title: Clinical Pharmacology of the Synthetic Cathinone Mephedrone.
abstract: 4-Methyl-N-methylcathinone (mephedrone) is a popular new psychoactive substance (NPS) that is structurally related to the parent compound cathinone, the β-keto analogue of amphetamine. Mephedrone appeared on the street drug market as a substitute for 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) and was subsequently banned due to the potential health risks associated with its use. Nevertheless, mephedrone continues to be widely consumed among specific populations, with unique patterns of misuse. To date, most information about the biological effects of mephedrone comes from user experiences, epidemiological data, clinical cases, toxicological findings, and animal studies, whilst there are very few data regarding its human pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics. This chapter reviews the available published data on patterns of mephedrone use, its acute and chronic effects, and its pharmacokinetic properties. More human research is needed to elucidate the safety, toxicity, and addiction potential of mephedrone and related NPS.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Badalona, Spain.|Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Cerdanyola del Vallés, Spain.
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Papaseit
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Badalona, Spain.|Fundació Lluita contra la Sida, Badalona, Spain.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moltó
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Badalona, Spain.|Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Cerdanyola del Vallés, Spain.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Muga
authors.affiliation: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Cerdanyola del Vallés, Spain.|IMIM-Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain.|Institut de Neuropsiquiatria i Adiccions, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Torrens
authors.affiliation: IMIM-Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain.|Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: de la Torre
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Badalona, Spain. mfarre.germanstrias@gencat.cat.|Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Cerdanyola del Vallés, Spain. mfarre.germanstrias@gencat.cat.
authors.forename: Magí
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Farré
mesh_terms: D000339:Affect / Q000187:drug effects*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000187:drug effects*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D010465:Perception / Q000187:drug effects*; D011680:Pupil / Q000187:drug effects; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D008694:Methamphetamine; C548233:mephedrone
keywords: 3,4-Methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine (MDMA ecstasy); 4-Methyl-N-methylcathinone (4-MMC mephedrone); New psychoactive substance (NSP); Synthetic cathinones