Pharmacology of MDMA- and Amphetamine-Like New Psychoactive Substances

Simmler, Linda D.; Liechti, Matthias E.

doi:10.1007/164_2018_113

Linda D. Simmler¹² &
Matthias E. Liechti¹³

Part of the book series: Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology ((HEP,volume 252))

4625 Accesses
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Abstract

New psychoactive substances (NPS) with amphetamine-, aminoindan-, and benzofuran basic chemical structures have recently emerged for recreational drug use. Detailed information about their psychotropic effects and health risks is often limited. At the same time, it emerged that the pharmacological profiles of these NPS resemble those of amphetamine or 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). Amphetamine-like NPS induce psychostimulation and euphoria mediated predominantly by norepinephrine (NE) and dopamine (DA) transporter (NET and DAT) inhibition and transporter-mediated release of NE and DA, thus showing a more catecholamine-selective profile. MDMA-like NPS frequently induce well-being, empathy, and prosocial effects and have only moderate psychostimulant properties. These MDMA-like substances primarily act by inhibiting the serotonin (5-HT) transporter (SERT) and NET, also inducing 5-HT and NE release. Monoamine receptor interactions vary considerably among amphetamine- and MDMA-like NPS. Clinically, amphetamine- and MDMA-like NPS can induce sympathomimetic toxicity. The aim of this chapter is to review the state of knowledge regarding these substances with a focus on the description of the in vitro pharmacology of selected amphetamine- and MDMA-like NPS. In addition, it is aimed to provide links between pharmacological profiles and in vivo effects and toxicity, which leads to the conclusion that abuse liability for amphetamine-like NPS may be higher than for MDMA-like NPS, but that the risk for developing the life-threatening serotonin syndrome may be increased for MDMA-like NPS.

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Predicting the Abuse Liability of Entactogen-Class, New and Emerging Psychoactive Substances via Preclinical Models of Drug Self-administration

3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and Synaptic Dopamine

Abbreviations

2-AI:: 2-Aminoindane
3-MMC:: 3-Methyl-N-methylcathinone
4-APB:: 4-(2-Aminopropyl)benzofuran
4-FA:: 4-Fluoroamphetamine
4-MA:: 4-Methylamphetamine
4-MTA:: 4-Methylthioamphetamine
5-APB:: 5-(2-Aminopropyl)benzofuran
5-APDB:: 5-(2-Aminopropyl)-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran
5-EAPB:: 5-(2-Ethylaminopropyl)benzofuran
5-IAI:: 5-Iodoaminoindan
5-IT, 5-API:: 5-(2-Aminopropyl)indole
5-MAPDB:: 1-(2,3-Dihydrobenzofuran-5-yl)-N-methylpropan-2-amine
6-APB:: 6-(2-Aminopropyl)benzofuran
6-APDB:: 6-(2-Aminopropyl)-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran
7-APB:: 7-(2-Aminopropyl)benzofuran
MBDB:: 3,4-Methylenedioxyphenyl-N-methyl-2-butanamine
MDA:: 3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine
MDAI:: 3,4-Methylenedioxyaminoindan
MDEA:: 3,4-Methylenedioxy-N-ethylamphetamine
MMAI:: 5-Methoxy-6-methyl-2-aminoindan
PMA:: para-Methoxyamphetamine
PMMA:: para-Methoxymethamphetamine

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Dr. Patrick Burch for the design of Fig. 1. LDS is supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF; PZ00P3_174178). MEL is supported by the Federal Office of Public Health (16.921318) and the SNSF (320030149493 and 320030_170249).

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Department of Basic Neurosciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
Linda D. Simmler
Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
Matthias E. Liechti

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Linda D. Simmler
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Department of Experimental and Clinical Toxicology, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Saarland University, Homburg (Saar), Germany
Hans H. Maurer
School of Pharmacy & Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
Simon D. Brandt

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Simmler, L.D., Liechti, M.E. (2018). Pharmacology of MDMA- and Amphetamine-Like New Psychoactive Substances. In: Maurer, H., Brandt, S. (eds) New Psychoactive Substances . Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology, vol 252. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/164_2018_113

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/164_2018_113
Published: 10 April 2018
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-10560-0
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-10561-7
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Pharmacology of MDMA- and Amphetamine-Like New Psychoactive Substances

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