Mephedrone

Mephedrone was first synthesised in 1929, but did not become widely known until it was rediscovered in 2003. By 2007, mephedrone was reported to be available for sale on the internet, by 2008 law enforcement agencies had become aware of the compound, and by 2010 it had been reported in most of Europe, becoming particularly prevalent in the United Kingdom.

Mephedrone
Chemical Nomenclature
Common names	Mephedrone
Substitutive name	4-methylmethcathinone, 4-MMC, 4-methylephedrone, Drone, M-CAT, Meow meow
Systematic name	(RS)-2-Methylamino-1-(4-methylphenyl)propan-1-one
Routes of Administration
WARNING: Always start with lower doses due to differences between individual body weight, tolerance, metabolism, and personal sensitivity. See responsible use section. ⇣ Oral Dosage Threshold 15 - 50 mg Light 50 - 100 mg Common 100 - 200 mg Strong 150 - 300+ mg Duration ⇣ Insufflated Dosage Threshold 5 - 15 mg Light 15 - 25 mg Common 20 - 80 mg Strong 75 - 125 mg Duration Total 2 - 5 hrs Onset 15 - 45 mins Peak 15 - 30 mins Offset 30 - 90 mins DISCLAIMER: PW's dosage information is gathered from users and resources for educational purposes only. It is not a recommendation and should be verified with other sources for accuracy.
Interactions
MAOIs
Serotonin releasers
SSRIs
5-HTP

Mephedrone, also known as 4-methylmethcathinone (4-MMC) or 4-methylephedrone, is a synthetic stimulant drug of the amphetamine and cathinone classes. Slang names for the drug include drone, M-CAT, and meow meow. It is chemically similar to the cathinone compounds found in the khat plant of eastern Africa. It comes in the form of tablets or a powder, which users can swallow, snort, inject or insert rectally producing effects which are somewhat similar to that MDMA, amphetamine, and cocaine.

Pharmacology

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.

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 releaser, with a ratio of 1.22:1 (serotonin vs. dopamine). Additionally, half-lives for the decrease in dopamine and serotonin 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 of mephedrone display in some users.

Subjective effects

The effects listed below are based upon the subjective effects index and personal experiences of PsychonautWiki contributors. The listed effects will rarely if ever occur all at once but heavier dosages will increase the chances and are more likely to induce a full range of effects.

Physical effects

The physical effects of mephedrone can be broken down into seven components all of which progressively intensify proportional to dosage. These are described below and generally include:

• Spontaneous tactile sensations - The body high of mephedrone can be described as a moderate to extreme euphoric tingling sensation that encompasses the entire body. It is capable of becoming overwhelmingly pleasurable at higher dosages. This sensation maintains a consistent presence that steadily rises with the onset and hits its limit once the peak has been reached.
• Stimulation - In terms of its effects on the user's physical energy levels, mephedrone is commonly considered to be extremely stimulating and energetic. This encourages activities such as running, climbing and dancing in a way that makes mephedrone a popular choice for musical events such as festivals and raves. The particular style of stimulation which mephedrone presents can be described as forced. This means that at higher dosages it becomes difficult or impossible to keep still, as jaw clenching and involuntarily bodily shakes and vibrations become present, resulting in an extreme unsteadiness of the hands and a general lack of motor control.
• Vibrating vision - A person's eyeballs may even begin to spontaneously wiggle back and forth in a rapid motion, causing vision to become blurry and temporarily out of focus-- a condition known as nystagmus.
• Dehydration - Dry mouth and dehydration are a universal experience with mephedrone and are a product of an increased heart rate and extreme motivation to engage in strenuous physical activities. While it is important to avoid becoming dehydrated, especially when out dancing in a hot environment, there is a potential possibility of suffering from water intoxication through over-drinking so it is advised that users simply sip at water and never over drink.
• Difficulty urinating - Higher doses of mephedrone result in an overall difficulty when it comes to urination, an effect that is completely temporary and harmless.
• Vasoconstriction - A survey conducted by the UK's National Addiction Centre reported that 15% of mephedrone users experienced cold or blue fingers and lips indicative of vasoconstriction occurring.
• Enhancement of touch

Cognitive effects

The cognitive effects of mephedrone can be broken down into eight components all of which progressively intensify proportional to dosage. The general head space of mephedrone is described by many as one of extreme mental stimulation and powerful euphoria. It contains a large number of typical stimulant cognitive effects.

The most prominent of these cognitive effects generally include:

• Euphoria - Strong emotional euphoria and feelings of happiness are present within mephedrone and are likely a direct result of serotonin and dopamine release.
• Thought acceleration
• Increased empathy, love and sociability - This particular effect, although distinct, is far less prominent than the same effect found within traditional entactogens such as MDMA or 2C-B
• Time distortion - Strong feelings of time compression are common within mephedrone and speed up the experience of time quite noticeable.
• Ego inflation
• Disinhibition
• Increased motivation
• Anxiety

Toxicity and Harm Potential

Almost nothing is known about the long-term effects of mephedrone due to its short history of its use. Along side of this, the median lethal dosage remains unknown and unstudied.

Despite similarities to known neurotoxins such as methamphetamine and other cathinone derivatives, mephedrone does not appear to produce neurotoxic effects in the dopamine system of mice.

Tolerance and addiction potential

Tolerance develops rapidly in mephedrone abuse, so periods of extended use require increasing doses of the drug in order to achieve the same effect. Addiction is a serious risk with heavy recreational mephedrone use, but is unlikely to arise from occasional and responsible usage.

Interactions

Mephedrone should not be used in combination with other stimulants as it could potentially increase one's heart rate and blood pressure to dangerous levels.

Legal issues

• European Union (EU): In October 2010, a European Union commission called for an EU-wide ban of mephedrone.
• Australia: Mephedrone has been added to the Australian federal drug watch list and is now considered illegal if intended for human consumption.
• Belgium: Mephedrone was banned on April 29, 2010, by making it a regulated drug requiring the approval of the Ministry of Human Health to import, sell, or possess.
• Brazil: Mephedrone was added to the list of Scheduled drugs (class F2), making it illegal to possess, sell, or manufacture without a license as of August 2011.
• China: Mephedrone was made a Category I psychotropic substance, making it illegal to sell, buy, import, export, and manufacture as of September 2010.
• Denmark: Denmark's Minister for Health and Prevention Jakob Axel Nielsen banned mephedrone, flephedrone and ethylcathinone on December 18, 2008. As of July 1, 2012, Denmark also created a type of analogue law that would include cathinones like mephedrone
• Finland: Through the Medicines Act, mephedrone is classified as a "medicinal product", making it illegal to manufacture, import, possess, sell, or transfer it without a prescription.
• France: French Ministry of Health decided in early June 2010 to add mephedrone to the list of illicit substances in the "Journal Officiel du 11 juin 2010".
• Germany (Deutschland): Mephedrone has been added to Anlage I starting Jan 22, 2010 and will then be controlled in Germany.
• Israel: In December 2007, mephedrone was added to Israel's list of controlled substances, making it illegal to buy, sell, or possess.
• Netherlands: In March, 2010, the Dutch Ministry of Health and the Medicines Authority IGZ informed the Ministry of Justice that they now consider mephedrone an unregulated medicine; sales and distribution of it are now prohibited.
• Norway: The "Derivatbestemmelsen" is an Analog Act-type law in Norway that controls mephedrone, Bk-MBDB, Bromo-Dragonfly, 1,4butanediol, GBL, and MBDB.
• Poland: On August 25, 2010, mephedrone was added to the list of controlled "psychotropic drugs" in the I-P group.
• Romania: Mephedrone was added to Romania's list of controlled substances in February 2010.
• Russia: Mephedrone is classified as List 1 in Russian Federation as of August 2010. This means it is illegal to manufacture, buy, possess, or distribute.
• Slovak Republic: Starting March 1, 2011 mephedrone is controlled in the Slovak Republic.
• Sweden: In Sweden, the drug is classified as a "health hazard" or "hazardous substance" ("hälsofarlig vara") pending further legislation. A ban on mephedrone went into effect on December 15, 2008, making its sale illegal. Use of 4-methylmethcathinone is not explicitly illegal under this regulation.
• United Kingdom: Mephedrone is a class B drug; it is illegal to possess without the proper license or prescription as of April 16, 2010.
• USA: Mephedrone is currently a Schedule I drug in the United States. This means it is illegal to manufacture, buy, possess, or distribute (sell, trade or give) without a DEA license.

See also

• Stimulants
• Substituted Cathinones
• Amphetamine
• MDMA
• Cocaine
• Mephedrone (Wikipedia)
• Mephedrone (Erowid)