Epibatidine is a piperidine alkaloid that is secreted by the Ecuadoran frog Epipedobates anthonyi. Many laboratories began to synthesize epibatidine and after studying it, scientists realized it was too toxic to be used as a pain-relieving drug. Epibatine is the exo-isomer of the two possible geometric isomers and can exist as two enantiomers (+) – or R- Epibatidine and (-) or S- Epibatidine. The natural compound is the (+) isomer, although there is a little difference in pharmacological activity between (+) and (-) isomers. Epibatidine binds to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) rather than opiate receptors, which is common of most analgesics such as morphine. Epibatidine and both its isomers are extremely potent full agonists for neuronal acetylcholine receptors: alpha4/beta2 and alpha3/beta2. Epibatidine binds not only to nAChR in the brain but also at other neuro-muscular junctions throughout the body. This is not desired as it caused seizures and respiratory and digestive problems. Currently only rudimentary research into epibatidine's effects has been performed.