Butylone: Difference between revisions

As a [[designer drug]], it is commonly sold on the street along with [[ethylone]] as a substitute or counterfeit for [[MDMA]] and [[methylone]] (all of which have collectively come to be referred to as "Molly") due to methylone's declining availability on the [[research chemical]] market. However, in spite of behavioral and pharmacological similarities between butylone and MDMA, the observed subjective effects of both substances are not completely identical.<ref name="urlCathinone | Ask Dr. Shulgin Online">{{cite web | url = http://www.cognitiveliberty.org/shulgin/adsarchive/cathinone.htm | title = Cathinone &#124; Ask Dr. Shulgin Online }}</ref>

Butylone acts as a mixed [[reuptake inhibitor]]/[[releasing agent]] of [[serotonin]], [[norepinephrine]], and [[dopamine]].<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors=((Cozzi, N. V.)), ((Sievert, M. K.)), ((Shulgin, A. T.)), ((Jacob, P.)), ((Ruoho, A. E.)) | journal=European Journal of Pharmacology | title=Inhibition of plasma membrane monoamine transporters by beta-ketoamphetamines | volume=381 | issue=1 | pages=63–69 | date=17 September 1999 | issn=0014-2999 | doi=10.1016/s0014-2999(99)00538-5}}</ref><ref name="Nagai2007">{{cite journal | vauthors=((Nagai, F.)), ((Nonaka, R.)), ((Satoh Hisashi Kamimura, K.)) | journal=European Journal of Pharmacology | title=The effects of non-medically used psychoactive drugs on monoamine neurotransmission in rat brain | volume=559 | issue=2 | pages=132–137 | date=22 March 2007 | url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0014299906013811 | issn=0014-2999 | doi=10.1016/j.ejphar.2006.11.075}}</ref> These are the [[neurotransmitters]] in charge of pleasure, reward, motivation and focus. This is done by inhibiting the reuptake and reabsorption of the neurotransmitters after they have performed their function of transmitting a neural impulse, essentially allowing them to accumulate and be reused, causing physically stimulating and euphoric effects.  

In comparison to [[methylone]], it has approximately over 4x lower affinity for the norepinephrine transporter, while its affinity for the serotonin and dopamine transporters is similar.<ref name="Simmler2013">{{cite journal | vauthors=((Simmler, L.)), ((Buser, T.)), ((Donzelli, M.)), ((Schramm, Y.)), ((Dieu, L.-H.)), ((Huwyler, J.)), ((Chaboz, S.)), ((Hoener, M.)), ((Liechti, M.)) | journal=British Journal of Pharmacology | title=Pharmacological characterization of designer cathinones in vitro: Pharmacology of cathinones | volume=168 | issue=2 | pages=458–470 | date= January 2013 | url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1476-5381.2012.02145.x | issn=00071188 | doi=10.1111/j.1476-5381.2012.02145.x}}</ref><ref name="Nagai2007"/> The results of these differences in pharmacology relative to [[MDMA]] is that butylone, like its close analog [[ethylone]] is less potent in terms of dose, has more balanced [[catecholaminergic]] effects relative to serotonergic, and behaves more like a [[reuptake inhibitor]] like [[methylphenidate]] than a releaser like [[amphetamine]]; however, butylone still has relatively robust releasing capabilities.<ref name="Simmler2013"/>

Abuse of compounds within the stimulant class at high dosages for prolonged periods of time can potentially result in a stimulant psychosis that may present with a variety of symptoms (e.g., [[Paranoia|paranoia]], [[External hallucinations|hallucinations]], or [[Delusions|delusions]]).<ref name="Shoptaw2009">{{cite journal | vauthors=((Shoptaw, S. J.)), ((Kao, U.)), ((Ling, W.)) | veditors=((Cochrane Drugs and Alcohol Group)) | journal=Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews | title=Treatment for amphetamine psychosis | date=21 January 2009 | url=https://doi.wiley.com/10.1002/14651858.CD003026.pub3 | issn=14651858 | doi=10.1002/14651858.CD003026.pub3}}</ref> A review on treatment for amphetamine, [[amphetamine|dextroamphetamine]], and [[methamphetamine]] abuse-induced psychosis states that about 5–15% of users fail to recover completely.<ref name="Shoptaw2009"/><ref>{{cite book | vauthors=((Hofmann, F. G.)) | date= 1983 | title=A handbook on drug and alcohol abuse: the biomedical aspects | publisher=Oxford University Press | edition=2nd ed | isbn=9780195030563}}</ref> The same review asserts that, based upon at least one trial, [[antipsychotic]] medications effectively resolve the symptoms of acute amphetamine psychosis.<ref name="Shoptaw2009"/> Psychosis very rarely arises from therapeutic use.<ref>http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2013/021303s026lbl.pdf</ref>

*'''United Kingdom''': Butylone is a Class B drug in the United Kingdom as a result of the cathinone catch-all clause.<ref>{{Citation | title=The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (Amendment) Order 2010 | url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2010/1207/made}}</ref>

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