4-MTA
Encyclopedia
4-Methylthioamphetamine (4-MTA) is an illicit drug
and research chemical developed in the 1990s by a team led by David E. Nichols
at Purdue University
. It acts as a non-neurotoxic highly selective serotonin
releasing agent
(SSRA) in animals. It is distantly related to several other SSRAs, including MMAI, MDAI, and MDMAI.
potentially resulting in organ failure and death. The subjective effects of 4-MTA include prolonged stimulation, which, in contrast to other amphetamine
s, is accompanied by little sense of euphoria
. 4-MTA is also an MAO-A inhibitor, which may explain its tendency to easily cause adverse effects, as MAOIs are not considered safe to use in conjunction with stimulants.
, but was intended to be used only as an agent for laboratory research into the serotonin transporter
protein, and Nichols was reportedly sad to see 4-MTA appear as a drug of abuse on the street.
4-MTA was briefly sold in smart shop
s in the Netherlands
, though was soon banned by the Dutch government after serious side-effects started to emerge. It was also briefly sold on the black market as MDMA during the late 1990s, mainly in the USA, but proved unpopular due to its high risk of severe side effects (several deaths were reported) and relative lack of positive euphoria.
although it has been suggested it be rescheduled as a Class B drug. It is also a controlled substance in Argentina
as well as 2C-B
, 2C-I
and 2C-T-2
.
Drug
A drug, broadly speaking, is any substance that, when absorbed into the body of a living organism, alters normal bodily function. There is no single, precise definition, as there are different meanings in drug control law, government regulations, medicine, and colloquial usage.In pharmacology, a...
and research chemical developed in the 1990s by a team led by David E. Nichols
David E. Nichols
David E. Nichols is an American pharmacologist and medicinal chemist.Presently the Robert C. and Charlotte P. Anderson Distinguished Chair in Pharmacology at Purdue University, Nichols has worked in the field of psychoactive drugs since 1969...
at Purdue University
Purdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
. It acts as a non-neurotoxic highly selective serotonin
Serotonin
Serotonin or 5-hydroxytryptamine is a monoamine neurotransmitter. Biochemically derived from tryptophan, serotonin is primarily found in the gastrointestinal tract, platelets, and in the central nervous system of animals including humans...
releasing agent
Releasing agent
A releasing agent , or simply releaser, is a drug that induces the release of a neurotransmitter from the presynaptic neuron into the synapse, leading to an increase in the extracellular concentrations of the neurotransmitter. Many drugs use neurotransmitter release to exert their psychological and...
(SSRA) in animals. It is distantly related to several other SSRAs, including MMAI, MDAI, and MDMAI.
Effects
4-MTA is a strong serotonin releaser similar to paramethoxyamphetamine (PMA), which can cause pronounced hyperthermiaHyperthermia
Hyperthermia is an elevated body temperature due to failed thermoregulation. Hyperthermia occurs when the body produces or absorbs more heat than it can dissipate...
potentially resulting in organ failure and death. The subjective effects of 4-MTA include prolonged stimulation, which, in contrast to other amphetamine
Amphetamine
Amphetamine or amfetamine is a psychostimulant drug of the phenethylamine class which produces increased wakefulness and focus in association with decreased fatigue and appetite.Brand names of medications that contain, or metabolize into, amphetamine include Adderall, Dexedrine, Dextrostat,...
s, is accompanied by little sense of euphoria
Euphoria
Euphoria is an emotional and mental state defined as a sense of great elation and well being.Euphoria may also refer to:* Euphoria , a genus of scarab beetles* Euphoria, a genus name previously used for the longan and other trees...
. 4-MTA is also an MAO-A inhibitor, which may explain its tendency to easily cause adverse effects, as MAOIs are not considered safe to use in conjunction with stimulants.
History
It was developed by the research team led by David E. NicholsDavid E. Nichols
David E. Nichols is an American pharmacologist and medicinal chemist.Presently the Robert C. and Charlotte P. Anderson Distinguished Chair in Pharmacology at Purdue University, Nichols has worked in the field of psychoactive drugs since 1969...
, but was intended to be used only as an agent for laboratory research into the serotonin transporter
Serotonin transporter
The serotonin transporter is a monoamine transporter protein.This protein is an integral membrane protein that transports the neurotransmitter serotonin from synaptic spaces into presynaptic neurons. This transport of serotonin by the SERT protein terminates the action of serotonin and recycles it...
protein, and Nichols was reportedly sad to see 4-MTA appear as a drug of abuse on the street.
4-MTA was briefly sold in smart shop
Smart shop
A smart shop is a retail establishment that specializes in the sales of psychoactive substances, usually including psychedelics, as well as related literature and paraphernalia...
s in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, though was soon banned by the Dutch government after serious side-effects started to emerge. It was also briefly sold on the black market as MDMA during the late 1990s, mainly in the USA, but proved unpopular due to its high risk of severe side effects (several deaths were reported) and relative lack of positive euphoria.
Legality
4-MTA is currently a Class A drug in the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
although it has been suggested it be rescheduled as a Class B drug. It is also a controlled substance in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
as well as 2C-B
2C-B
2C-B or 4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine is a psychedelic drug of the 2C family. It was first synthesized by Alexander Shulgin in 1974. In Shulgin's book PiHKAL, the dosage range is listed as 16–24 mg. 2C-B is sold as a white powder sometimes pressed in tablets or gel caps and is referred...
, 2C-I
2C-I
2C-I or 2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenethylamine is a psychedelic phenethylamine of the 2C family. It was first synthesized by Alexander Shulgin. It was described in Shulgin’s book PiHKAL: A Chemical Love Story. The drug is used recreationally for its psychedelic and entactogenic effects...
and 2C-T-2
2C-T-2
2C-T-2, or 2,5-dimethoxy-4-ethylthiophenethylamine is a psychedelic and entactogenic phenethylamine of the 2C family. It was first synthesized in 1981 by Alexander Shulgin. The drug has structural and pharmacodynamic properties similar to the drug 2C-T-7 .-Dosage:In Alexander Shulgin's book...
.
See also
- Aleph (psychedelic)Aleph (psychedelic)Aleph, or 2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylthioamphetamine, is a psychedelic hallucinogenic drug and a substituted amphetamine of the phenethylamine class of compounds, which can be used as an entheogen. It was first synthesized by Alexander Shulgin. In his book PiHKAL , Shulgin lists the dosage range as...
- Para-methoxyamphetamine
- 4-Fluoroamphetamine
- Parachloroamphetamine
External links
- EMCDDA Report (1999) on the risk assessment of 4-MTA in the framework of the joint action on new synthetic drugs
- Erowid 4-MTA vault (Accessed 10/1/06)
- Ecstasy.org: 4-MTA - info on possible dangers (Accessed 10/1/06)
- Abstract: "Para-methylthioamphetamine, A New Designer Drug of Abuse" (Accessed 10/1/06)