Analysis of 4-MEC in biological and non-biological material—Three case reports

Gil, Dominika; Adamowicz, Piotr; Skulska, Agnieszka; Tokarczyk, Bogdan; Stanaszek, Roman

doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2013.03.011

Cited by 40 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…No controlled clinical studies have been performed with synthetic cathinones. What makes descriptions of the human pharmacology of specific synthetic cathinones particularly difficult is that i) the various preparations are known by dozens of names, ii) some preparations contain multiple constituents – up to as many as 10 (Gil, Adamowicz, Skulska, Tokarczyk & Stanaszek, 2013), iii) the constituents are constantly changing (even if a “brand name” doesn’t), and iv) individuals presenting at emergency departments typically are unaware of specifically what they have taken. Another confounding factor is the route of administration.…”

Section: Synthetic Cathinones: Human Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Bath Salts, Mephedrone, and Methylenedioxypyrovalerone as Emerging Illicit Drugs That Will Need Targeted Therapeutic Intervention

Glennon

2014

Advances in Pharmacology

107

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The term “synthetic cathinones” is fairly new; but, although the abuse of synthetic cathinones is a recent problem, research on cathinone analogs dates back >100 years. One structural element cathinone analogs have in common is an α-aminophenone moiety. Introduction of amine and/or aryl substituents affords a large number of agents. Today, >40 synthetic cathinones have been identified on the clandestine market and many have multiple “street names”. Many cathinone analogs, although not referred to as such until the late 1970s, were initially prepared as intermediates in the synthesis of ephedrine analogs. The cathinones do not represent a pharmacologically or mechanistically homogeneous class of agents. Currently abused synthetic cathinones are derived from earlier agents and seem to produce their actions primarily via the dopamine, norepinephrine, and/or serotonin transporter; that is, they either release and/or inhibit the reuptake of one or more of these neurotransmitters. The actions of these agents can resemble those of central stimulants such as methamphetamine, cocaine, and/or empathogens such as 1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-2-aminopropane (MDMA; Ecstasy) and/or produce other effects. Side effects are primarily of a neurological and/or cardiovascular nature. The use of the “and/or” term is emphasized because synthetic cathinones represent a broad class of agents that produce a variety of actions; the agents cannot be viewed as being pharmacologically equivalent. Until valid structure-activity relationships are formulated for each behavioral/mechanistic action, individual synthetic cathinones remain to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Treatment of synthetic cathinone intoxication requires more “basic science” research. At this time, treatment is mostly palliative.

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Section: Synthetic Cathinones: Human Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A case series identified 4-MEC in powdered form, and in two of the three cases, the subjects’ blood and/or urine 4-MEC levels were measured; in two cases, subjects had a high blood-alcohol level whereas in the third case, resulting in death, AMPH, PMA, PMMA were also identified (Gil et al, 2013). …”

Section: Synthetic Cathinones: Human Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bath Salts, Mephedrone, and Methylenedioxypyrovalerone as Emerging Illicit Drugs That Will Need Targeted Therapeutic Intervention

Glennon

2014

Advances in Pharmacology

107

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“…Use of 3-FMC has been seen in Israel and Germany since 2009 (Meyer et al 2012). 4-MEC, 3-FMC, pentylone, pentedrone and MDAI have been found in samples of “bath salts” or in blood samples of users increasingly over the past 4 years (Elliott and Evans 2014; Gil et al 2013; Marinetti and Antonides 2013; Uralets et al 2014). Further, there is increasing evidence of possible harm of these substances.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Discriminative and locomotor effects of five synthetic cathinones in rats and mice

2014

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Rationale Synthetic cathinones continue to be sold as “legal” alternatives to methamphetamine or cocaine. As these marginally legal compounds become controlled, suppliers move to other, unregulated compounds. Objectives The purpose of these experiments was to determine whether several temporarily controlled cathinone compounds, which are currently abused on the street, stimulate motor activity and have discriminative stimulus effects similar to cocaine and/or methamphetamine. Methods Methcathinone, pentedrone, pentylone, 3-fluoromethcathinone (3-FMC), and 4-methylethcathinone (4-MEC) were tested for locomotor stimulant effects in mice and subsequently for substitution in rats trained to discriminate cocaine (10 mg/kg, i.p.) or methamphetamine (1 mg/kg, i.p.) from saline. Results Methcathinone, pentedrone, and pentylone produced locomotor stimulant effects which lasted up to 6 hours. In addition, pentylone produced convulsions and lethality at 100 mg/kg. 4-MEC produced locomotor stimulant effects which lasted up to 2 hours. Methcathinone, pentedrone, pentylone, 3-FMC, and 4-MEC each produced discriminative stimulus effects similar to those of cocaine and methamphetamine. Conclusions All of the tested compounds produce discriminative stimulus effects similar to either those of cocaine, methamphetamine or both, which suggests that these compounds are likely to have similar abuse liability to cocaine and/or methamphetamine. Pentylone may be more dangerous on the street, as it produced adverse effects at doses that produced maximal stimulant-like effects.

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“…Various papers have been published in the last few years regarding the analytical characterization by HRMS of phenethylamines, in particular the beta‐keto phenethylamines (cathinones) 4'‐methylethcathinone (4‐MEC), 4‐methylmethcathinone (mephedrone), methylone and bk‐MBDB (butylone), buphedrone and pentedrone . Additionally, gas chromatography (GC)/MS, as well as IR and NMR, studies have been performed on several cathinones . Moreover, a specific derivatization procedure was used in some cases in order to obtain more informative GC/MS spectra: Frison et al .…”

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confidence: 99%