Orphines or ‘brorphine like drugs’
orphines-neu-cyffuriau-tebyg-i-brorphine- Brorphine
- Chlorphine
- Cychlorphine (N-propionitrile chlorphine)
- Spirochlorphine (R-6890)
- 5-chloro Desmethyl Chlorphine
- 5,6-Dichloro desmethylchlorphine (SR-17018)
- Etodezitramide
- Spirobrorphine
- 5,6-dichlorobrorphine (SR 14968)
Scientific Names: Piperidinyl benzimidazolone opioids
Generic Names: New synthetic opioids (NSO). Known as ‘Orphines’ or ‘brorphine like drugs’
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Desired Effects:
Evidence of the effects is limited, and they are most often found as adulterants in street heroin; desired effects are thought to include:- Intense high
- Euphoria
- Relaxation
- Pain relief
- Suppression of opioid withdrawal
Side Effects:
- Drowsiness
- Confusion
- Sedation
- Sweating
- Itching
- Nausea
While evidence of the effects of some orphines is limited and potency between them varies greatly harm reduction advice like that given for fentanyls and other potent synthetic opioids is appropriate:
If you are knowingly using orphines:
- Don’t use alone.
- Always have naloxone available. Orphines are opioids. Naloxone reverses the effect of an opioid overdose.
- Use slow/less. Because orphines can be so strong, a little goes a long way (compared to heroin!) and overdoses can occur quickly, sometimes before you’ve finished injecting the dose.
- Try snorting or smoking instead of injecting. Injecting carries the highest risk for overdose, so shifting to snorting or smoking may help reduce risk. You can still OD by smoking/ snorting, especially with the more potent orphines so start slow.
- Test strips cannot at present detect orphines, although they are still useful to identify other unwanted adulterants such as nitazenes, fentanyl, medetomidine and xylazine that may be present in heroin and other street drugs.
- Don’t use alone.
- Always have naloxone with you. You may need more naloxone to recover from an orphine overdose than you would from heroin.
- Smoke a small amount on foil before attempting to inject. You are less likely to die from smoking adulterated heroin because you would usually fall unconscious before inhaling a lethal amount.
- If you’re injecting, start with a dose that is a quarter of what you usually use.
- Don’t ‘slam’ your hit. Depress the plunger slowly, pausing to allow the familiar dose to take effect. If you feel it is unusually strong or sedating, pull it out.
- Be aware of the signs of overdose and make sure anyone you live with or use with knows them too. In case of emergency, use naloxone and ring for an ambulance.
Long term risks:
Although evidence is limited, long term risks are likely to be like other potent opioids such as fentanyl and include tolerance and dependence.Short term risks:
Although evidence of the health harms of orphines is limited, short term risks are likely to be like other potent synthetic opioids such as fentanyl.Risks include rapid respiratory depression leading to overdose which may be fatal.
Injecting related injuries and infections (Hepatitis B, C and HIV, septicaemia).
As orphines are most commonly found as unwanted adulterants in heroin the risk of overdose is greatly increased. Risk is also increased if taken along with other drugs such as pregabalin or benzodiazepines.
Orphines are synthetic opioids and act by interacting with a series of opioid receptors within the brain and nervous system.
Orphines’ or ‘brorphine like drugs’ are a family of synthetic opioids that have recently emerged on the UK street scene, mainly as adulterants in heroin and other street drugs.
The best known of the ‘Orphine’ family of drugs is brorphine.
In England there has been more than 15 confirmed deaths in which orphines were involved since the spring of 2025. This includes 11 deaths in London and the South East in late 2025 linked to cychlorphine (N-Propionitrile chlorphine).
Brorphine is thought to have similar potency to fentanyl. There is no established relative potency for cychlorphine, but it’s believed to be like some of the more potent ‘nitazenes’.
Orphines’ or ‘brorphine like drugs’ are a family of synthetic opioids that have recently emerged on the UK street scene, mainly as adulterants in heroin and other street drugs.
The best known of the ‘Orphine’ family of drugs is brorphine.
In England there has been more than 15 confirmed deaths in which orphines were involved since the spring of 2025. This includes 11 deaths in London and the South East in late 2025 linked to cychlorphine (N-Propionitrile chlorphine).
Brorphine is thought to have similar potency to fentanyl. There is no established relative potency for cychlorphine, but it’s believed to be like some of the more potent ‘nitazenes’.
Brorphine is controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act as a Class A drug.
Seven other named orphines are due to become Class A drugs, but as of 11th June 2026 were covered by a Temporary Class Drug Order. The seven named orphines are:
Seven other named orphines are due to become Class A drugs, but as of 11th June 2026 were covered by a Temporary Class Drug Order. The seven named orphines are:
- Chlorphine
- Cychlorphine (N-propionitrile chlorphine)
- Spirochlorphine (R-6890)
- 5,6-Dichloro desmethylchlorphine (SR-17018)
- Etodezitramide
- Spirobrorphine
- 5,6-dichlorobrorphine (SR 14968)
Depending on the orphine, they may be Injected, sublingually, swallowed, sprayed, snorted and vaped.
Only one orphine variant, bezitramide, was ever commercially developed for medical use as an analgesic, but following a number of fatalities, bezitramide was withdrawn from the market in 2004.
The piperidine benzimidazolone (‘orphine’) group of drugs, were originally developed as potential analgesics the 1960s. It is believed that as a result of Chinese legislation resulting in a blanket ban of the production of the synthetic opioids known as ‘nitazenes’, Chinese manufacturers have switched to producing ‘orphines’.
