4-Methylmethamphetamine

Stimulant and entactogen drug of the amphetamine class From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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).[1][2] The drug is the β-deketo analogue of mephedrone (4-methylmethcathinone; 4-MMC) and the N-methyl analogue of 4-methylamphetamine (4-MA).[3][4]

Other names4-MMA; Mephedrine
Drug classStimulant; Serotonin–norepinephrine–dopamine releasing agent
ATC code
  • None
Legal status
Quick facts Clinical data, Other names ...
4-Methylmethamphetamine
Clinical data
Other names4-MMA; Mephedrine
Drug classStimulant; Serotonin–norepinephrine–dopamine releasing agent
ATC code
  • None
Legal status
Legal status
Identifiers
  • N-methyl-1-(4-methylphenyl)propan-2-amine
CAS Number
PubChem CID
ChemSpider
UNII
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC11H17N
Molar mass163.264 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)
  • c1cc(C)ccc1CC(C)NC
  • InChI=1S/C11H17N/c1-9-4-6-11(7-5-9)8-10(2)12-3/h4-7,10,12H,8H2,1-3H3 checkY
  • Key:GAIWFPOJOHUEBL-UHFFFAOYSA-N checkY
  (verify)
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Pharmacology

Pharmacodynamics

4-MMA acts as a potent and well-balanced serotonin–norepinephrine–dopamine releasing agent (SNDRA).[1][2] It induces hyperlocomotion and stereotypy (psychostimulant-like effects) as well as hyperthermia in mice, similarly to methcathinone.[5][6]

More information Compound, NETooltip Norepinephrine ...
Monoamine release of 4-methylmethamphetamine and related agents (EC50Tooltip Half maximal effective concentration, nM)
CompoundNETooltip NorepinephrineDATooltip Dopamine5-HTTooltip SerotoninRef
Dextroamphetamine6.6–10.25.8–24.8698–1,765[7][8][9][10]
Dextromethamphetamine12.3–14.38.5–40.4736–1,292[7][11][9][10]
4-Methylamphetamine22.244.153.4[12][13][9]
4-Methylmethamphetamine (mephedrine)66.941.367.4[1][2]
4-Methylethylamphetamine182550102[1]
4-Methylpropylamphetamine752IA650[1]
4-MethylbutylamphetamineIAIAIA[1]
4-Methylmethcathinone (mephedrone)58–62.749.1–51118.3–122[11][8][14][15][16]
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: [17][18]
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Dopaminergic neurotoxicity

In contrast to methamphetamine and methcathinone, 4-MMA appears to produce minimal dopaminergic neurotoxicity in mice.[5][6] Conversely, mephedrone shows no dopaminergic neurotoxicity at all in mice.[5][6] It was theorized that 4-methyl and β-keto substitutions on amphetamines may result in loss of activity at the vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2), loss of elevations of cytosolic dopamine concentrations, and consequent loss of dopaminergic neurotoxic potential.[5][6] Accordingly, the dopaminergic neurotoxicity of 4-MMA was greatly enhanced by the dopamine precursor levodopa (L-DOPA), the monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) pargyline, and methamphetamine (a VMAT2 inhibitor/reverser), all of which are known to increase the cytosolic pool of dopamine.[6] However, in contrast to 4-MMA, the dopaminergic neurotoxicity of methcathinone was enhanced only by levodopa and of mephedrone was enhanced only by methamphetamine.[6]

See also

References

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