PHENAZOCINE

synthetic narcotic drug and the first analgesic of a structural type introduced in the 1960s. Phenazocine belongs to the benzomorphan series, a group of organic compounds with similarities to both morphine and the narcotic antagonists. Investigated during a search for a potent, nonaddicting analgesic, phenazocine is about four times as potent as morphine, and addiction appears to develop more slowly than does addiction to morphine. Phenazocine is administered by intramuscular injection in the form of the hydrobromide salt.