IUPAC Name
(5α)-6-Methoxy-17-methyl-6,7,8,14-tetradehydro-4,5-epoxymorphinan-3-ol
Current Scheduling Status
Year(s) and type of review / ECDD meetings
Drug Class
Recommendation (from TRS)
Substance identification
Oripavine, 3-O-demethylthebaine, or 6,7,8,14-tetradehydro-4,5-alpha-epoxy-6-methoxy-17-methylmorphinan-3-ol is a phenanthrene alkaloid contained in species of the Papaver plant. It is a major metabolite of thebaine.
Previous review
Oripavine was pre-reviewed at the thirty-third meeting of the Expert Committee in 2002 (3). The reason for pre-review in 2002 was that oripavine is a substance that is convertible into thebaine, and because thebaine is in turn convertible into morphine. Thebaine and morphine are both in Schedule I of the 1961 Convention. Owing to uncertainties regarding the schedul- ing of oripavine based on the additional possibility of applying the 1988 Convention (8), the Committee did not finalize this review at its thirty- third meeting, but asked WHO for clarification of issues related to the conversion of precursors into scheduled substances. Subsequent clarifica- tion of these issues allowed the Committee to come to a conclusion at its thirty-fourth meeting.
Recommendation
The Committee decided that oripavine is a substance that is easily convertible into thebaine and other substances controlled in Schedule I of the 1961 Convention. Hence, the Committee recommended that oripavine be scheduled, like the substances mentioned, in Schedule I of the 1961 Convention.
Oripavine, 3-O-demethylthebaine, or 6,7,8,14-tetradehydro-4,5-alpha-epoxy-6-methoxy-17-methylmorphinan-3-ol is a phenanthrene alkaloid contained in species of the Papaver plant. It is a major metabolite of thebaine.
Previous review
Oripavine was pre-reviewed at the thirty-third meeting of the Expert Committee in 2002 (3). The reason for pre-review in 2002 was that oripavine is a substance that is convertible into thebaine, and because thebaine is in turn convertible into morphine. Thebaine and morphine are both in Schedule I of the 1961 Convention. Owing to uncertainties regarding the schedul- ing of oripavine based on the additional possibility of applying the 1988 Convention (8), the Committee did not finalize this review at its thirty- third meeting, but asked WHO for clarification of issues related to the conversion of precursors into scheduled substances. Subsequent clarifica- tion of these issues allowed the Committee to come to a conclusion at its thirty-fourth meeting.
Recommendation
The Committee decided that oripavine is a substance that is easily convertible into thebaine and other substances controlled in Schedule I of the 1961 Convention. Hence, the Committee recommended that oripavine be scheduled, like the substances mentioned, in Schedule I of the 1961 Convention.
ECDD Recommendation
Inclusion in Schedule I of the 1961 Convention on Narcotic Drugs
Link to full TRS
who_trs_942.pdf526.62 KB