title: Ketamine-like effects after recreational use of methoxetamine.
abstract: Methoxetamine, the N-ethyl derivative of ketamine, is a novel recreational drug that is not at present subject to restrictive regulations in most countries. To our knowledge, no case of methoxetamine abuse has been published to date in the scientific literature, and the only sources of information are illegal drug users' Web discussion forums. We report the first case of analytically confirmed intravenous methoxetamine abuse in a 19-year-old man. Observed signs and symptoms such as tachycardia, hypertension, confusion, agitation, stupor, ataxia, mydriasis, and nystagmus were consistent with ketamine-induced adverse effects and resolved with symptomatic treatment. According to this case report, user Web reports, and the chemical structure, methoxetamine produces ketamine-like effects. Complete recovery can be expected with supportive care.
authors.affiliation: Swiss Toxicological Information Centre, Associated Institute of the University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Katharina E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Hofer
authors.forename: Bettina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Grager
authors.forename: Daniel M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rauber-Lüthy
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kupferschmidt
authors.forename: Katharina M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Rentsch
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ceschi
mesh_terms: D000778:Anesthetics, Dissociative / Q000009:adverse effects; D003221:Confusion / Q000139:chemically induced; D003512:Cyclohexanones / Q000506:poisoning*; D003514:Cyclohexylamines / Q000506:poisoning*; D020820:Dyskinesias / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000139:chemically induced; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000506:poisoning*; D007649:Ketamine / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D015878:Mydriasis / Q000139:chemically induced; D009759:Nystagmus, Pathologic / Q000139:chemically induced; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000139:chemically induced; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000778:Anesthetics, Dissociative; D003512:Cyclohexanones; D003514:Cyclohexylamines; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D007649:Ketamine; C569113:2-(3-methoxyphenyl)-2-(ethylamino)cyclohexanone