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==Pharmacology==
==Pharmacology==
The pharmacology and toxicology of mephedrone had not been studied in detail until well after its sale as a designer drug and its addition to controlled drug lists in many countries.[88][89] However, given its chemical structure, mephedrone is likely to stimulate the release of, and then inhibit the reuptake of monoamine [[neurotransmitters]] such as [[dopamine]], [[serotonin]] and [[noradrenaline]].[79]
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>


The cathinone derivatives methcathinone and methylone act in a similar way to amphetamines, mainly acting on catecholamine transporters, so mephedrone is expected also to act in this way. The actions of amphetamines and cathinones are determined by the differences in how they bind to noradrenalin, dopamine and serotonin transporters.[88]
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.


Mephedrone has a chiral centre, so exists in two forms, called [[enantiomers]]; the S form is thought to be more potent than the R form, because this applies to cathinone.[88] Professor David Nutt, former chair of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) in the UK has said, "people are better off taking ecstasy or amphetamines than those [drugs] we know nothing about" and "Who knows what's in [mephedrone] when you buy it? We don't have a testing system. It could be very dangerous, we just don't know. These chemicals have never been put into animals, let alone humans."[91] Les King, a former member of the ACMD, has stated mephedrone appears to be less potent than amphetamine and ecstasy, but that any benefit associated with this could be negated by users taking larger amounts. He also told the BBC, "all we can say is [mephedrone] is probably as harmful as ecstasy and amphetamines and wait until we have some better scientific evidence to support that."[92]
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>
 
Several articles published near the end of 2011 examined the effects of mephedrone, compared to the similar drugs MDMA and amphetamine in the nucleus accumbens 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 using HPLC. Reward and drug seeking are linked to increases in dopamine concentrations in the nucleus accumbens, and drug half-life plays a role in drug seeking, as well. Based on histological examination, most of the author's probes were in the nucleus accumbens shell. 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, respectively, and returned to baseline by 120 minutes after injection. In comparison, MDMA caused a roughly 900% increase in serotonin at 40 minutes, with an insignificant increase in dopamine. Amphetamine administration resulted in about a 400% increase in dopamine, peaking at 40 minutes, with an insignificant increase in serotonin. Analysis of the ratio of the AUC for dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT) indicated mephedrone was preferentially a serotonin releaser, with a ratio of 1.22:1 (serotonin vs. dopamine). Additionally, half-lives for the decrease in DA and 5-HT were calculated for each drug. Mephedrone had decay rates of 24.5 minutes and 25.5 minutes, respectively. MDMA had decay values of 302.5 minutes and 47.9 minutes, respectively, while amphetamine values were 51 minutes and 84.1 minutes, respectively. Taken together, these findings show mephedrone induces a massive increase in both DA and 5-HT, combined with rapid clearance. The rapid rise and subsequent fall of DA levels could explain some of the addictive properties mephedrone displays in some users.[93][94]


==Subjective effects==
==Subjective effects==

Revision as of 08:41, 7 May 2014

Mephedrone
The skeletal formula of Mephedrone.
Dosage (Insufflated)
Threshold 5 - 15 mg
Light 15 - 25 mg
Common 20 - 80 mg
Strong 75 - 125 mg
Duration
Total duration 2 - 5 hrs
Onset / Initial effects 15 - 45 mins
Coming up 15 - 30 mins
Peak 15 - 30 mins
Coming down 30 - 90 mins
After effects 2 - 4 hrs

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Mephedrone, also known as 4-methylmethcathinone (4-MMC) or 4-methylephedrone, is a synthetic stimulant drug of the amphetamine and cathinone classes. Slang names include drone,[1] M-CAT,[2] and meow meow.[3] 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.

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.

Chemistry

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.[4]

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.

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 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.[5][6]

Subjective effects

Physical effects

Cognitive effects

Toxicity and Harm Potential

Despite similarities to known neurotoxins such as methamphetamine and cathinone derivatives, mephedrone does not appear to produce neurotoxic effects in the dopamine system of mice.[7]

Lethal dosage

Tolerance and addiction potential

See also

References

  1. ↑ Mephedrone: Chemistry lessons | http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/7614099/Mephedrone-Chemistry-lessons.html
  2. ↑ Drugs crackdown hailed a success | http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/north_east/8555872.stm
  3. ↑ Mephedrone (4-methylmethcathinone; ‘meow meow’): chemical, pharmacological and clinical issues | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00213-010-2070-x
  4. ↑ What should be done about mephedrone? | http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20332508
  5. ↑ 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/
  6. ↑ 4-Methylmethcathinone (mephedrone): neuropharmacological effects of a designer stimulant of abuse | http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21810934?dopt=Abstract
  7. ↑ Mephedrone, an abused psychoactive component of 'bath salts' and methamphetamine congener, does not cause neurotoxicity to dopamine nerve endings of the striatum | http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22191803
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