[3][4][5] Dihydromorphine occurs in trace quantities in assays of opium on occasion, as does dihydrocodeine, dihydrothebaine, tetrahydrothebaine, etc.

The process for manufacturing dihydromorphine from morphine for pharmaceutical use was developed in Germany in the late 19th century, with the synthesis being published in 1900 and the drug introduced clinically as Paramorfan shortly thereafter.

[3][7] Dihydromorphine, often labelled with the isotope tritium in the form of [3H]-dihydromorphine, is used in scientific research to study binding of the opioid receptors in the nervous system.

[8][9] Dihydromorphine is slightly stronger than morphine as an analgesic with a similar side effect profile.

[3][4] Agonism of the μ-opioid and δ-opioid receptors is largely responsible for the clinical effects of opioids like dihydromorphine, with the μ-agonism providing more analgesia than the δ.