Dipipanone
Dipipanone (Pipadone)[3] is a strong opioid analgesic drug, used for acute pain by mouth (PO) for adults — initially 10 mg every 6 hours, then increased if necessary up to 30 mg every 6 hours, with the dose to be increased gradually. It is often used in instances where morphine is indicated but cannot be used due to the patient being allergic to morphine. In analgesic potency 25 mg dipipanone is approximately equivalent to 10 mg morphine. [4]
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Trade names | Diconal |
Routes of administration | Oral |
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Pharmacokinetic data | |
Metabolism | Liver-mediated |
Elimination half-life | 3.5 hours[2] |
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ECHA InfoCard | 100.006.728 |
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Formula | C24H31NO |
Molar mass | 349.52 g·mol−1 |
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Dosage forms
The main preparation of the drug commercially available is mixed with cyclizine (Diconal, Wellconal) which has the advantage of reducing nausea, vomiting and histamine release associated with strong opioid therapy.[5]
Dipipanone was also available as an oral mixture 10 mg/5 mL without the cyclizine during the 1970s–1980s in the United Kingdom. This form was rare and used normally only in drug trials and in specialist Diconal addiction clinics.
Dipipanone is now the only alternative opioid left to use in the UK that is of equal strength to morphine that can be prescribed instead, aside from oxycodone and hydromorphone which are typically the second and third-line alternative to pain relief when morphine is indicated but not tolerated. A fentanyl patch may also be used, especially in cases of renal impairment.
One of the limitations of using dipipanone is that it is only produced in one dosage form that is mixed with the anti-emetic and anti-histamine cyclizine at a ratio of 25% dipipanone to 75% cyclizine which limits the dose of dipipanone to an absolute maximum of 3 tablets per dose up to 4–6 times a day. This is a 10 mg dipipanone and 30 mg cyclizine formulation. [6]
It is made by the following manufacturers:
- Dipipanone 10 mg / cyclizine 30 mg tablets (Phoenix Healthcare Distribution Ltd)
- Dipipanone 10 mg / cyclizine 30 mg tablets (Alliance Healthcare (Distribution) Ltd)
- Dipipanone 10 mg / cyclizine 30 mg tablets (Advanz Pharma)
All formulations contain the same dose, and differ only in manufacturer.
As of November 2011 Amdipharm stopped making the Diconal brand tablets for the UK due to undisclosed commercial reasons. However the product is listed as available on the manufacturer's website as of July 1, 2014.[7] General practitioners are now advised to prescribe it as generic dipipanone/cyclizine tablets.
Use
Dipipanone is now unavailable in most countries of the world either by laws prohibiting its medicinal use as in the United States or by falling out of production as more modern analgesics took its market share. Great Britain, Northern Ireland and South Africa are known to continue to use the substance but it is infrequently prescribed.
Dipipanone is a Schedule I controlled substance in the United States; it has been assigned the ACSCN of 9622 and since 2013 had an annual manufacturing quota of 5 grams.[8]
Chemistry
Chemically, dipipanone belongs to the class of opioids called the 4,4-diphenylheptane-3-ones. It closely resembles methadone, the only structural difference being the N,N-dimethyl moiety of methadone being replaced with a piperidine ring. Other related compounds with equivalent activity where the piperidine ring has been replaced by other groups, include the morpholine derivative phenadoxone, as well as the corresponding pyrrolidine derivative dipyanone.[9] The synthesis is the same as for phenadoxone, with the exception that piperidine is used in lieu of morpholine.[10] Related compounds with an isoquinuclidine ring such as nufenoxole are also known.
Medical and recreational use
Prescription of dipipanone is discouraged apart from in exceptional circumstances, because of the perceived risk of abuse — the BNF marks the substance as "less suitable for prescribing" along with other older compounds such as pethidine and pentazocine with unusual abuse patterns. The combination with cyclizine leads to a very strong "rush" if the drug is injected, however the tablets contain insoluble binders which led to many limb amputations and some fatalities (as with temazepam).
During the late 1970s to early 1980s in the UK, many deaths were blamed on misuse of this preparation. As supplies became unavailable, opiate users would mix crushed methadone tablets or ampoules with crushed cyclizine tablets, in an attempt to replicate the effect of Diconal. When taken orally as indicated for pain, the risk of addiction and euphoric potential is similar to that of morphine,[11] however the historical intravenous use may cause apprehension for prescribing doctors.
References
- Anvisa (2023-03-31). "RDC Nº 784 - Listas de Substâncias Entorpecentes, Psicotrópicas, Precursoras e Outras sob Controle Especial" [Collegiate Board Resolution No. 784 - Lists of Narcotic, Psychotropic, Precursor, and Other Substances under Special Control] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Diário Oficial da União (published 2023-04-04). Archived from the original on 2023-08-03. Retrieved 2023-08-16.
- Paterson S (April 1992). "Pharmacokinetics of dipipanone after a single oral dose". British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. 33 (4): 449–450. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2125.1992.tb04066.x. PMC 1381337. PMID 1349495.
- GB patent 654975, Peter Ofner, Eric Walton, "Improvements relating to the Synthesis of Diphenyl Ketones", published 1948-02-09, issued 1951-07-04
- Swerdlow M (September 1967). "General analgesics used in pain relief: pharmacology". British Journal of Anaesthesia. 39 (9): 699–712. doi:10.1093/bja/39.9.699. PMID 4860888.
- Fang J, Glover V, Jarman J, Gorrod JW (1995). "Inhibition of monoamine oxidase B by dipipanone and cyclizine". Pharmaceutical Sciences. 1 (6): 295–296.
- "DIPIPANONE HYDROCHLORIDE WITH CYCLIZINE Tablet All products". BNF NICE. BNF - British National Formulary. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
- "Amdipharm Mercury Company Ltd". Amdipharm Mercury Company Limited. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
- "Proposed Aggregate Production Quotas for Schedule I and II Controlled Substances and Proposed Assessment of Annual Needs for the List I Chemicals Ephedrine, Pseudoephedrine, and Phenylpropanolamine for 2014". Diversion Control Division. U.S. Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Division.
- Lenz GR, Evans SM, Walters DE, Hopfinger AJ (1986). Opiates. Academic Press. pp. 406–407. ISBN 978-0-12-443830-9.
- Ofner P, Walton E (1950). "444. Search for new analgesics. Part IV. Variations in the basic side-chain of amidone". Journal of the Chemical Society (Resumed): 2158. doi:10.1039/JR9500002158.
- Isbell H, Fraser HF (April 1953). "Actions and addiction liabilities of dromoran derivatives in man". The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. 107 (4): 524–530. PMID 13053414.