 hours with morphine. According to a review no further study in patients followed.57
  • Dermorphin is a highly potent opioid without approval and it has been detected as doping in horse racing. Everything here is the state of research and explicitly not a recommendation.98
Profile

Updated May 2026

Class
Opioid peptide

mu agonist

Use
Subcutaneous

in mcg

Potency
many times stronger than morphine
Status
High risk

opioid

Sizes
5 to 10 mg

2 sizes in the shop

Contents 15 sections
  1. At a glance
  2. What is Dermorphin?
  3. How it works
  4. What you need
  5. Reconstitution
  6. Dosing
  7. What the research shows
  8. Research status
  9. Side effects
  10. Practice
  11. Storage
  12. Related compounds
  13. FAQ
  14. Glossary
  15. Sources

What is Dermorphin?

Dermorphin is an opioid peptide originally from the skin of South American frogs. It is an extremely potent and selective agonist at the mu opioid receptor, the same receptor morphine acts on, just many times stronger.

Honestly and emphatically up front: dermorphin is a high-potency opioid. It has all the risks of strong opioids, including respiratory depression and dependence. This is not a harmless research peptide.

Comparison

Other routes against pain

Dermorphin next to lexicon entries that act differently against pain or tension. Tap a card to open its entry.

Opioid peptide, μ agonist Dermorphin MOR
Nerve pain drug, not an opioid Pregabalin (Lyrica) Muscle relaxant, not an opioid Cyclobenzaprine ER (Amrix)

Simplified. Only dermorphin is an opioid, with all the risks of a strong opioid.

How it works

Dermorphin binds very strongly and specifically to mu opioid receptors and through that produces a pronounced pain-relieving effect. In animal models it was many times more potent than morphine. But exactly this potency makes it dangerous: the dose margin between effect and dangerous respiratory depression is narrow.

Where it acts

Where dermorphin acts

Tap a point or a card. Colour = opioid receptor, grey = observed in studies.

  1. Brain

    Binds very tightly to μ opioid receptors, strongly pain-relieving (rats, mice)1

    MOR
  2. Spinal cord and pain reflex

    Clearly and lastingly raised the pain reflex threshold in healthy people, mainly via the spinal cord6

    Observed in trials
  3. Gut

    Inhibits muscle twitching in a gut preparation, 39 times stronger than morphine (guinea pigs)3

    MOR
  4. Heart and circulation

    Horses: excitation and faster heartbeat after dosing into a vein8

    Observed in trials

Known targets1

Compound CHEMBL278789: two described targets, type of action on each card.

μ opioid receptor
Gene
OPRM1
UniProt
P35372
ChEMBL
CHEMBL233
Action
Agonist with very high binding (Ki 0.7 nM, rat brain)
δ opioid receptor
Gene
OPRD1
UniProt
P41143
ChEMBL
CHEMBL236
Action
Much weaker binding (Ki 62 nM)
Glass web of nerve cells, two small blue molecules docking at a contact point
Dermorphin binds very strongly and selectively to mu opioid receptors. Symbolic image.

What you need

Supplies

2 things, numbered as in the picture

Tick off what you already have. Vial and BAC water are our real shop photos at the same size.

Dermorphin vial and bacteriostatic water at the same size with the black TPD label, next to two U-100 insulin syringes, two alcohol swabs and a sharps container with a blue lid

  1. Dermorphin vial

    The dermorphin vial (lyophilized powder).

    In the shop

  2. Water and supplies

    Bacteriostatic water, U-100 insulin syringes, alcohol swabs.

    In the shop

Reconstitution

Use the peptide calculator. A 5mg vial with 2ml water gives 2500mcg per ml. Just add the water to the vial and let it dissolve.

Step by step

Dissolving the powder

Four steps, the same for every vial size.

  1. 1Wipe the cap

    Clean the rubber stopper with an alcohol swab.

  2. 2Add BAC water

    Just add it, it does not matter if it hits the powder directly.

  3. 3Swirl or shake

    Until everything has dissolved, both are fine.

  4. 4Draw up

    With the U-100 insulin syringe.

Less water higher concentration fewer units on the syringe Example: 5 mg + 2 ml = 2.5 mg/ml

Dosing

Dosing

Dosing, titration and syringe

Loading the dosing information …

  • Getting started and stepping up, drawn as a staircase
  • Units on the U-100 syringe for every step
  • How long one vial lasts

What the research shows

A study (Amiche, 1990) characterized dermorphin's binding to mu opioid receptors and confirmed the high selectivity and affinity. That explains the strong pain-relieving effect. But there are no studies supporting safe self-use in humans, on the contrary, the opioid profile calls for the greatest caution.

Study results

What the trials measured

Interactive: switch tabs, tap points, show or hide arms. Arms are named relative to each other, no dosing advice.

How long pain relief lasted5

Time until more pain relief was requested, in hours, 150 patients after planned surgery

Single dose after surgery5 Dermorphin and morphine into the spinal canal
Usual dose into the muscle (pentazocine) 10.8 h
Morphine into the spinal canal 34.5 h
Dermorphin 43.4 h

Randomised and double-blind, values according to the abstract. Dosing into the spinal canal (intrathecal) is done only by a doctor in hospital. According to a later review no further study in patients was published after this one.

How much stronger than morphine31

Ratio of effective amounts, given into the brain or on tissue

Rats, given into the brain, test 13 Tail flick to heat
Dermorphin 752-fold
Rats, given into the brain, test 23 Hot plate
Dermorphin 2,170-fold
Mice, given into the brain1
Dermorphin 670-fold
Gut preparation, guinea pigs3 Inhibition of muscle twitching
Dermorphin 39-fold

The extreme values apply to dosing directly into the brain. At high amounts catalepsy occurred. The figures show strength at the receptor, not a safe amount for humans.

Glass section of spinal cord with a softly glowing core on the middle wire shelf of a cold room rack, stacked petri dishes all around
The strong binding to mu opioid receptors is documented, no study supports safe self-use. Symbolic image.

Research status

Where the research stands

From animal experiments to small human studies in the 1980s: none of them is registered and there is no approval. As of 26 Oct 2026. 9

  1. Preclinical Animal studies on pain, tolerance and dependence
  2. Phase 1 no registered trial
  3. Phase 2 no registered trial
  4. Phase 3 no registered trial
  5. Approval not yet
Not approved and no registered trial. In horse racing dermorphin has been detected in post-race samples.9

So far there is no registered trial in humans. 9

Side effects

  • Respiratory depression (life-threatening in overdose), the central risk of any strong opioid.
  • Dependence potential, tolerance development.
  • Nausea, sedation, constipation.

Tolerability

Side effects in the study after surgery

150 people after planned surgery, single dose. Values from a later review, according to the original paper the groups did not differ clearly.

18 of 100 Usual dose into the muscle (pentazocine)
30 of 100 Morphine into the spinal canal
26 of 100 Dermorphin
Event Usual dose into the muscle (pentazocine)Morphine into the spinal canalDermorphin
Urinary retention7 18%30%26%
Nausea and vomiting7 14%18%22%

A single dose in hospital under medical supervision. Neither abstract nor review mention respiratory depression, which is the central risk of every strong opioid and is listed in the regular entry.75

Practice

  • This is a high-potency opioid, not a lifestyle peptide, treat it accordingly.
  • Never combine with other breathing-suppressing agents (alcohol, benzodiazepines, other opioids).
  • When in doubt, leave it alone.
Bedside table with a glass of water, a closed white notebook and a green plant, a folded light blue blanket on the bed beside it
Highly potent opioid: never combine with alcohol, benzodiazepines or other opioids. Symbolic image.

Storage

Before mixing the powder is robust, normal room temperature (around 20 to 25 degrees) is fine, ideally kept in the dark. After mixing, keep in the fridge (2 to 8 degrees), do not freeze. It stays good there for at least 4 to 6 months with barely any loss of potency, in practice considerably longer. Swirl or shake to mix, both are fine. Keep safely and out of reach of children.

Shelf life

How long it keeps

Undissolved (powder) Room temperature, around 20 to 25 degrees, dark

Robust, no fridge needed. Store securely and out of reach of children.

Dissolved (mixed) Fridge, 2 to 8 degrees, do not freeze

At least 4 to 6 months with barely any loss of potency. The bacteriostatic water brings a preservative.

  • Keep it dark
  • Dissolved: 2 to 8 degrees
  • Note the mixing date on the vial
Nine vials with white powder and blue caps in the door shelf of a bright fridge
Powder dark at room temperature, once dissolved into the fridge (2 to 8 degrees), stable there for at least 4 to 6 months. Store securely and out of reach of children. Symbolic image.

Related

Related compounds

A different path: all in the TPD lexicon.

Dermorphin
Pregabalin (Lyrica) Different route for nerve pain, not an opioid Cyclobenzaprine ER (Amrix) Muscle relaxant, not an opioid DSIP Different neuropeptide, a dermorphin variant resembles it in structure

FAQ

Common questions about Dermorphin

Short answers, each backed by the sources below.

Is dermorphin approved?

No. There is no approval and as of 26 October 2026 no trial with dermorphin on ClinicalTrials.gov. The few human studies date from the 1980s and according to a 2018 review no further study in patients was published after that.97

Where does dermorphin come from?

From the skin of the South American monkey frog Phyllomedusa sauvagei. In 1981 the sequence of the seven building blocks was determined: Tyr-D-Ala-Phe-Gly-Tyr-Pro-Ser-NH2. Unusual is the D-alanine in second place, a form of amino acid that animals otherwise hardly build into peptides.2

How strong is dermorphin?

Extremely strong at the receptor. It binds to μ opioid receptors with a constant of 0.7 nanomolar and 88 times more tightly than to δ receptors. Given into the brain it relieved pain up to 670 times more strongly than morphine in mice and 752 to 2,170 times in rats. High amounts caused catalepsy. This very strength makes it dangerous.13

What do the human studies show?

In a randomised double-blind study with 150 people after surgery pain relief lasted 43.4 hours on average after a dose into the spinal canal, 34.5 with morphine and 10.8 hours with the usual injection into the muscle. In healthy people dermorphin into a vein clearly and lastingly raised the threshold of a pain reflex. Naloxone reversed this effect only by about half.56

Is dermorphin addictive?

In rats yes. With continuous dosing into the brain tolerance developed within 48 hours and physical dependence after three days, with withdrawal signs after naloxone, similar to morphine. An early paper found both somewhat weaker than with morphine. There are no data on this in humans.43

Why does dermorphin show up in horse racing?

It has been detected in post-race samples from racehorses. In horses dosing into a vein caused excitation and a faster heartbeat. The half-life there was about 0.76 hours and it could still be detected in urine for 48 to 72 hours.8

Which risks are known?

In the study after surgery urinary retention as well as nausea and vomiting occurred, to a similar degree as with morphine. That was a single dose in hospital. The regular entry lists respiratory depression, dependence and tolerance as risks of every strong opioid and advises against it when in doubt.754

Glossary

Terms explained briefly

Dotted words in the text open these explanations directly.

Agonist
A substance that activates a receptor the way the body's own messenger does.
D-amino acid
Mirror-image form of an amino acid. Animals build almost only the L form into peptides, the D form makes a peptide more stable against breakdown.
Intrathecal
Dosing into the space around the spinal cord, only by doctors in hospital.
Lyophilisate
Freeze-dried powder. Without water a peptide keeps much longer.
Morphine
Classic strong opioid from the opium poppy, the yardstick for the strength of other opioids.
Naloxone
Antidote that displaces opioids from their receptors. In experiments it triggers withdrawal signs in dependence.
Opioid
A substance that acts on opioid receptors like morphine. Strongly pain-relieving, with risks such as respiratory depression and dependence.
Respiratory depression
Dangerously slowed and shallow breathing. The most common cause of death in an opioid overdose.
Subcutaneous
Into the fat layer just under the skin.
Tolerance
Habituation: over time more of the substance is needed for the same effect.
μ opioid receptor
Receptor in the nervous system through which morphine and other strong opioids dampen pain. It is also responsible for respiratory depression and dependence.

Evidence

Sources

Show all 10 sourcesHide sources 7 Studies1 Trial registry2 Database checked 26 Oct 2026

Studies

  1. Structure of dermorphin from the skin of Phyllomedusa sauvagei

    Montecucchi et al., International Journal of Peptide and Protein Research, 1981

    DOI 10.1111/j.1399-3011.1981.tb01993.x PMID 7287299
    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via doi.org, Crossref, PubMed
  2. Pharmacology of the dermorphins (tissue, mice, rats)

    Broccardo et al., British Journal of Pharmacology, 1981

    DOI 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1981.tb16797.x PMID 7195758
    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via doi.org, Crossref, PubMed
  3. Tolerance and dependence from dermorphin (rats)

    Broccardo et al., European Journal of Pharmacology, 1985

    DOI 10.1016/0014-2999(85)90028-7 PMID 4040026
    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via doi.org, Crossref, PubMed
  4. Dermorphin into the spinal canal after surgery (150 people)

    Basso et al., Peptides, 1985

    DOI 10.1016/0196-9781(85)90371-7 PMID 3831962
    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via doi.org, Crossref, PubMed
  5. Dermorphin dampens a pain reflex in humans

    Sandrini et al., Brain Research, 1986

    DOI 10.1016/0006-8993(86)90376-8 PMID 3697765
    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via doi.org, Crossref, PubMed
  6. Review: dermorphin after surgery and in palliative care

    Keppel Hesselink und Schatman, Journal of Pain Research, 2018

    DOI 10.2147/JPR.S186082 PMID 30538538
    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via doi.org, Crossref, PubMed, PMC (Volltext)
  7. Dermorphin in horses: breakdown, effect, detection

    Robinson et al., Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 2015

    DOI 10.1111/jvp.12179 PMID 25376170
    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via doi.org, Crossref, PubMed

Trial registry

  1. Search on ClinicalTrials.gov (no trial with dermorphin)

    ClinicalTrials.gov, U.S. National Library of Medicine

    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via ClinicalTrials.gov API v2

Database

  1. Binding of dermorphin to μ opioid receptors in rat brain (PubMed record)

    Amiche et al., European Journal of Biochemistry, 1990, DOI 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1990.tb15531.x

    PMID 2161761
    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via PubMed, doi.org, Crossref
  2. Dermorphin in ChEMBL (binding data at the μ receptor)

    ChEMBL, EMBL-EBI (CHEMBL278789)

    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via ChEMBL, UniProt

In the shop

Dermorphin in the catalog

Sizes, prices and shipping times are on the product page.

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