Pentedrone (also known as α-methylaminovalerophenone) is a
stimulant
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, ...
of the
cathinone
Cathinone (; also known as β-ketoamphetamine) is a monoamine alkaloid found in the shrub ''Catha edulis'' (khat) and is chemically similar to ephedrine, cathine, methcathinone and other amphetamines. It is probably the main contributor to t ...
class that has been sold 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. ...
and has been found since 2010 as an ingredient in a number of "
bath salt" mixes sold as legal highs.
Pharmacology
Pentedrone acts as a
norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor (NDRI) without inducing
monoamine release, a similar
mechanism of action
In pharmacology, the term mechanism of action (MOA) refers to the specific biochemical Drug interaction, interaction through which a Medication, drug substance produces its pharmacological effect. A mechanism of action usually includes mention o ...
to
methylphenidate
Methylphenidate, sold under the brand names Ritalin ( ) and Concerta ( ) among others, is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant used in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. It may be taken Oral adm ...
.
Its values for
inhibition of monoamine reuptake have been reported to be 610nM 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 ...
, 2,500μM 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 ...
, and 135,000μM 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, ...
.
In rodents, pentedrone has been found to produce
conditioned place preference
Conditioned place preference (CPP) is a form of Pavlovian conditioning used to measure the motivational effects of objects or experiences. This motivation comes from the pleasurable aspect of the experience, so that the brain can be reminded of th ...
(CPP), to be
self-administered, and to
dose-dependently stimulate locomotor activity.
Hence, pentedrone shows
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 and
reinforcing
In behavioral psychology, reinforcement refers to consequences that increase the likelihood of an organism's future behavior, typically in the presence of a particular '' antecedent stimulus''. For example, a rat can be trained to push a lever ...
effects in animals.
Side effects
Pentedrone has been linked to at least one death where it was combined with
α-PVP and caused heart failure.
Detection
A forensic standard of pentedrone is available, and the compound has been posted on the Forendex website of potential drugs of abuse.
Legal status
On January 28, 2014, the DEA listed it, along with nine other synthetic cathinones, on the Schedule 1 with a temporary ban, effective February 27, 2014.
Pentedrone is an
Anlage II
The following drugs are controlled by the German Narcotic Drugs Act ( or ). Trade and drug possession, possession of these substances without licence or prescription is considered illegal; prescription is illegal for drugs on ''Anlage I'' and II an ...
controlled drug in Germany.
As of October 2015 Pentedrone is a controlled substance in China.
Pentedrone is banned in the Czech Republic.
Pentedrone is banned in the Slovak Republic.
See also
*
4-Methylpentedrone
*
Buphedrone
*
MDPV
Methylenedioxypyrovalerone (abbreviated MDPV, and also called monkey dust) is a stimulant of the cathinone class that acts as a norepinephrine–dopamine reuptake inhibitor (NDRI). It was first developed in the 1960s by a team at Boehringer Ing ...
*
Methcathinone
Methcathinone (α-methylamino-propiophenone or ephedrone) (sometimes called "cat" or "jeff" or "catnip" or "M-Kat" or "kat" or "intash") is a monoamine alkaloid and psychoactive stimulant, a substituted cathinone. It is used as a recreational d ...
*
Pentylone
Pentylone is a stimulant developed in the 1960s. It is a substituted cathinone that has been identified in some samples of powders sold as "NRG-1", along with varying blends of other cathinone derivatives including flephedrone, MDPBP, MDPV, a ...
*
Phenylpropylaminopentane
*
Substituted cathinone
Substituted cathinones, or simply cathinones, which include some stimulants and Empathogen-entactogen, entactogens, are chemical derivative, derivatives of cathinone. They feature a substituted phenethylamine, phenethylamine core with an alkyl ...
References
{{Phenethylamines
Alpha-Propylphenethylamines
Cathinones
Designer drugs
Norepinephrine–dopamine reuptake inhibitors
Stimulants