title: Acute effects of BZP, TFMPP and the combination of BZP and TFMPP in comparison to dexamphetamine on an auditory oddball task using electroencephalography: a single-dose study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Piperazine-based designer drugs such as benzylpiperazine (BZP) and trifluoromethylphenylpiperazine (TFMPP) have been marketed and sold as legal alternatives to dexamphetamine and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) until 2008 in New Zealand. When administered in combination, BZP + TFMPP have been reported to produce drug-drug synergism in rodents by stimulating the release of dopamine and serotonin.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was to evaluate the acute event-related potential effects of BZP, TFMPP or the combination of BZP + TFMPP compared with dexamphetamine in young healthy male adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  A double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled study investigated the effects of BZP, TFMPP, the combination of BZP + TFMPP, and dexamphetamine on the event-related potentials during an auditory oddball task. Healthy, right-handed males were given a single oral dose of either BZP (200 mg), TFMPP (60 mg), a combination of BZP + TFMPP (100/30 mg), dexamphetamine (20 mg) or placebo (lactose) and tested both before and 120 min after drug administration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A single dose of either TMFPP (t = -2.29, p = 0.03) or dexamphetamine (t = -2.33, p = 0.02) significantly reduced the P300 amplitude. A similar trend was also found in BZP. In contrast, BZP and TFMPP in combination has no effect. Neither P300 latency nor the mean reaction time was affected by any of the drug treatments. In addition, neither the P100 nor the P200 component was significantly affected following any of the drug treatments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A single oral dose of BZP or TFMPP, but not the combination of BZP/TFMPP, affected auditory sensory-evoked P300 potential in a manner similar to dexamphetamine.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand.|Centre for Brain Research, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: HeeSeung
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Grace Y
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand.|Centre for Brain Research, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Louise E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Curley
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Sollers
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.|Cognitive Neuroscience Research Group, School of Psychology, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Rob R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Kydd
authors.affiliation: Cognitive Neuroscience Research Group, School of Psychology, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.|Centre for Brain Research, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Ian J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Kirk
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand. b.russell@auckland.ac.nz.|Centre for Brain Research, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. b.russell@auckland.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Bruce R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Russell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015198:Designer Drugs / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003913:Dextroamphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects*; D018913:Event-Related Potentials, P300 / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010879:Piperazines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D015198:Designer Drugs; D010879:Piperazines; C018406:1-(3-trifluoromethylphenyl)piperazine; D012701:Serotonin; C006737:1-benzylpiperazine; D003913:Dextroamphetamine; D004298:Dopamine
keywords: BZP; Combination of BZP and TFMPP; Human ERP; P300; TFMPP