Ethylone crystal rocks

Ethylone crystal rocks – More information

3,4-methylenedioxy-N-ethylcathinone (also known as Ethylone, MDEC and βk-MDEA) is a synthetic entactogen and stimulant of the cathinone class. It is the β-keto analog of MDEA (“Eve”).

As a designer drug, ethylone is commonly sold on the street along with other cathinones like butylone or 3-MMC as a substitute or counterfeit for MDMA and/or methylone (all of which have collectively come to be referred to as “Molly”) due to methylone’s declining availability on the research chemicals market. However, in spite of behavioral and pharmacological similarities between ethylone, MDMA and methylone, it should be noted that the observed subjective effects of both drugs are not completely identical.

Ethylone has only a short history of human use and is reported to be less potent than its relative methylone as well as possessing more classical stimulant-type as opposed to entactogenic effects.

clinical data

Ethylone dosage table

Ethylone effect progress

Chemistry

Ethylone, or 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-ethylcathinone, is a synthetic molecule of the cathinone family. Cathinones are structurally similar to amphetamines in that 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 R_α. Cathinones such as ethylone are alpha-methylated phenethylamines (i.e. amphetamines) but differ from them with the addition of a ketone functional group (a carbonyl group at R_β). Ethylone contains an ethyl substitution at R_N, a substitution which is shared with drugs like MDEA, 4-MEC, and certain other stimulants and entactogens. Additionally, ethylone contains substitutions at R₃ and R₄ of the phenyl ring with oxygen groups. These oxygen groups are incorporated into a methylenedioxy ring through a methylene chain. Ethylone shares this methylenedioxy ring with MDA, MDAI and MDMA.

Toxicity

The toxicity and long-term health effects of recreational ethylone use do not seem to have been studied in any scientific context and the exact toxic dosage is unknown. This is because methylone has very little history of human usage. Anecdotal evidence from people who have tried ethylone within the community suggest that there do not seem to be any negative health effects attributed to simply trying this drug at low to moderate doses by itself and using it sparingly (but nothing can be completely guaranteed).

It is strongly recommended that one use harm reduction practices when using this substance.

Abuse

As with other stimulants, the chronic use of ethylone 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 ethylone 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). Ethylone presents cross-tolerance with all dopaminergic stimulants, meaning that after the consumption of ethylone all stimulants will have a reduced effect.

Psychosis

Abuse of compounds within the stimulant class at high dosages for prolonged periods of time can potentially result in a stimulant psychosis that may present with a variety of symptoms (e.g., paranoia, hallucinations, or delusions). A review on treatment for amphetamine, dextroamphetamine, and methamphetamine abuse-induced psychosis states that about 5–15% of users fail to recover completely. The same review asserts that, based upon at least one trial, antipsychotic medications effectively resolve the symptoms of acute amphetamine psychosis. Psychosis very rarely arises from therapeutic use.

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.

References