title: Desomorphine (Krokodil): An overview of its chemistry, pharmacology, metabolism, toxicology and analysis.
abstract: "Krokodil" or "Crocodile" is an illegal homemade desomorphine drug obtained from chemical reactions of commercial codeine drugs with several other powerful and highly toxic chemical agents increasing its addiction and hallucinogenic effects when compared with other morphine analogues.
  
  
  
  This paper summarizes a complete review about an old drug called desomorphine (Krokodil), presenting its chemistry, pharmacology, metabolism, toxicology and analysis.
  
  
  
  It is of particular interest and concern because this cheaper injectable semisynthetic opioid drug has been largely used in recent years for recreational purposes in several Eastern European as well as North and South American countries, despite known damage to health that continuous use might induce. These injuries are much stronger and more aggressive than morphine's, infecting and rotting skin and soft tissue to the bone of addicts at the point of injection in less than three years, which, in most cases, evolves to death. On this basis, it is imperative that literature reviews focus on the chemistry, pharmacology, toxicology and analysis of dangerous Krokodil to find strategies for rapid and effective determination to mitigate its adverse effects on addicts and prevent consumption.
  
  
  
  It is crucial to know the symptoms and consequences of the use of Krokodil, as well as METHODS: for identification and quantification of desomorphine, contaminants and metabolites, which can help the forensic work of diagnosis and propose actions to control and eradicate this great danger to public health around the world.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciências Naturais, Universidade Federal de São João del-Rei, Campus Dom Bosco, Praça Dom Helvécio 74, Fábricas, 36301-160, São João del-Rei, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Diego Hernando Ângulo
authors.initials: DHÂ
authors.lastname: Florez
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciências Naturais, Universidade Federal de São João del-Rei, Campus Dom Bosco, Praça Dom Helvécio 74, Fábricas, 36301-160, São João del-Rei, Minas Gerais, Brazil; Departamento de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Campus Avançado de Governador Valadares, Avenida Doutor Raimundo Monteiro Rezende, Centro, 35010-177, Governador Valadares, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Dos Santos Moreira
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Avenida Prof. Moraes Rego 1235, Cidade Universitária, 50670-901 Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Pedro Rafael
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Avenida Prof. Moraes Rego 1235, Cidade Universitária, 50670-901 Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brandão
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciências Naturais, Universidade Federal de São João del-Rei, Campus Dom Bosco, Praça Dom Helvécio 74, Fábricas, 36301-160, São João del-Rei, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcella Matos Cordeiro
authors.initials: MMC
authors.lastname: Borges
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Avenida Prof. Moraes Rego 1235, Cidade Universitária, 50670-901 Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernando José Malagueño
authors.initials: FJM
authors.lastname: de Santana
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciências Naturais, Universidade Federal de São João del-Rei, Campus Dom Bosco, Praça Dom Helvécio 74, Fábricas, 36301-160, São João del-Rei, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Electronic address: keyller@ufsj.edu.br.
authors.forename: Keyller Bastos
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Borges
mesh_terms: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D016739:Behavior, Addictive; D003061:Codeine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D007239:Infections / Q000139:chemically induced; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D013287:Illicit Drugs; C000599494:desomorphine; D003061:Codeine
keywords: Analysis; Desomorphine; Pharmacology; Toxicology; “Krokodil”