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Trade names | Aptrol |
Other names | 4-MA; PAL-313; PAL313; p-TAP; Normephedrine |
Routes of administration | Oral, intranasal, injection, |
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Elimination half-life | 6–12 hours |
Excretion | Urine |
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Chemical and physical data | |
Formula | C10H15N |
Molar mass | 149.237 g·mol−1 |
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4-Methylamphetamine (4-MA), also known by the former proposed brand name Aptrol, is a stimulant and anorectic drug of the amphetamine family. It is structurally related to mephedrone (4-methylmethcathinone).
In vitro , 4-methylamphetamine acts as a potent and well-balanced serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine releasing agent (SNDRA) with EC50 values of 53.4 nM, 22.2 nM, and 44.1 nM at the serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine transporters, respectively. [1]
However, more recent in vivo studies that involved performing microdialysis on rats showed a different trend. These studies showed that 4-methylamphetamine is much more potent at elevating serotonin (~18 x baseline) relative to dopamine (~5 x baseline). The authors speculated that this is because 5-HT release dampens DA release through some mechanism. For example, it was suggested that a possible cause for this could be activation of 5HT2C receptors since this is known to inhibit DA release. In addition there are alternative explanations such as 5-HT release then going on to encourage GABA release, which has an inhibitory effect on DA neurons. [2]
Compound | NE | DA | 5-HT | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
Dextroamphetamine | 6.6–10.2 | 5.8–24.8 | 698–1,765 | [3] [4] [5] [6] |
Dextromethamphetamine | 12.3–14.3 | 8.5–40.4 | 736–1,292 | [3] [7] [5] [6] |
4-Methylamphetamine | 22.2 | 44.1 | 53.4 | [8] [9] [5] |
4-Methylmethamphetamine (mephedrine) | 66.9 | 41.3 | 67.4 | [10] [11] |
4-Methylcathinone (normephedrone) | 100 | 220 | 210 | [12] [13] [14] |
4-Methylmethcathinone (mephedrone) | 58–62.7 | 49.1–51 | 118.3–122 | [7] [4] [15] [16] [17] |
Notes: The smaller the value, the more strongly the drug releases the neurotransmitter. The assays were done in rat brain synaptosomes and human potencies may be different. See also Monoamine releasing agent § Activity profiles for a larger table with more compounds. Refs: [18] [19] |
4-MA was investigated as an appetite suppressant in 1952 and was even given a trade name, Aptrol, but development was apparently never completed. [20] More recently it has been reported as a novel designer drug.
In animal studies, 4-MA was shown to have the lowest rate of self-administration out of a range of similar drugs tested (the others being 3-methylamphetamine, 4-fluoroamphetamine, and 3-fluoroamphetamine), likely as a result of having the highest potency for releasing serotonin relative to dopamine. [1] [21]
More than a dozen deaths were reported throughout Europe in 2012-2013 after consumption of amphetamine ('speed') contaminated with 4-methylamphetamine. [22] [23] [24]
Methcathinone is a monoamine alkaloid and psychoactive stimulant, a substituted cathinone. It is used as a recreational drug due to its potent stimulant and euphoric effects and is considered to be addictive, with both physical and psychological withdrawal occurring if its use is discontinued after prolonged or high-dosage administration. It is usually snorted, but can be smoked, injected, or taken orally.
Phentermine, sold under the brand name Adipex-P among others, is a medication used together with diet and exercise to treat obesity. It is available by itself or as the combination phentermine/topiramate. Phentermine is taken by mouth.
Phenmetrazine, sold under the brand name Preludin among others, is a stimulant drug first synthesized in 1952 and originally used as an appetite suppressant, but withdrawn from the market in the 1980s due to widespread misuse. It was initially replaced by its analogue phendimetrazine which functions as a prodrug to phenmetrazine, but now it is rarely prescribed, due to concerns of misuse and addiction. Chemically, phenmetrazine is a substituted amphetamine containing a morpholine ring or a substituted phenylmorpholine.
4-Methylaminorex is a stimulant drug of the 2-amino-5-aryloxazoline group that was first synthesized in 1960 by McNeil Laboratories. It is also known by its street name "U4Euh" ("Euphoria"). It is banned in many countries as a stimulant. 4-Methylaminorex has effects comparable to methamphetamine but with a longer duration.
Aminorex, sold under the brand names Menocil and Apiquel among others, is a weight loss (anorectic) stimulant drug. It was withdrawn from the market after it was found to cause pulmonary hypertension (PPH). In the United States, aminorex is a Schedule I controlled substance.
Chlorphentermine, sold under the brand names Apsedon, Desopimon, and Lucofen, is a serotonergic appetite suppressant of the amphetamine family. Developed in 1962, it is the para-chloro derivative of the better-known appetite suppressant phentermine, which is still in current use.
Etilamfetamine, also known as N-ethylamphetamine and formerly sold under the brand names Apetinil and Adiparthrol, is a stimulant drug of the amphetamine family. It was invented in the early 20th century and was subsequently used as an anorectic or appetite suppressant in the 1950s, but was not as commonly used as other amphetamines such as amphetamine, methamphetamine, and benzphetamine, and was largely discontinued once newer drugs such as phenmetrazine were introduced.
Propylamphetamine is a psychostimulant of the amphetamine family which was never marketed. It was first developed in the 1970s, mainly for research into the metabolism of, and as a comparison tool to, other amphetamines.
Naphthylaminopropane, also known as naphthylisopropylamine (NIPA), is an experimental drug that was under investigation for the treatment of alcohol and stimulant addiction.
Norfenfluramine, or 3-trifluoromethylamphetamine, is a never-marketed drug of the amphetamine family and a major active metabolite of the appetite suppressants fenfluramine and benfluorex. The compound is a racemic mixture of two enantiomers with differing activities, dexnorfenfluramine and levonorfenfluramine.
A monoamine releasing agent (MRA), or simply monoamine releaser, is a drug that induces the release of one or more monoamine neurotransmitters from the presynaptic neuron into the synapse, leading to an increase in the extracellular concentrations of the neurotransmitters and hence enhanced signaling by those neurotransmitters. The monoamine neurotransmitters include serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine; MRAs can induce the release of one or more of these neurotransmitters.
A dopamine releasing agent (DRA) is a type of drug which induces the release of dopamine in the body and/or brain.
A serotonin–dopamine releasing agent (SDRA) is a type of drug which induces the release of serotonin and dopamine in the body and/or brain.
4-Methylmethamphetamine (4-MMA), also known as mephedrine, is a putative stimulant and entactogen drug of the amphetamine family. It acts as a serotonin–norepinephrine–dopamine releasing agent (SNDRA). The drug is the β-deketo analogue of mephedrone and the N-methyl analogue of 4-methylamphetamine (4-MA).
Substituted cathinones, or simply cathinones, which include some stimulants and entactogens, are derivatives of cathinone. They feature a phenethylamine core with an alkyl group attached to the alpha carbon, and a ketone group attached to the beta carbon, along with additional substitutions. Cathinone occurs naturally in the plant khat whose leaves are chewed as a recreational drug.
4,4'-Dimethylaminorex, sometimes referred to by the street name "Serotoni", is a psychostimulant and entactogen designer drug related to aminorex, 4-methylaminorex, and pemoline. It was first detected in the Netherlands in December 2012, and has been sold as a designer drug around Europe since mid-2013.
4-Methylcathinone (4-MC), also known as normephedrone is a stimulant drug of the cathinone group. It is an active metabolite of the better known drug mephedrone.
3',4'-Methylenedioxy-4-methylaminorex (MDMAR) is a recreational designer drug from the substituted aminorex family, with monoamine-releasing effects. It is a potent serotonin–norepinephrine–dopamine releasing agent (SNDRA).
Butylamphetamine is a psychostimulant of the substituted amphetamine family which was never marketed.
2-Phenylmorpholine is the parent compound of the substituted phenylmorpholine class of compounds. Examples of 2-phenylmorpholine derivatives include phenmetrazine (3-methyl-2-phenylmorpholine), phendimetrazine ( -3,4-dimethyl-2-phenylmorpholine), and pseudophenmetrazine ( -3-methyl-2-phenylmorpholine), which are monoamine releasing agents (MRAs) and psychostimulants. 2-Phenylmorpholine itself is a potent norepinephrine–dopamine releasing agent (NDRA) and hence may act as a stimulant similarly.
RESULTS. Methamphetamine and amphetamine potently released NE (IC50s = 14.3 and 7.0 nM) and DA (IC50s = 40.4 nM and 24.8 nM), and were much less potent releasers of 5-HT (IC50s = 740 nM and 1765 nM). Phentermine released all three biogenic amines with an order of potency NE (IC50 = 28.8 nM)> DA (IC50 = 262 nM)> 5-HT (IC50 = 2575 nM). Aminorex released NE (IC50 = 26.4 nM), DA (IC50 = 44.8 nM) and 5-HT (IC50 = 193 nM). Chlorphentermine was a very potent 5-HT releaser (IC50 = 18.2 nM), a weaker DA releaser (IC50 = 935 nM) and inactive in the NE release assay. Chlorphentermine was a moderate potency inhibitor of [3H]NE uptake (Ki = 451 nM). Diethylpropion, which is self-administered, was a weak DA uptake inhibitor (Ki = 15 µM) and NE uptake inhibitor (Ki = 18.1 µM) and essentially inactive in the other assays. Phendimetrazine, which is self-administered, was a weak DA uptake inhibitor (IC50 = 19 µM), a weak NE uptake inhibitor (8.3 µM) and essentially inactive in the other assays.