Quick info
Nitazenes belong to the active substance group of highly effective synthetic opioids. Many representatives of this substance group can be chemically assigned to the benzimidazole class, although there are also variants that differ structurally. They were first developed in the 1950s by the Swiss company Ciba - originally as a possible alternative to morphine for the treatment of severe pain. However, due to their extremely high potency and the associated risk of severe side effects, they were never approved for medical use.
Nitazenes are produced fully synthetically and are many times more potent than morphine. The potential for addiction is considered to be very high and even the smallest amounts can lead to life-threatening overdoses.
Numerous representatives of this substance group have now been identified. Among the better known are: Metonitazene, isotonitazene, protonitazene, etonitazene, N-piperidinyl etonitazene, butonitazene, clonitazene, flunitazene and many others.
This list is not complete, as new substances are constantly being discovered, synthesized and misdeclared. Nitazenes are a relatively new class of synthetic opioids. Science and research in this field is not very advanced. Abuse was first reported in Europe in 2019. There are many documented cases of people dying from overdose after unknowingly consuming nitrazones (for example, due to a misdeclaration containing nitrazones instead of oxycodone ).
There are currently no approved drugs based on nitrazines. Although these substances were originally developed as potential painkillers, they have not found widespread medical use due to their high potency and potential for abuse. Instead, safer and better researched opioids such as morphine, fentanyl and oxycodone are preferred.
Trivia: According to a 2023 study, people hospitalized with nitazene overdose received a statistically significantly higher number of naloxone administrations than people hospitalized with fentanyl overdose. This is further evidence that nitazene is highly effective. According to this study, metonitazene, for example, was found to be a highly potent opioid, but also highly toxic.
Nitazenes have analgesic, depressant, sedative, anxiolytic, antitussive and psychotropic properties. Due to its relaxing and euphoric properties, it is consumed as a recreational drug, although it can also have stimulating and mood-enhancing effects, although not as pronounced as oxycodone, for example.
The effects are caused by binding to μ-opioid receptors.
The various nitazenes vary in potency. Depending on the substance, they are 200 times more effective than morphine, up to a potency that is up to 1000 times stronger. These fluctuations are massive, which makes the dosage unpredictable and the effect unpredictable when consumed.
Onset of effect
How quickly nitazene works depends on how it was administered and how the body reacts to the substance. As a rule, the effects start within a few seconds to minutes, depending on the form of consumption.
Duration of action
The duration of action of nitrazines can vary. It depends on which nitazene it is, the dose, the form of consumption and how the body reacts to it. In general, nitazenes have a longer effect than many other painkillers. The effect usually lasts between 4 and 8 hours. It is important to know that the effect can be different for each person.
Appearance
As tablets, powder, capsules, drops and injection/infusion solution (rather rare)
Pay attention to the dosage when consuming nitrazines, as these substances vary in potency and are already effective in the microgram range. Due to their high potency, it is difficult to estimate the correct dosage and the risk of overdosing is high. Incorrect dosing can lead to serious health risks such as respiratory arrest.
Mixing with other downers (alcohol, benzodiazepines, drugs, GHB/GBL, heroin, opioids) can lead to dangerous interactions and an intensification of the effect and there is a risk of respiratory depression up to respiratory paralysis, a drop in blood pressure, a coma and in the worst case can lead to death!
The combination with methoxetamine (MXE, Metha-Keta) increases the opioid effect.
Mixing opioids with DXM is generally not recommended - there is an increased risk of central nervous system disorders as well as heart and respiratory problems. In addition, DXM lowers the individual opioid tolerance, which is why the risk of overdose increases considerably.
Mixed use of opioids with stimulants (such as cocaine, amphetamine, methamphetamine) puts extreme strain on the body and the cardiovascular system. The effects can mask each other, so that they are subjectively felt to be weaker. If the effect of the stimulants wears off before the opioids, there is a risk of delayed overdose and even respiratory depression.
Nitazenes are extremely strong synthetic opioids, which have a strong effect even at a very low dose. This makes it almost impossible to find a safe dose. The risks of an overdose are significantly higher than with many other opioids, and the effects can quickly become life-threatening.
If you consume anyway, pay attention to the following safer use messages:
Mixing with other downers (alcohol, benzodiazepines, drugs, GHB/GBL, heroin, opioids) can lead to dangerous interactions and an intensification of the effect and there is a risk of respiratory depression up to respiratory paralysis, a drop in blood pressure, a coma and in the worst case can lead to death!
The combination with methoxetamine (MXE, Metha-Keta) increases the opioid effect.
Mixing opioids with DXM is generally not recommended - there is an increased risk of central nervous system disorders as well as heart and respiratory problems. In addition, DXM lowers the individual opioid tolerance, which is why the risk of overdose increases considerably.
Mixed use of opioids with stimulants (such as cocaine, amphetamine, methamphetamine) puts extreme strain on the body and the cardiovascular system. The effects can mask each other, so that they are subjectively felt to be weaker. If the effect of the stimulants wears off before the opioids, there is a risk of delayed overdose and even respiratory depression.
In addition to the deliberate consumption of Nitazene by users, there is a risk that Nitazene is used as an extender in illegal substances (particularly oxycodone tablets and other opioids, but also cocaine). Unconscious consumption carries considerable risks of (fatal) overdoses, as Nitazene is effective in significantly lower doses than oxycodone or morphine, for example.
If you or someone else needs urgent help after taking drugs or alcohol, call an ambulance on 144. Tell the emergency responders everything you know.
It could save lives.
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