Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Levorphanol use: past, present and future.

Jeffrey Gudin1,2, Jeffrey Fudin3,4,5, Srinivas Nalamachu6,7

  • 1a Pain Management and Palliative Care , Englewood Hospital and Medical Center , Englewood , NJ , USA.

Postgraduate Medicine
|December 5, 2015
PubMed
Summary

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

The Therapeutic Potential of Dual NMR (NOP/MOP) Agonism in Pain Management.

Pain and therapy·2025
Same author

Reducing Pain and Improving Mobility Using Haptic Patch Technology: Results of the RESTORE Study.

Pain and therapy·2025
Same author

Decreased anxiety through haptic technology patch usage: A case-control comparison.

Journal of family medicine and primary care·2025
Same author

Multimodal Therapies for the Treatment of Neuropathic Pain: The Role of Lidocaine Patches in Combination Therapy: A Narrative Review.

Pain and therapy·2025
Same author

Piezo Ion Channels and Their Association With Haptic Technology Use: A Narrative Review.

Cureus·2025
Same author

Review of Opioid Abuse-Deterrent Formulations: Impact and Barriers to Access.

Journal of pain research·2024
Same journal

Managing patients with cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome: a guideline-driven practical guide for primary care physicians.

Postgraduate medicine·2026
Same journal

CV risk: if you aren't testing ACR, you aren't seeing the full picture.

Postgraduate medicine·2026
Same journal

Anti-TNF-induced vasculitis: analysis of data from the French national pharmacovigilance database.

Postgraduate medicine·2026
Same journal

Relationship of serum nesfatin-1 levels with body mass index and c-reactive protein in patients presenting to the emergency department with epileptic seizures.

Postgraduate medicine·2026
Same journal

Clinical pharmacokinetics of colistimethate sodium and formed colistin in patients with renal impairment or on dialysis modalities: a systematic review and implications for precision dosing.

Postgraduate medicine·2026
Same journal

The role of type D personality in pregnancy symptom severity, functional limitations, and maternal ambivalence.

Postgraduate medicine·2026
See all related articles
This summary is machine-generated.

Levorphanol, a potent opioid analgesic, offers a unique multimodal mechanism for treating moderate to severe pain. Despite its efficacy and favorable safety profile, it remains underutilized by many prescribers.

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Pain Management
  • Anesthesiology

Background:

  • Levorphanol, approved in 1953, is a potent opioid analgesic for moderate to severe pain.
  • It possesses a multimodal action profile, including opioid receptor agonism and NMDA receptor antagonism.
  • Its unique properties may address pain syndromes refractory to other analgesics, such as neuropathic pain.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the pharmacological attributes of levorphanol.
  • To reintroduce levorphanol as a viable treatment option for moderate to severe pain.
  • To inform practitioners about its potential benefits and underutilization.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of levorphanol's properties and clinical use.
  • Comparison of levorphanol's safety and efficacy profile with other opioids.
Keywords:
AnalgesicKappa opioid receptorLevorphanolMu opioid receptorN-methyl-d-aspartateNMDAOpioidOpioid rotation

Related Experiment Videos

  • Analysis of factors contributing to its current underutilization.

    • Main Results:

    • Levorphanol exhibits mu, delta, kappa1, and kappa3 opioid agonism, NMDA antagonism, and norepinephrine/serotonin reuptake inhibition.
    • It has a favorable safety profile, with no known effect on QT interval or CYP450 interactions.
    • Despite its advantages, levorphanol use has declined, leading to its underutilization.

    Conclusions:

    • Levorphanol's multimodal action makes it suitable for various pain types, including those resistant to other opioids.
    • It presents a potentially superior safety profile compared to methadone and other long-acting opioids.
    • Reintroduction of levorphanol to clinicians is warranted for managing moderate to severe pain when other options are inadequate or contraindicated.