ETH-CAT

This page has not been fully approved by the PsychonautWiki administrators. It may contain incorrect information, particularly with respect to dosage, duration, subjective effects, toxicity and other risks. It may also not meet PW style and grammar standards.

ETH-CAT
Chemical Nomenclature
Common names	ETH-CAT, Ethcathinone, Ethylpropion
Substitutive name	Ethylcathinone
Systematic name	(RS)-1-(Benzo[d][1,3]dioxol-5-yl)-N-methylpropan-2-amine
Class Membership
Psychoactive class	Stimulant
Chemical class	Cathinone
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 60 mg Light 100 - 150 mg Common 150 - 225 mg Strong 225 - 325 mg Heavy 325 mg + Duration Total 3 - 5 hours Onset 15 - 40 minutes Come up 15 - 30 minutes Peak 60 - 90 minutes Offset 60 - 120 minutes ⇣ Insufflated Dosage Threshold 5 mg Light 15 - 35 mg Common 35 - 70 mg Strong 70 - 100 mg Heavy 100 mg + Duration Total 2 - 3 hours Onset 1 - 5 minutes Come up 15 - 30 minutes Peak 60 - 90 minutes Offset 30 - 60 minutes 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

Summary sheet: ETH-CAT

Ethylcathinone (also known as Ethylpropion, Ethcathinone, and commonly as ETH-CAT) is a synthetic stimulant of the cathinone chemical class that produces an array of medium-lived stimulating and motivating effects when administered. It is an active metabolite of the prodrug diethylcathinone and is thought to be responsible for its psychoactive effects.

Of the substituted cathinones, ETH-CAT has been reported to be one of the most moderate, subtle and residually enduring the stimulation it produces. Although it has no pronounced, habit-forming "rush" component like mephedrone (4-methylmethcathinone), ETH-CAT is often reported to exhibit a tendency to induce compulsive redosing, albeit in a manner that is often intended to just extend the effects of the plateau rather than reproduce the initial rush.

ETH-CAT has a relatively short period of human use but is generally suspected to be well tolerated and relatively safe, extrapolating from the molecular structure as well as reports of it exhibiting a so-called "ceiling effect" that generally limits the amount of potentially-distracting euphoria it can produce compared to many other stimulants in its class.

Historically, ETH-CAT has rarely been available on the streets, but was instead primarily distributed as a research chemical on the online grey market. However, in 2008 it was identified as an ingredient in both quasi-legal "party pills", and, along with another substituted cathinone, mephedrone, has also been reported as having been sold as "ecstasy"

Due to its short history of human use, moderately compulsive nature, and unknown toxicity profile, it is strongly advised to use harm reduction techniques if choosing to use this substance.

Chemistry

Ethylcathinone, or ETH-CAT, is a synthetic alkaloid of the substituted cathinone class. Substituted cathinones are all derivatives of cathinone, a stimulant substance which is structurally and functionally related to amphetamine and the principal active psychoactive component present in the khat plant (Catha edulis). The cathinone molecule is comprised of a phenethylamine core featuring a phenyl ring bound to an amino (NH₂) group at the end of an ethyl side-chain that contains ketone group in the beta position. In distinction to its N-methylated lower homolog, methcathinone (M-CAT), ETH-CAT possesses an additional ethyl substitution at R_α. ETH-CAT can be thought of as the cathinone analog of ethylamphetamine given it has the same general formula, differing only by the addition of a single double-bonded oxygen (i.e. the ketone group).

Cathinone substitutive structure.

Pharmacology

Although the effects of ETH-CAT have not been formally studied on the same level as traditional amphetamines or other substituted cathinones like methcathinone, it is possible to speculate that like other simple substituted cathinone, it most likely acts principally as a dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor.

The result of this is an effective increase in the levels of catecholamine neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain by binding to and partially blocking the transporter proteins that normally clear these neurotransmitters from the synaptic cleft. This enables dopamine and norepinephrine to accumulate between the synaptic clefts of key regions of the brain associated with reward, motivation, satisfaction and pleasure to extra-endogenous levels. This mechanism is thought to account for the stimulating, motivation enhancing and euphoric effects that this substance produces.

Subjective effects

At low to moderate doses, ETH-CAT has been reported as being a relatively functional and effective amphetamine-like stimulant for performing general productivity tasks. It has a noticeably short duration of activity combined with a tendency to produce long-lasting residual stimulation well after the main effects have worn off, which can promote patterns of compulsive redosing in order to maintain a steady level of the desired amount of physical and cognitive stimulation.

However, at higher doses, it becomes less of a productivity-oriented stimulant and takes on a recreational character, perhaps owing to the inherently distracting nature of the type of thought acceleration and cognitive euphoria it can induce. However, even at high doses, it is reported as falling short of many other, far more hedonic and recreational substituted cathinones such as mephedrone, methylone, and methcathinone (M-CAT).

Disclaimer: The effects listed below cite the Subjective Effect Index (SEI), an open research literature based on anecdotal user reports and the personal analyses of PsychonautWiki contributors. As a result, they should be viewed with a healthy degree of skepticism.

It is also worth noting that these effects will not necessarily occur in a predictable or reliable manner, although higher doses are more liable to induce the full spectrum of effects. Likewise, adverse effects become increasingly likely with higher doses and may include addiction, severe injury, or death ☠.

Physical effects

• Stimulation
• Physical euphoria
• Dehydration
• Appetite suppression
• Increased heart rate
• Teeth grinding - This component can be considered to be less intense when compared with that of MDMA.

Cognitive effects

The cognitive effects of ETH-CAT can be broken down into several components which intensify proportional to dosage. The general head space of ETH-CAT is described by many as one of mental stimulation and thought acceleration coupled with a mild sense of euphoria that is less pronounced than the head space of amphetamine, even at strong to heavy doses.

• Addiction suppression - In comparison to amphetamines, ethylcathinone lacks pronounced euphoria, yet retains a similar effect profile, potentially offering reduced propensity to abuse. This does not, however, mean that ethylcathinone is absent from habit-forming effects on its own.
• Analysis enhancement
• Anxiety - This compound produces little to no anxiety unless it is taken in large doses or redosed repeatedly.
• Thought acceleration
  • Cognitive euphoria
• Compulsive redosing
• Focus enhancement
• Motivation enhancement
• Thought organization
• Wakefulness

Visual effects

• Visual acuity enhancement
• Visual haze
• Peripheral information misinterpretation - This component primarily occurs at higher doses or after a sustained period of redosing.

After effects

The effects which occur during the offset of a stimulant experience generally feel negative and uncomfortable in comparison to the effects which occurred during its peak. This is often referred to as a "comedown" and occurs because of neurotransmitter depletion. Its effects commonly include:

• Anxiety
• Cognitive fatigue
• Depression
• Irritability
• Motivation suppression
• Thought deceleration
• Wakefulness

Potentially dangerous interactions

Warning: Many psychoactive substances that are reasonably safe to use on their own can suddenly become dangerous and even life-threatening when combined with certain other substances. The following list provides some known dangerous interactions (although it is not guaranteed to include all of them).

Always conduct independent research (e.g. Google, DuckDuckGo, PubMed) to ensure that a combination of two or more substances is safe to consume. Some of the listed interactions have been sourced from TripSit.

• "[[DangerousInteraction" contains a listed "[" character as part of the property label and has therefore been classified as invalid.]] - This combination may increase the amount of neurotransmitters such as dopamine to dangerous or even fatal levels. Examples include syrian rue, banisteriopsis caapi, and some antidepressants.
• Stimulants - Ethylcathinone can be potentially dangerous in combination with other stimulants as it can increase one's heart rate and blood pressure to dangerous levels.
• "[[DangerousInteraction" contains a listed "[" character as part of the property label and has therefore been classified as invalid.]] & "[[DangerousInteraction" contains a listed "[" character as part of the property label and has therefore been classified as invalid.]] - 25x compounds are highly stimulating and physically straining. Combinations with ETH-CAT should be strictly avoided due to the risk of excessive stimulation and heart strain. This can result in increased blood pressure, vasoconstriction, panic attacks, thought loops, seizures, and heart failure in extreme cases.
• "[[UncertainInteraction" contains a listed "[" character as part of the property label and has therefore been classified as invalid.]] - Combining alcohol with stimulants can be dangerous due to the risk of accidental over-intoxication. Stimulants mask alcohol's depressant effects, which is what most people use to assess their degree of intoxication. Once the stimulant wears off, the depressant effects will be left unopposed, which can result in blackouts and severe respiratory depression. If mixing, the user should strictly limit themselves to only drinking a certain amount of alcohol per hour.
• "[[UnsafeInteraction" contains a listed "[" character as part of the property label and has therefore been classified as invalid.]] - Combinations with DXM should be avoided due to its inhibiting effects on serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake. There is an increased risk of panic attacks and hypertensive crisis, or serotonin syndrome with serotonin releasers (MDMA, methylone, mephedrone, etc.). Monitor blood pressure carefully and avoid strenuous physical activity.
• "[[UnsafeInteraction" contains a listed "[" character as part of the property label and has therefore been classified as invalid.]] - Any neurotoxic effects of MDMA are likely to be increased when other stimulants are present. There is also a risk of excessive blood pressure and heart strain (cardiotoxicity).
• "[[UncertainInteraction" contains a listed "[" character as part of the property label and has therefore been classified as invalid.]] - Some reports suggest combinations with MXE may dangerously increase blood pressure and increase the risk of mania and psychosis.
• "[[UncertainInteraction" contains a listed "[" character as part of the property label and has therefore been classified as invalid.]] - Both classes carry a risk of delusions, mania and psychosis, and these risk may be multiplied when combined.
• "[[UnsafeInteraction" contains a listed "[" character as part of the property label and has therefore been classified as invalid.]] - ETH-CAT may be dangerous to combine with other stimulants like cocaine as they can increase one's heart rate and blood pressure to dangerous levels.
• "[[DangerousInteraction" contains a listed "[" character as part of the property label and has therefore been classified as invalid.]] - Tramadol is known to lower the seizure threshold and combinations with stimulants may further increase this risk.
• MDMA - The neurotoxic effects of MDMA may be increased when combined with amphetamines.
• Cocaine - This combination may increase strain on the heart to dangerous levels.

Toxicity and harm potential

Further information: Research chemicals § Toxicity and harm potential

The toxicity and long-term health effects of recreational ETH-CAT use do not seem to have been studied in any scientific context and the exact toxic dosage is unknown. This is because ETH-CAT has very little history of human usage. Anecdotal reports from people within the community who have tried ETH-CAT suggest that there do not seem to be any negative health effects attributed to simply trying this substance at low to moderate doses by itself and using it sparingly (although nothing can be completely guaranteed). Others have commented that its d-isomer form is virtually similar to the effects of d-isomer amphetamine, and has thus far shown little reason to suspect that its toxicity is radically different (though this has yet to be scientifically validated).

It is strongly recommended that one use harm reduction practices when using this substance.

Tolerance and addiction potential

As with other stimulants, ETH-CAT may also possess habit-forming or reinforcing properties. Compared with other stimulants, however, chronic use of ETH-CAT is more likely to be considered to be only mildly addictive with a comparatively low potential for abuse. Early studies demonstrate ETH-CAT suppresses cocaine self-administration in rhesus monkeys, without the adverse effects associated with older dopamine releasing agent (e.g., amphetamine). Despite this, ethcathinone may still be capable of causing psychological dependence among certain users.

Tolerance to many of the effects of ETH-CAT develops with prolonged and repeated use. This results in users having to administer increasingly large doses to achieve the same effects. After that, it takes about 2 - 3 days for the tolerance to be reduced to half and 3-5 days to be back at baseline (in the absence of further consumption). ETH-CAT presents cross-tolerance with [[Cross-tolerance::all dopaminergic stimulants]], meaning that after the consumption of ETH-CAT all stimulants will have a reduced effect.

Psychosis

Main article: Stimulant psychosis

Abuse of compounds within the amphetamine chemical 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, hallucinations, or delusions). A review on treatment for amphetamine and methamphetamine abuse-induced psychosis states that about 5–15% of users fail to recover completely. The same review asserts that, based upon at least one trial, antipsychotic medications effectively resolve the symptoms of acute amphetamine psychosis. Psychosis is known to arises only very rarely from therapeutic use.

Legality

ETH-CAT is currently an unscheduled compound within all parts of the world, meaning its regulation lies in a legal grey area and is not explicitly prohibited within any country. However, people may still be charged for its possession under certain circumstances such as under analogue laws due to its similarity to methcathinone, a widely prohibited substance, provided there is intent to sell or consume.

• China - As of October 2015 Ethylcathinone is a controlled substance in China.
• Denmark - Ethcathinone, along with mephedrone and flephedrone, was banned in Denmark on December 18, 2008.
• United Kingdom - It is illegal to produce, supply, or import this drug under the Psychoactive Substance Act, which came into effect on May 26th, 2016.
• United States - Ethylcathinone may be considered to be an analog of amphetamine, thus falling under the Federal Analog Act.The Federal Analog Act, 21 U.S.C. § 813, is a section of the United States Controlled Substances Act, allowing any chemical "substantially similar" to an illegal drug (in Schedule I or II) to be treated as if it were also in Schedule I or II, but only if it is intended for human consumption.

See also

• Responsible use
• Stimulants
• Substituted cathinone
• Methcathinone
• Amphetamine

External links

• Ethcathinone (Wikipedia)
• Ethcathinone (Erowid)
• Ethcathinone (TripSit)