MBDB, also known as N-methyl-1,3-benzodioxolylbutanamine or as 3,4-methylenedioxy- N-methyl-α-ethylphenylethylamine, is an entactogen of the phenethylamine, amphetamine, and phenylisobutylamine families related to MDMA.
History and effects
MBDB was first synthesized by
pharmacologist and medicinal chemist David E. Nichols and later tested by Alexander Shulgin and described in his book,
. MBDB's dosage, according to
PiHKAL, is 180 to 210mg; the proper dosage relative to body mass seems unknown.
Its duration is 4 to 6hours, with noticeable after-effects lasting for 1 to 3hours.
MBDB was initially developed as a non-psychedelic drug entactogen. It has lower effects on the dopamine system in comparison to other entactogens such as MDMA. MBDB causes many mild, MDMA-like effects, in particular the lowering of social barriers and inhibitions, pronounced sense of empathy and compassion, and mild euphoria, all of which are present. MBDB tends to produce less euphoria, psychedelia, and stimulant in comparison to MDMA.
Clinical studies have found that MBDB produces similar effects to MDMA, but lacks psychedelic drug and stimulant effects.
Chemistry
MBDB is a ring substituted amphetamine and an analogue of
MDMA. Like MDMA, it has a methylenedioxy substitution at the 3 and 4 position on the aromatic ring; this is perhaps the most distinctive feature that structurally define analogues of MDMA, in addition to their unique effects, and as a class they are often referred to as "entactogens" to differentiate between typical
stimulant amphetamines that (as a general rule) are not ring substituted. MBDB differs from MDMA by having an
ethyl group instead of a
methyl group attached to the
alpha carbon. Modification at the alpha carbon is uncommon for substituted amphetamines.
Pharmacology
Pharmacodynamics
MBDB acts as a serotonin–norepinephrine releasing agent (SNRA).
Its values for induction of monoamine release are 540nM for
serotonin, 3,300nM for
norepinephrine (6.1-fold lower than for serotonin), and >100,000 for
dopamine (>185-fold lower than for serotonin).
However, it may still have slight dopamine-releasing actions.
MBDB fully substitutes for
MDMA in drug discrimination tests in rodents.
It increases locomotor activity similarly to but less robustly than
MDMA.
Likewise, MBDB increases conditioned place preference (CPP) similarly but less efficaciously than MDMA.
In contrast to MDMA, which produced
hyperthermia, MBDB instead produced dose- and time-dependent
hypothermia.
MBDB has similar affinities for the serotonin 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptors as MDMA.
MBDB is a serotonergic neurotoxin similarly to MDMA.
MBDB and its individual , ( S)-MBDB and ( R)-MBDB, show similar behavioral effects in animals.
Pharmacokinetics
The
drug metabolism of MBDB has been described in the scientific literature.
Legal status
Unlike MDMA, MBDB is not internationally scheduled under the United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances. The thirty-second meeting of the WHO Expert Committee on Drug Dependence (September 2000) evaluated MBDB and recommended against scheduling.
From the WHO Expert Committee assessment of MBDB:
- Although MBDB is both structurally and pharmacologically similar to MDMA, the limited available data indicate that its stimulant and euphoriant effects are less pronounced than those of MDMA. There have been no reports of adverse or toxic effects of MBDB in humans. Law enforcement data on illicit trafficking of MBDB in Europe suggest that its availability and abuse may now be declining after reaching a peak during the latter half of the 1990s. For these reasons, the Committee did not consider the abuse liability of MBDB would constitute a significant risk to public health, thereby warranting its placement under international control. Scheduling of MBDB was therefore not recommended.
Australia
MBDB is considered a Schedule 9 Prohibited substance in Australia under the Poisons Standard (October 2015).
A Schedule 9 substance is a substance which may be abused or misused, the manufacture, possession, sale or use of which should be prohibited by law except when required for medical or scientific research, or for analytical, teaching or training purposes with approval of Commonwealth and/or State or Territory Health Authorities.
Finland
Scheduled in the "government decree on psychoactive substances banned from the consumer market".
Russia
MBDB is included into Schedule 1 of the Controlled Substances Act.
[MBDB]
Sweden
Riksdag health ministry
classified MBDB as "health hazard" under the act (translated
Act on the Prohibition of Certain Goods Dangerous to Health) as of Feb 25, 1999, in their regulation SFS 1999:58 listed as "2-metylamino-1-(3,4-metylendioxifenyl)-butan (MBDB)", making it illegal to sell or possess.
Research
MBDB is being assessed by PharmAla Biotech for potential medical use as a pharmaceutical drug, for instance to treat
autism.
See also
-
Ethylbenzodioxolylbutanamine (EBDB; Ethyl-J)
-
Methylbenzodioxolylpentanamine (MBDP; Methyl-K)
-
UWA-101
External links
