Ethylone Explained

Ethylone, also known as 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-ethylcathinone (MDEC, βk-MDEA), is a recreational designer drug of the phenethylamine, amphetamine, and cathinone chemical classes. It is the β-keto analogue of MDEA ("Eve"). Ethylone has only a short history of human use and is reported to be less potent than its relative methylone. In the United States, it began to be found in cathinone products in late 2011.^[1]

Very little data exists about the pharmacological properties, metabolism, and toxicity of ethylone, and although several ethylone-related deaths have been reported, the cause of death was not due to ingestion of ethylone.^[1]

Interactions

Pharmacology

Pharmacokinetics

Analysis of human and rat urine for the metabolites of bk-amphetamines suggested that ethylone was degraded in the following metabolic steps:^[2]

N-deethylation to the primary amine.
Reduction of the keto moiety to the respective alcohol.

Society and culture

Legal status

As of October 2015 Ethylone is a controlled substance in China.^[3]

External links

Notes and References

Lee D, Chronister CW, Hoyer J, Goldberger BA . Ethylone-Related Deaths: Toxicological Findings . Journal of Analytical Toxicology . 39 . 7 . 567–71 . September 2015 . 26025164 . 10.1093/jat/bkv053 . free .
Meyer MR, Wilhelm J, Peters FT, Maurer HH . Beta-keto amphetamines: studies on the metabolism of the designer drug mephedrone and toxicological detection of mephedrone, butylone, and methylone in urine using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry . Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry . 397 . 3 . 1225–33 . June 2010 . 20333362 . 10.1007/s00216-010-3636-5 . 21471611 .
Web site: 关于印发《非药用类麻醉药品和精神药品列管办法》的通知 . China Food and Drug Administration . 27 September 2015 . Chinese . 1 October 2015 . 1 October 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151001222554/http://www.sfda.gov.cn/WS01/CL0056/130753.html . dead .