Mephedrone: Difference between revisions

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Given its chemical structure, mephedrone is likely to act as a [[releasing agent]] and a [[reuptake inhibitor]] for monoamine [[neurotransmitters]] such as [[dopamine]], [[serotonin]] and [[noradrenaline]].<ref>What should be done about mephedrone? | http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20332508</ref>

Several articles published near the end of 2011 examined the effects of mephedrone~~, compared to the similar drugs [[MDMA]] and [[amphetamine]]~~ in the brains of rats, as well as examining the reinforcing potential of mephedrone. [[Dopamine]] and [[serotonin]] were collected using microdialysis, and increases in [[dopamine]] and [[serotonin]] were measured. Mephedrone administration caused about a 500% increase in [[dopamine]], and about a 950% increase in [[serotonin]]. They reached their peak concentrations at 40 minutes and 20 minutes and returned to baseline by 120 minutes after injection.

Several articles published near the end of 2011 examined the effects of mephedrone in the brains of rats, as well as examining the reinforcing potential of mephedrone. [[Dopamine]] and [[serotonin]] were collected using microdialysis, and increases in [[dopamine]] and [[serotonin]] were measured. Mephedrone administration caused about a 500% increase in [[dopamine]], and about a 950% increase in [[serotonin]]. They reached their peak concentrations at 40 minutes and 20 minutes and returned to baseline by 120 minutes after injection.

Analysis of the ratio for dopamine and serotonin indicated mephedrone was preferentially a [[serotonin]] [[Releasing agent|releaser]], with a ratio of 1.22:1 ([[serotonin]] vs. [[dopamine]]). Additionally, half-lives for the decrease in DA and 5-HT were calculated and found to have decay rates of 24.5 minutes and 25.5 minutes. These findings show mephedrone induces a massive increase in both [[dopamine]] and [[serotonin]], combined with rapid clearance. This increase in neurotransmitters provides an explanation for the euphoric and stimulating subjective effects induced by this experience. The rapid rise and subsequent fall of [[dopamine]] levels could also explain some of the addictive properties mephedrone displays in some users.<ref>Mephedrone, compared with MDMA (ecstasy) and amphetamine, rapidly increases both dopamine and 5-HT levels in nucleus accumbens of awake rats | http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3246659/</ref><ref>4-Methylmethcathinone (mephedrone): neuropharmacological effects of a designer stimulant of abuse | http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21810934?dopt=Abstract</ref>

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 Given its chemical structure, mephedrone is likely to act as a [[releasing agent]] and a [[reuptake inhibitor]] for monoamine [[neurotransmitters]] such as [[dopamine]], [[serotonin]] and [[noradrenaline]].<ref>What should be done about mephedrone? | http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20332508</ref>
-Several articles published near the end of 2011 examined the effects of mephedrone, compared to the similar drugs [[MDMA]] and [[amphetamine]] in the brains of rats, as well as examining the reinforcing potential of mephedrone. [[Dopamine]] and [[serotonin]] were collected using microdialysis, and increases in [[dopamine]] and [[serotonin]] were measured. Mephedrone administration caused about a 500% increase in [[dopamine]], and about a 950% increase in [[serotonin]]. They reached their peak concentrations at 40 minutes and 20 minutes and returned to baseline by 120 minutes after injection.
+Several articles published near the end of 2011 examined the effects of mephedrone in the brains of rats, as well as examining the reinforcing potential of mephedrone. [[Dopamine]] and [[serotonin]] were collected using microdialysis, and increases in [[dopamine]] and [[serotonin]] were measured. Mephedrone administration caused about a 500% increase in [[dopamine]], and about a 950% increase in [[serotonin]]. They reached their peak concentrations at 40 minutes and 20 minutes and returned to baseline by 120 minutes after injection.
 Analysis of the ratio for dopamine and serotonin indicated mephedrone was preferentially a [[serotonin]] [[Releasing agent|releaser]], with a ratio of 1.22:1 ([[serotonin]] vs. [[dopamine]]). Additionally, half-lives for the decrease in DA and 5-HT were calculated and found to have decay rates of 24.5 minutes and 25.5 minutes. These findings show mephedrone induces a massive increase in both [[dopamine]] and [[serotonin]], combined with rapid clearance. This increase in neurotransmitters provides an explanation for the euphoric and stimulating subjective effects induced by this experience. The rapid rise and subsequent fall of [[dopamine]] levels could also explain some of the addictive properties mephedrone displays in some users.<ref>Mephedrone, compared with MDMA (ecstasy) and amphetamine, rapidly increases both dopamine and 5-HT levels in nucleus accumbens of awake rats | http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3246659/</ref><ref>4-Methylmethcathinone (mephedrone): neuropharmacological effects of a designer stimulant of abuse | http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21810934?dopt=Abstract</ref>