Phenomorphan[2] is an opioid analgesic.

It is not currently used in medicine, but has similar side-effects to other opiates, which include itching, nausea and respiratory depression.

Phenomorphan is a highly potent drug due to the N-phenethyl group, which boosts affinity to the μ-opioid receptor, and so phenomorphan is around 10x more potent than levorphanol, which is itself 6-8x the potency of morphine.

Other analogues where the N-(2-phenylethyl) group has been replaced by other aromatic rings[3] are even more potent, with the N-(2-(2-furyl)ethyl) and the N-(2-(2-thienyl)ethyl) analogues being 60x and 45x stronger than levorphanol, respectively.

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