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| Summary sheet: 4-MEC |
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| Chemical Nomenclature | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Common names | 4-MEC, 4-Methylethcathinone | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Systematic name | 2-(Ethylamino)-1-(4-methylphenyl)propan-1-one | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Psychoactive class | Stimulant | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chemical class | Cathinone | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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4-Methylethcathinone (also known as 4-MEC) is an entactogenic stimulant substance of the cathinone class.
It is chemically similar to the cathinone compounds found in the khat plant of eastern Africa. It comes in the form of a powder, which users can swallow, snort, inject or insert rectally producing effects which are somewhat similar to that MDMA, amphetamine, and cocaine.
Chemistry
4-MEC, or 4-methylethcathinone, is a synthetic molecule of the cathinone family. Cathinones are structurally similar to amphetamines, they contain a phenethylamine core featuring a phenyl ring bound to an amino (NH2) group through an ethyl chain with an additional methyl substitution at Rα. Amphetamines and cathinones are alpha-methylated phenethylamines, cathinones contain an additional carbonyl group at R1. 4-MEC contains an additional ethyl substitutions at RN and a methyl substitution at R4 of its phenyl ring.
Pharmacology
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This pharmacology section is incomplete. You can help by adding to it. |
Given its chemical structure, 4-MEC is likely to act as a releasing agent and a reuptake inhibitor for monoamine neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin and noradrenaline. 4-MEC is likely to have a similar pharmacological profile to mephedrone.
Subjective effects
Disclaimer: The effects listed below cite the Subjective Effect Index (SEI), an open research literature based on anecdotal user reports and the personal analyses of PsychonautWiki contributors. As a result, they should be viewed with a healthy degree of skepticism.
It is also worth noting that these effects will not necessarily occur in a predictable or reliable manner, although higher doses are more liable to induce the full spectrum of effects. Likewise, adverse effects become increasingly likely with higher doses and may include addiction, severe injury, or death ☠.
Physical effects 
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- Stimulation - In terms of its effects on the user's physical energy levels, 4-MEC is commonly considered to be extremely stimulating and energetic. This encourages activities such as running, climbing and dancing in a way that makes 4-MEC a popular choice for musical events such as festivals and raves. The particular style of stimulation which mekhedrone presents can be described as forced. This means that at higher dosages it becomes difficult or impossible to keep still, as jaw clenching, involuntarily bodily shakes and vibrations become present, resulting in an extreme unsteadiness of the hands and a general lack of motor control.
- Spontaneous tactile sensations - The "body high" of 4-MEC can be described as a moderate to extreme euphoric tingling sensation that encompasses the entire body. It is capable of becoming overwhelmingly pleasurable at higher dosages. This sensation maintains a consistent presence that steadily rises with the onset and hits its limit once the peak has been reached.
- Vibrating vision - A person's eyeballs may begin to spontaneously wiggle back and forth in a rapid motion, causing vision to become blurry and temporarily out of focus-- a condition known as nystagmus.
- Dehydration - Dry mouth and dehydration are a universal experience with mekhedrone and are a product of an increased heart rate and extreme motivation to engage in strenuous physical activities. While it is important to avoid becoming dehydrated, especially when out dancing in a hot environment, there is a potential possibility of suffering from water intoxication through over-drinking so it is advised that users simply sip at water and never over drink.
- Difficulty urinating - Higher doses of mekhedrone result in an overall difficulty when it comes to urination, an effect that is completely temporary and harmless.
- Vasoconstriction
- Tactile enhancement
- Increased heart rate
- Increased perspiration
- Increased blood pressure
- Body odor alteration
- Teeth grinding - This component can be considered to be less intense when compared with that of MDMA.
Cognitive effects 
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The cognitive effects of 4-MEC can be broken down into several components which progressively intensify proportional to dosage. The general head space of 4-MEC is described by many as one of extreme mental stimulation and powerful euphoria. It contains a large number of typical stimulant cognitive effects.
The most prominent of these cognitive effects generally include:
- Euphoria - Strong emotional euphoria and feelings of happiness are present within 4-MEC and are likely a direct result of serotonin and dopamine release.
- Thought acceleration
- Analysis enhancement
- Empathy, love, and sociability enhancement - This particular effect, although distinct, is far less prominent than the same effect found within traditional entactogens such as MDMA or 2C-B
- Time distortion - Strong feelings of time compression are common within 4-MEC and speed up the experience of time quite noticeable.
- Ego inflation
- Disinhibition
- Motivation enhancement
- Anxiety
- Compulsive redosing
- Increased libido
- Increased music appreciation
Experience reports
There are currently 0 experience reports which describe the effects of this substance in our experience index.
Additional experience reports can be found here:
Toxicity and harm potential
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This toxicity and harm potential section is a stub. As a result, it may contain incomplete or even dangerously wrong information! You can help by expanding upon or correcting it. |
Almost nothing is known about the long-term effects of 4-MEC due to its short history of its use. The exact toxic dosage is unknown.
It is strongly recommended that one use harm reduction practices when using this drug.
Tolerance and addiction potential
As with other stimulants, the chronic use of 4-MEC can be considered moderately addictive with a high potential for abuse and is capable of causing psychological dependence among certain users. When addiction has developed, cravings and withdrawal effects may occur if a person suddenly stops their usage.
Tolerance to many of the effects of 4-MEC develops with prolonged and repeated use. This results in users having to administer increasingly large doses to achieve the same effects. After that, it takes about 3 - 7 days for the tolerance to be reduced to half and 1 - 2 weeks to be back at baseline (in the absence of further consumption). 4-MEC presents cross-tolerance with all dopaminergic stimulants, meaning that after the consumption of 4-MEC all stimulants will have a reduced effect.
Dangerous interactions
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This dangerous interactions section is a stub. As such, it may contain incomplete or invalid information. You can help by expanding upon or correcting it. |
Warning: Many psychoactive substances that are reasonably safe to use on their own can suddenly become dangerous and even life-threatening when combined with certain other substances. The following list provides some known dangerous interactions (although it is not guaranteed to include all of them).
Always conduct independent research (e.g. Google, DuckDuckGo, PubMed) to ensure that a combination of two or more substances is safe to consume. Some of the listed interactions have been sourced from TripSit.
- 25x-NBOMe & 25x-NBOH - 25x compounds are highly stimulating and physically straining. Combinations with 4-MEC should be strictly avoided due to the risk of excessive stimulation and heart strain. This can result in increased blood pressure, vasoconstriction, panic attacks, thought loops, seizures, and heart failure in extreme cases.
- Alcohol - Combining alcohol with stimulants can be dangerous due to the risk of accidental over-intoxication. Stimulants mask alcohol's depressant effects, which is what most people use to assess their degree of intoxication. Once the stimulant wears off, the depressant effects will be left unopposed, which can result in blackouts and severe respiratory depression. If mixing, the user should strictly limit themselves to only drinking a certain amount of alcohol per hour.
- DXM - Combinations with DXM should be avoided due to its inhibiting effects on serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake. There is an increased risk of panic attacks and hypertensive crisis, or serotonin syndrome with serotonin releasers (MDMA, methylone, mephedrone, etc.). Monitor blood pressure carefully and avoid strenuous physical activity.
- MDMA - Any neurotoxic effects of MDMA are likely to be increased when other stimulants are present. There is also a risk of excessive blood pressure and heart strain (cardiotoxicity).
- MXE - Some reports suggest combinations with MXE may dangerously increase blood pressure and increase the risk of mania and psychosis.
- Dissociatives - Both classes carry a risk of delusions, mania and psychosis, and these risk may be multiplied when combined.
- Stimulants - 4-MEC may be dangerous to combine with other stimulants like cocaine as they can increase one's heart rate and blood pressure to dangerous levels.
- Tramadol - Tramadol is known to lower the seizure threshold[1] and combinations with stimulants may further increase this risk.
Serotonin syndrome risk
Combinations with the following substances can cause dangerously high serotonin levels. Serotonin syndrome requires immediate medical attention and can be fatal if left untreated.
- MAOIs - Such as banisteriopsis caapi, syrian rue, phenelzine, selegiline, and moclobemide.[2]
- Serotonin releasers - Such as MDMA, 4-FA, methamphetamine, methylone and αMT.
- SSRIs - Such as citalopram and sertraline
- SNRIs - Such as tramadol and venlafaxine
- 5-HTP
Legal status
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This legality section is a stub. As such, it may contain incomplete or wrong information. You can help by expanding it. |
- France: As a derivative of cathinone with an alkyl substitution on the phenyl group, 4-MEC is scheduled as a "stupéfiant", i.e. a recognized drug of abuse. It is illegal to possess, buy, sell or manufacture.[3]
- Turkey: 4-MEC is a classed as drug and is illegal to possess, produce, supply, or import.[4]
- United Kingdom: It is illegal to produce, supply, or import this drug under the Psychoactive Substance Act, which came into effect on May 26th, 2016. [5]
See also
External links
References
- ↑ Talaie, H.; Panahandeh, R.; Fayaznouri, M. R.; Asadi, Z.; Abdollahi, M. (2009). "Dose-independent occurrence of seizure with tramadol". Journal of Medical Toxicology. 5 (2): 63–67. doi:10.1007/BF03161089. eISSN 1937-6995. ISSN 1556-9039. OCLC 163567183.
- ↑ Gillman, P. K. (2005). "Monoamine oxidase inhibitors, opioid analgesics and serotonin toxicity". British Journal of Anaesthesia. 95 (4): 434–441. doi:10.1093/bja/aei210
. eISSN 1471-6771. ISSN 0007-0912. OCLC 01537271. PMID 16051647.
- ↑ Arrêté du 22 février 1990 fixant la liste des substances classées comme stupéfiants
- ↑ Bakanlar Kurulu Kararı Karar Sayısı : 2013/4827 | https://free-ankara.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/BKK_2013_4827_28688.pdf
- ↑ http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2016/2/contents/enacted