Dermorphin
Evidence: C/DExperimental / Early Research
Key facts
- Research areaExperimental / Early Research
- Study records73 human
- Last updated2026-07-30
Evidence Snapshot
What this grade covers
A for identity and mu-opioid pharmacology; C for small older human physiology/analgesia studies; D/E for modern therapeutic efficacy, improved opioid safety, approval, or dosing.
Regulatory Context
Investigational; no FDA-approved dermorphin medicine was identified. FDA import-alert materials list dermorphin products promoted with drug claims as potentially unapproved and misbranded.
In Plain English
A quick, research-focused overview. It does not replace, and cannot outrank, the detailed evidence below.
What is it?
Dermorphin is a potent opioid-receptor-active peptide first isolated from frog skin. Limited older human experiments exist, but modern safety, product-quality, and therapeutic evidence are inadequate.
Why are researchers interested in it?
It has been studied as a highly potent opioid agonist and as an experimental probe of pain, endocrine, spinal-reflex, and autonomic physiology.
What does the evidence look like?
Evidence grade C/D. Human, preclinical, regulatory, review, and anecdotal evidence must remain separated.
Biggest things to know
The evidence is old and limited. Its opioid activity creates serious respiratory and misuse concerns, and no public-use or dosing guidance is appropriate.
Research Takeaway
Dermorphin is a naturally occurring amphibian opioid peptide containing D-alanine and exhibiting strong mu-opioid receptor agonist activity; it must be distinguished from deltorphins, dermenkephalin, Kambo secretion mixtures, DAMGO, and modified dermorphin analogs.
Evidence boundary: Analog potency or mixed-secretion effects cannot be assigned to unmodified dermorphin.
See all 6 evidence claims →Quick Summary
Dermorphin is a potent opioid-receptor-active peptide first isolated from frog skin. Limited older human experiments exist, but modern safety, product-quality, and therapeutic evidence are inadequate.
Mechanism & Research Overview
Dermorphin is a D-amino-acid-containing frog-skin heptapeptide with potent mu-opioid receptor agonist activity. Opioid pharmacology makes respiratory, cardiovascular, endocrine, dependence, and overdose risks central to any interpretation.
Mechanism pathway
Relationship-support labels describe the type and directness of the research available, not proof of safety or effectiveness. Indirectly supported, inferred and uncertain relationships are not equivalent to directly supported ones.
- CompoundDermorphin
- Directly supported (Directly supported relationship)Biological targetMu-opioid receptorReceptor
- Leads toPathwayNeuropeptide & CNS Signaling
Relationship details
- Dermorphin → Mu-opioid receptor — Directly supportedDermorphin is a potent mu-opioid agonist; naloxone blocked physiological effects in human endocrine experiments.
Evidence Claims
Individual scientific statements drawn from the sources cited below, each shown with the specific evidence boundary that statement does not establish.
Supported
Dermorphin is a naturally occurring amphibian opioid peptide containing D-alanine and exhibiting strong mu-opioid receptor agonist activity; it must be distinguished from deltorphins, dermenkephalin, Kambo secretion mixtures, DAMGO, and modified dermorphin analogs.
Does not establish
Evidence boundary: Analog potency or mixed-secretion effects cannot be assigned to unmodified dermorphin.
Sources: Pharmacological data on dermorphins, a new class of potent opioid peptides; The Dermorphin Peptide Family
Supported
Dermorphin is a potent mu-opioid agonist, and human endocrine experiments showed that at least some of its physiological effects were blocked by naloxone, supporting an opioid-receptor-mediated mechanism.
Does not establish
Evidence boundary: Receptor pharmacology does not establish a favorable therapeutic index compared with approved opioids.
Sources: Pharmacological data on dermorphins, a new class of potent opioid peptides; Prolactin-releasing activity of dermorphin, a new synthetic potent opiate-like peptide, in normal human subjects
Supported
Small human pharmacology studies reported changes in prolactin and other pituitary or adrenal-related hormones after dermorphin exposure.
Does not establish
Evidence boundary: These studies demonstrate human pharmacologic activity, not clinical benefit for pain, endocrine disease, or performance enhancement.
Sources: Prolactin-releasing activity of dermorphin, a new synthetic potent opiate-like peptide, in normal human subjects; Effects of Dermorphin on the Endocrine System in Man
Supported
Historical literature describes intrathecal dermorphin use for severe or postoperative pain, but the clinical program is old, limited, and does not constitute a modern replicated efficacy-and-safety package.
Does not establish
Evidence boundary: Historical clinical reports should not be presented as equivalent to contemporary registration-quality randomized trials.
Sources: Rediscovery of Old Drugs: Dermorphin for Postoperative Pain and Palliation
Supported
Because dermorphin is a powerful mu-opioid agonist, its clinically relevant risk boundary includes opioid-class hazards such as respiratory and central nervous system effects; the existing evidence does not justify portraying it as a safer substitute for approved opioids.
Does not establish
Evidence boundary: This claim is mechanism-based and intentionally avoids quantifying human risk where adequate modern safety data are lacking.
Sources: Pharmacological data on dermorphins, a new class of potent opioid peptides; The Dermorphin Peptide Family
Supported
Evidence from dermorphin-derived tetrapeptides, fluorescent derivatives, peripherally restricted analogs, or mixed mu/NOP constructs must not be used to claim properties for native dermorphin.
Does not establish
Evidence boundary: Structural modification can materially alter receptor selectivity, distribution, duration, and safety.
Sources: The Dermorphin Peptide Family
Safety & Evidence Limitations
Considerations reported in the sources cited on this page — not a complete list of every possible risk, and not medical advice.
Higher-Priority Safety Consideration
Dangerous interactions are possible with alcohol, benzodiazepines, gabapentinoids, sedatives, and other opioids. Historical intrathecal use carries infection, neurologic injury, dosing-error, and catheter risk. Product purity, sterility, D-amino-acid identity, and long-term safety remain unknown.Safety Consideration
Respiratory depression and impaired ventilatory responses are biologically plausible and supported by animal autonomic studies.Safety Consideration
Profound opioid effects, sedation, nausea, hypotension, dependence, overdose, and interaction risks are incompletely characterized in modern trials.Safety Consideration
Unregulated products may have identity, purity, sterility, and dose-accuracy risks.
Research Areas Being Studied
Research areas discussed on this page reflect the Experimental / Early Research category and the sources cited below.
Findings Reported in Studies
Educational summary only — reported in cited studies, not a claim of proven benefit.
Show findings from 3 human studies
- Prolactin-releasing activity of dermorphin, a new synthetic potent opiate-like peptide, in normal human subjects (1983):
- Dermorphin Stimulates Thyrotropin Secretion in Normal Subjects ():
- Effects of Dermorphin on the Endocrine System in Man ():
Study Tables by Evidence Type
7 study records
- Human Studies & Clinical Data 3
- Animal / Cell / Preclinical Data 1
- Regulatory Documents & Official Trial Registries 1
Human Studies & Clinical Data(3)
Prolactin-releasing activity of dermorphin, a new synthetic potent opiate-like peptide, in normal human subjects
1983PMID 6833466
- Population / Model
- Small study in healthy human subjects
- Dose / Duration / Finding
Dermorphin altered prolactin release, supporting central opioid/endocrine activity in humans.
Safety note
Small, older physiology study; not therapeutic evidence and not adequate for modern safety assessment.
Dermorphin Stimulates Thyrotropin Secretion in Normal Subjects
- Population / Model
- Dose / Duration / Finding
A small human study reported that dermorphin stimulated thyrotropin (TSH) secretion in normal subjects, another old, small, route-specific endocrine-pharmacology finding.
Effects of Dermorphin on the Endocrine System in Man
PMID 3008118
- Population / Model
- Dose / Duration / Finding
A small human study reported endocrine effects of intravenous dermorphin exposure, including changes in prolactin, growth hormone, renin, and ACTH/cortisol. This is small, old, route-specific human pharmacology, not evidence of a modern approved therapeutic use.
Show full finding
Animal / Cell / Preclinical Data(1)
Pharmacological data on dermorphins, a new class of potent opioid peptides
1981PMID 7195758
- Population / Model
- Preclinical pharmacology models
- Dose / Duration / Finding
Characterized potent opioid-like pharmacologic activity of dermorphins.
Safety note
Potency in preclinical systems heightens rather than resolves safety concerns.
Regulatory Documents & Official Trial Registries(1)
WADA 2026 Monitoring Program
- Population / Model
- Dose / Duration / Finding
WADA's 2026 Monitoring Program lists dermorphin and analogues among narcotics monitored in competition. Monitoring status is explicitly NOT the same as inclusion on the WADA Prohibited List and must not be described as prohibition.
Review Articles / Secondary Sources(2)
Rediscovery of Old Drugs: Dermorphin for Postoperative Pain and Palliation
- Population / Model
- Dose / Duration / Finding
A clinical-history review discusses older intrathecal postoperative and cancer-pain findings for dermorphin. The review frames these as historical small studies, not evidence of a modern approved analgesic, superiority to morphine, reduced addiction potential, or a safe consumer protocol.
Show full finding
The Dermorphin Peptide Family
PMID 8981054
- Population / Model
- Dose / Duration / Finding
A review of the dermorphin peptide family describes dermorphin as the amidated heptapeptide Tyr-D-Ala-Phe-Gly-Tyr-Pro-Ser-NH2, a potent mu-opioid receptor agonist originally isolated from Phyllomedusa frog skin, and situates it among a distinct family that includes deltorphins and dermenkephalin -- related but chemically and pharmacologically separate peptides that must not be merged with dermorphin itself.
Show full finding
Anecdotal Reported Patterns — Not Medical Advice
Anecdotal Reported Patterns — Not Medical Advice
Reported dosing patterns are included for educational context only. They are self-reported, unverified, not medical advice, and not instructions for human use. Community-submitted patterns are not yet available in this Phase 1 prototype; this section is a placeholder reserved for moderated, aggregated community data.
Lab Markers to Discuss With a Clinician
Educational topics only — not self-monitoring instructions.
FAQ
Disclaimer
Educational research summary only. Not medical advice, diagnosis, treatment guidance, or a user guide. Investigational and low-evidence compounds may have substantial unknowns.
Educational use only. This content is provided for informational and research-summary purposes only. It is not medical advice, not a treatment recommendation, not a dosing guide, and not a substitute for care from a licensed medical professional. Nothing here is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, prevent, or mitigate disease. Reported dosing patterns, when shown elsewhere on the site, must be labeled either as Study / Trial Dosing or Anecdotal Reported Patterns — Not Medical Advice. Community reports are self-reported, unverified, and not scientific proof.
Community-reported experiences, once enabled, must be displayed only as moderated, anonymized, or aggregated data. They are anecdotal, self-reported, unverified, and should never be presented as proof of safety, efficacy, or expected results.
Content status: Published. Last updated 2026-07-30.
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