title: [Intoxation with paramethoxymethamphetamine].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Since the summer of 2010, there has been an epidemic of deaths related to paramethoxymethamphetamine (PMMA) in Norway. We present a review of the pharmacology and toxicology of the substance.
  
  
  METHODS
  The review is based on a literature search in the databases PubMed, Ovid and MEDLINE. A discretionary selection was made of relevant articles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Paramethoxymethamphetamine and paramethoxyamphetamine (PMA) are two so-called designer amphetamines which appear from time to time on the illegal narcotics market in many countries. They are frequently sold as ecstasy or amphetamine, often mixed with amphetamine or methamphetamine. The substances, known on the street as «Death», have potent serotonergic effects and are associated with significant toxicity. Many deaths have been reported worldwide, even after intake of an «ordinary user dose». The narcotic effect is not very pronounced and the onset is slow, which may lead to unintentional overdosing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In cases of severe intoxation that are apparently related to intake of amphetamine or ecstasy, PMMA/PMA intoxation should be suspected.
authors: Avdeling for farmakologisk og toksikologisk fortolkning, Divisjon for rettsmedisin og rusmiddelforskning, Nasjonalt folkehelseinstitutt, Norway. muhammad.al-samarraie@fhi.no
authors: Muhammad S
authors: MS
authors: Al-Samarraie
authors: Merete
authors: M
authors: Vevelstad
authors: Ilah Le
authors: IL
authors: Nygaard
authors: Liliana
authors: L
authors: Bachs
authors: Jørg
authors: J
authors: Mørland
mesh_terms: D000662:Amphetamines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000506:poisoning*; D015198:Designer Drugs / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000506:poisoning; D006213:Hallucinogens / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000506:poisoning*; D006801:Humans; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000506:poisoning; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D011041:Poisoning / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D000662:Amphetamines; D015198:Designer Drugs; D006213:Hallucinogens; C106885:paramethoxymethamphetamine; D008694:Methamphetamine; C100230:4-methoxyamphetamine