3-Methoxyamphetamine (3-MA), also known as ''meta''-methoxyamphetamine (MMA), is a

monoamine releasing agent A monoamine releasing agent (MRA), or simply monoamine releaser, is a drug that induces the release of one or more monoamine neurotransmitters from the presynaptic neuron into the synapse, leading to an increase in the extracellular concentrati ...

(MRA) of the

amphetamine Amphetamine (contracted from Alpha and beta carbon, alpha-methylphenethylamine, methylphenethylamine) is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant that is used in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), narcolepsy, an ...

family. It is a

positional isomer In chemistry, a structural isomer (or constitutional isomer in the IUPAC nomenclature) of a compound is a compound that contains the same number and type of atoms, but with a different connectivity (i.e. arrangement of bonds) between them. The ...

of ''para''-methoxyamphetamine (PMA; 4-methoxyamphetamine).

Effects

According to

Alexander Shulgin Alexander Theodore "Sasha" Shulgin (June 17, 1925 – June 2, 2014) was an American biochemist, broad researcher of synthetic psychoactive compounds, and author of works regarding these, who independently explored the organic chemistry and ph ...

, 3-MA showed no central or

psychedelic Psychedelics are a subclass of hallucinogenic drugs whose primary effect is to trigger non-ordinary mental states (known as psychedelic experiences or "trips") and a perceived "expansion of consciousness". Also referred to as classic halluci ...

effects in humans at a total dose of 50mg (25mg orally twice separated by 3hours). However, sympathomimetic effects have occurred with the drug at an oral dose of 25mg in humans.Schelling, J.L., Dufour, R.J., Jequier, E. (1974) Vasopressor effect of 3-methoxyamphetamine in man. Vortr. Symp. Meeting Date 1970, pp 175-183. "Like other amphetamines, 3-methoxyamphetamine (I) 7862-85-0had a transient pressor effect on man. The minimal effective dose on oral administration was 25 mg. Differences between that dose and a placebo were significant in young normotensive subjects. The acute response of older patients with chronic hypotension to the same dose was unpredictable. Unlike other amphetamines, this drug did not produce any tachycardia. There was no sustained elevation of blood pressure when the drug was given twice daily for 3 days. The urinary excretion of catechol amines was unchanged."

Pharmacology

3-MA has similar effects in animal

drug discrimination Drug discrimination (DD) is a technique in behavioral neuroscience used to evaluate the discriminative stimulus properties or interoceptive cues of psychoactive drugs. In drug discrimination, a subject is trained on a training drug, and then i ...

tests to PMA. However, it has a different balance of monoamine release, being a combined

serotonin–norepinephrine–dopamine releasing agent A serotonin–norepinephrine–dopamine releasing agent (SNDRA), also known as a triple releasing agent (TRA), is a type of drug which induces the release of serotonin, norepinephrine/epinephrine, and dopamine in the brain and body. SNDRAs produc ...

(SNDRA) rather than a fairly selective

serotonin releasing agent A serotonin releasing agent (SRA) is a type of drug that induces the release of serotonin into the neuronal synaptic cleft. A selective serotonin releasing agent (SSRA) is an SRA with less significant or no efficacy in producing neurotransmitter ...

(SSRA) like PMA. 3-MA's values for induction of monoamine release are 58.0nM for

norepinephrine Norepinephrine (NE), also called noradrenaline (NA) or noradrenalin, is an organic compound, organic chemical in the catecholamine family that functions in the brain and human body, body as a hormone, neurotransmitter and neuromodulator. The ...

and 103nM for

dopamine Dopamine (DA, a contraction of 3,4-dihydroxyphenethylamine) is a neuromodulatory molecule that plays several important roles in cells. It is an organic chemical of the catecholamine and phenethylamine families. It is an amine synthesized ...

in rat brain

synaptosome A synaptosome is an isolated synaptic terminal from a neuron. Synaptosomes are obtained by mild homogenization of nervous tissue under isotonic conditions and subsequent fractionation using differential and density gradient centrifugation. Liquid ...

s, whereas the value for

serotonin Serotonin (), also known as 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), is a monoamine neurotransmitter with a wide range of functions in both the central nervous system (CNS) and also peripheral tissues. It is involved in mood, cognition, reward, learning, ...

was not reported. The drug has shown relatively low

affinity Affinity may refer to: Commerce, finance and law * Affinity (law), kinship by marriage * Affinity analysis, a market research and business management technique * Affinity Credit Union, a Saskatchewan-based credit union * Affinity Equity Pa ...

for

serotonin receptor 5-HT receptors, 5-hydroxytryptamine receptors, or serotonin receptors, are a group of G protein-coupled receptor and ligand-gated ion channels found in multiple tissues including the central and peripheral nervous systems. They mediate both ex ...

s in the rat stomach fundus strip, intermediate between

and amphetamine

s like DOM and

DOB DOB or Dob often refers to date of birth. DOB or Dob may also refer to: Biochemistry * 2,5-dimethoxy-4-bromoamphetamine, Bromo-DMA, a psychedelic drug ** Meta-DOB, related substance ** Methyl-DOB, related substance * HLA-DOB, human gene Organiz ...

. In another study, its affinities (K_i) for the

5-HT₁ and 5-HT₂ receptors were 2,660nM and 7,850nM, respectively. 3-MA is also a weak

agonist An agonist is a chemical that activates a Receptor (biochemistry), receptor to produce a biological response. Receptors are Cell (biology), cellular proteins whose activation causes the cell to modify what it is currently doing. In contrast, an R ...

of the human

trace amine-associated receptor 1 Trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1) is a trace amine-associated receptor (TAAR) protein that in humans is encoded by the ''TAAR1'' gene. TAAR1 is a primarily intracellular amine-activated and G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that is p ...

(TAAR1), with

micromolar Molar concentration (also called molarity, amount concentration or substance concentration) is the number of moles of solute per liter of solution. Specifically, It is a measure of the concentration of a chemical species, in particular, of a s ...

potency Potency may refer to: * Potency (pharmacology), a measure of the activity of a drug in a biological system * Virility * Cell potency, a measure of the differentiation potential of stem cells * In homeopathic dilutions, potency is a measure of ho ...

. 3-MA produced

hyperlocomotion Locomotor activity is a measure of animal behavior which is employed in scientific research. Hyperlocomotion, also known as locomotor hyperactivity, hyperactivity, or increased locomotor activity, is an effect of certain drugs in animals in whi ...

, a

psychostimulant Stimulants (also known as central nervous system stimulants, or psychostimulants, or colloquially as uppers) are a class of drugs that increase alertness. They are used for various purposes, such as enhancing attention, motivation, cognition ...

-like effect, in rodents similarly to

and PMA. It also produced

hyperthermia Hyperthermia, also known as overheating, is a condition in which an individual's body temperature is elevated beyond normal due to failed thermoregulation. The person's body produces or absorbs more heat than it dissipates. When extreme te ...

and

myoclonus Myoclonus is a brief, involuntary, irregular (lacking rhythm) twitching of a muscle, a joint, or a group of muscles, different from clonus, which is rhythmic or regular. Myoclonus ( myo- "muscle", clonus "spasm") describes a medical sign and, ...

-associated effects, in rodents similarly to PMA. 3-MA produces

gepefrine Gepefrine, also known as 3-hydroxyamphetamine or α-methyl-''meta''-tyramine and sold under the brand names Pressionorm and Wintonin, is a sympathomimetic medication used as an antihypotensive agent which has been marketed in Germany. Pharmacol ...

(3-hydroxyamphetamine), a sympathomimetic agent, as one of its major

metabolite In biochemistry, a metabolite is an intermediate or end product of metabolism. The term is usually used for small molecules. Metabolites have various functions, including fuel, structure, signaling, stimulatory and inhibitory effects on enzymes, c ...

Recreational use

3-MA has appeared on the illicit market as a

designer drug A designer drug is a structural or functional analog of a controlled substance that has been designed to mimic the pharmacological effects of the original drug, while avoiding classification as illegal and/or detection in standard drug tests. ...

alternative to

MDMA 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), commonly known as ecstasy (tablet form), and molly (crystal form), is an empathogen–entactogenic drug with stimulant and minor Psychedelic drug, psychedelic properties. In studies, it has been used ...

similarly PMA, although far more rarely than its infamous positional isomer.

Analogues

The 2-aminoindane analogue of 3-MA is 5-methoxy-2-aminoindane (MEAI; 5-MeO-AI).

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Methoxyamphetamine, 3- 3-Methoxyphenyl compounds Methoxyphenethylamines Serotonin-norepinephrine-dopamine releasing agents Serotonin receptor modulators Stimulants Substituted amphetamines TAAR1 agonists

Effects

Pharmacology

Recreational use

Analogues

See also

References