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Ephylone has been linked to numerous overdoses and deaths.
It is strongly discouraged to use this substance in high doses, multiple times in a row, or in combination with other substances known to increase the risk of psychosis or serotonin syndrome. Please see this section for more details.
WARNING: Always start with lower doses due to differences between individual body weight, tolerance, metabolism, and personal sensitivity. See responsible use section.
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.
N-Ethylpentylone (also known as bk-EBDP, βk-EBDP, and ephylone) is a novel stimulant-entactogen substance of the cathinone class. Ephylone is chemically related to pentylone and belongs to a group of compounds known as the substituted cathinones. Little is known about its pharmacology, although it likely produces its effects by increasing levels of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine in the brain.[1]
Ephylone was developed in the 1960s by Boehringer Ingelheim as a central nervous system stimulant,[1] although it never became marketed. Reports of recreational use first appeared in late 2015. Since then, its prevalence has steadily risen, particularly at dance music festivals where it appears as an adulterant or counterfeit for MDMA.[1] Ephylone has been linked to numerous hospitalizations and overdose deaths.[2]
User reports indicate that ephylone produces a mixture of classic stimulant and entactogenic effects resembling those of MDMA, methylone and cocaine. Typical effects include stimulation, disinhibition, increased libido, compulsive redosing, and euphoria. Unlike similar substances, however, ephylone is reported to be very long lasting when taken in larger doses. The significance of this is not known, although it may indicate that it has a different toxicity profile compared to other stimulants.
Synthetic cathinones were first synthesized in the late 1920s, starting with methcathinone and mephedrone. However, they did not find medical use due to their side effects. In the early 2000s, synthetic cathinones began to be sold in "head" shops and online as designer drugs, also known as research chemicals and "legal highs".[3] Their quasi-legality and ability to substitute for traditional stimulants like cocaine or amphetamine made them popular in certain demographics. Due to a history of being falsely marketed as bath salt products, they are referred in the media as "bath salts."
The synthesis of ephylone was first described in a patent filed by Boehringer Ingelheim in 1969. It was described alongside the synthesis of other novel central nervous system stimulants including pentylone, butylone and dibutylone. However, its pharmacological properties were not tested and it was never marketed.
The emergence of ephylone on the recreational drug market was reported in drug seizures for the first time in 2016. According to 2017 DEA reports, ephylone was the number one reported synthetic cathinone accounting for 55%, 50% and 38% of cases reported for the first three quarters of 2017, respectively.[2]
Reports about the availability and effects of ephylone began to appear in forums such as bluelight.org or drugs-forum.com by mid-2015. A 2018 report issued by the drug testing organization Energy Control found evidence indicating increasing use of ephylone as a counterfeit or adulterant for MDMA.[4]
Chemistry
Ephylone, or N-ethylpentylone, is a synthetic substance belonging to a group known as substituted cathinones. Substituted cathinones are derivatives of the naturally occurring substance cathinone, which is one of the psychoactive principles in khat (Catha edullis). Cathinone is composed of a phenethylamine core with an alkyl group attached to the alpha carbon, and a ketone group attached to the beta carbon.
Ephylone is a structural analog of pentylone. Pentylone's chemical structure consists of a cathinone core substituted with a methylenedioxy ring at R3 and R4 of the phenyl ring, a propyl group at the alpha carbon, and a methyl group at the amino group. Ephylone has an identical structure with the exception of an N-ethyl alkyl substituting for the N-methyl moiety.
Pharmacology
Very little data exists on the human pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of ethylone and other substituted cathinones. Like amphetamines, synthetic cathinones exert their stimulating and sympathomimetic effects via increasing synaptic concentration of catecholamines such as dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine. These molecules are able to inhibit monoaminereuptake transporters producing a decreased clearance of the neurotransmitters from the synapse. Furthermore, they may cause release of biogenic amines from intracellular stores.[5]
Synthetic cathinones are generally less able than amphetamines to cross the blood–brain barrier because the beta-keto group causes an increase in polarity. Unlike other synthetic cathinones, pyrrolidine derivatives have a higher ability to cross the blood–brain barrier because the pyrrolidine ring confers a low polarity to these molecules. The studies on the metabolism of synthetic cathinones have shown that they are N-demethylated, the keto group is reduced to hydroxyl and ring alkyl groups are oxidised.[6]
Compared to other stimulant-entactogens, ephylone is reported to be more stimulating than entactogenic. Entactogenic feelings are said to be weak compared to substances like MDMA, 6-APB or methylone. Ephylone is also described as less euphoric and satisfying than traditional entactogens. Reports suggest that the physical side effects increase disproportionately to the desirable effects, which may promote compulsive redosing.
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 PsychonautWikicontributors. 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 ☠.
Dehydration - Ephylone appears to be dehydrating to a similar extent as substances like methylone. Users are advised to pay careful attention to both their water and electrolyte levels when taking the substance, being cautious to neither under nor over-drink.
Transformations - A rare effect that typically only occurs when the user has taken high doses, is coming down, or are sleep deprived. They are usually mild when they do occur.
Shadow people - A rare effect that occurs mostly due to sleep deprivation brought on by continual redosing or very high doses.
Compulsive redosing - Reports of redose compulsion on ephylone suggests it is more similar to other substituted cathinones like mephedrone, than to MDMA.
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" or "crash" and occurs because of neurotransmitter depletion. Its effects commonly include:
This toxicity and harm potential section is a stub.
As a result, it may contain incomplete or even dangerously wrong information! You can help by expanding upon or correcting it. Note: Always conduct independent research and use harm reduction practices if using this substance.
Ephylone is a research chemical with a very short history of human usage. Very little is known about its long-term health effects and the exact toxic dosage is unknown.
Numerous reports of hospitalizations and overdose deaths indicate that ephylone is extremely toxic at very high dosages.[7] The DEA claimed approximately 151 ephylone-related deaths occurred in the U.S. between 2014 and 2018.[8] Higher dosages of ephylone have been linked to serotonin syndrome, rhabdomyolysis, kidney injury, acidemia and other life-threatening symptoms.[2]
As with other stimulants, the chronic use of ephylone can be considered moderately addictive with a high potential for abuse. It is capable of causing psychological dependence among certain users. When addiction has developed, cravings and withdrawal effects will occur if one suddenly stops their use.
Tolerance to many of the effects of ephylone develops with prolonged and repeated use. This results in users having to administer increasingly large doses to achieve the same effects.
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.]] & "[[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 Ephylone 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.]] - Ephylone 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[9] and combinations with stimulants may further increase this risk.
Combinations with the following substances can cause dangerously high serotonin levels. Serotonin syndrome requires immediate medical attention and can be fatal if left untreated.
As such, it may contain incomplete or wrong information. You can help by expanding it.
Ephylone is currently unscheduled in most parts of the world.
Brazil: On September 7, 2018, all Cathinone analogues are controlled substances considered illegal to possess, use and distribute. This was made possible due to a blanket ban law appended to Portaria SVS/MS nº 344.[11]
Germany: Ephylone is controlled under Anlage II BtMG (Narcotics Act, Schedule II)[12] as of December 21, 2019.[13] It is illegal to manufacture, possess, import, export, buy, sell, procure or dispense it without a license.[14]
Switzerland: Ephylone can be considered a controlled substance as a defined derivative of Cathinone under Verzeichnis E point 1. It is legal when used for scientific or industrial use.[15]
United States: On July 13, 2018, the DEA issued a temporary scheduling order to place ephylone in schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).[8] This makes the production, sale, and possession of ephylone illegal.
Prosser, J. M., & Nelson, L. S. (2012). The toxicology of bath salts: a review of synthetic cathinones. Journal of Medical Toxicology, 8(1), 33-42. https://doi.org/0.1007/s13181-011-0193-z.
Wood, M. R., Bernal, I., & Lalancette, R. A. (2017). The hydrochloride hydrates of pentylone and dibutylone and the hydrochloride salt of ephylone: the structures of three novel designer cathinones. Structural Chemistry, 28(5), 1369-1376. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11224-017-0951-x
Krotulski, A. J., Papsun, D. M., De Martinis, B. S., Mohr, A. L., & Logan, B. K. (2018). N-Ethyl Pentylone (Ephylone) Intoxications: Quantitative Confirmation and Metabolite Identification in Authentic Human Biological Specimens. Journal of Analytical Toxicology. https://doi.org/10.1093/jat/bky025
↑Thirakul, P., S Hair, L., L Bergen, K., M Pearson, J. (1 May 2017). "Clinical Presentation, Autopsy Results and Toxicology Findings in an Acute N-Ethylpentylone Fatality". Journal of Analytical Toxicology. 41 (4): 342–346. doi:10.1093/jat/bkx004. ISSN1945-2403.
↑Talaie, H.; Panahandeh, R.; Fayaznouri, M. R.; Asadi, Z.; Abdollahi, M. (2009). "Dose-independent occurrence of seizure with tramadol". Journal of Medical Toxicology. 5 (2): 63–67. doi:10.1007/BF03161089. eISSN1937-6995. ISSN1556-9039. OCLC163567183.
. eISSN 1471-6771. ISSN 0007-0912. OCLC 01537271. PMID 16051647.