Levomoramide is the inactive isomer of the opioid analgesic dextromoramide, invented by the chemist Paul Janssen in 1956. Unlike dextromoramide, which is a potent analgesic with high abuse potential, levomoramide is virtually without activity.

"Resolution reveals that the analgetic activity in this case resides almost entirely in the (+) isomer.

"In the α-CH₃ series, one of the optical isomers of each enantiomorphic pair is about twice as active as the racemic mixture; the other isomer is devoid of significant analgesic activity.

However despite being inactive, levomoramide is controlled internationally as a Schedule I drug.

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