A comparison of acute pharmacological effects of methylone and MDMA administration in humans and oral fluid concentrations as biomarkers of exposure

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  • dc.contributor.author Poyatos, Lourdes
  • dc.contributor.author Papaseit Fontanet, Esther
  • dc.contributor.author Olesti Muñoz, Eulàlia, 1991-
  • dc.contributor.author Pérez Mañá, Clara
  • dc.contributor.author Ventura, Mireia
  • dc.contributor.author Carbón Mallol, Xoán
  • dc.contributor.author Grifell Guardia, Marc
  • dc.contributor.author Fonseca Casals, Francina, 1972-
  • dc.contributor.author Torrens, Marta
  • dc.contributor.author Torre Fornell, Rafael de la
  • dc.contributor.author Farré Albaladejo, Magí
  • dc.date.accessioned 2021-10-18T06:38:01Z
  • dc.date.available 2021-10-18T06:38:01Z
  • dc.date.issued 2021
  • dc.description.abstract Considered the β-keto analogue of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy), 3,4-Methylenedioxymethcathinone (methylone) is a synthetic cathinone. Over the years, methylone has been used as a substitute for conventional psychostimulants, such as MDMA. To date, little is known about the human pharmacology of methylone; the only available information has been provided by surveys or published intoxication reports. In the present observational-naturalistic study, we evaluate the acute subjective and physiological effects of methylone after oral self-administration in comparison to MDMA in healthy poly-drug users. Fourteen participants (10 males, 4 females) selected their single oral doses of methylone from 100 to 300 mg (n = 8, mean dose 187.5 mg) or MDMA from 75 to 100 mg (n = 6, mean dose 87.5 mg) based on their experience. Study variables were assessed at 0, 1, 2, and 4 h (h) and included vital signs (non-invasive blood pressure, heart rate, cutaneous temperature) and subjective effects using visual analogue scales (VAS), the 49-item Addiction Research Centre Inventory (ARCI) short form, and the Evaluation of the Subjective Effects of Substances with Abuse Potential (VESSPA-SSE) questionnaire. Additionally, oral fluid concentrations of methylone and MDMA were determined. Acute pharmacological effects produced by methylone followed the prototypical psychostimulant and empathogenic profile associated with MDMA, although they were less intense. Methylone concentrations in oral fluid can be considered a useful biomarker to detect acute exposure in oral fluid. Oral fluid concentrations of MDMA and methylone peaked at 2 h and concentrations of MDMA were in the range of those previously described in controlled studies. Our results demonstrate that the potential abuse liability of methylone is similar to that of MDMA in recreational subjects.
  • dc.format.mimetype application/pdf
  • dc.identifier.citation Poyatos L, Papaseit E, Olesti E, Pérez-Mañá C, Ventura M, Carbón X, Grifell M, Fonseca F, Torrens M, de la Torre R, Farré M. A comparison of acute pharmacological effects of methylone and MDMA administration in humans and oral fluid concentrations as biomarkers of exposure. Biology (Basel). 2021;10(8):788. DOI: 10.3390/biology10080788
  • dc.identifier.doi http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/biology10080788
  • dc.identifier.issn 2079-7737
  • dc.identifier.uri http://hdl.handle.net/10230/48674
  • dc.language.iso eng
  • dc.publisher MDPI
  • dc.relation.ispartof Biology (Basel). 2021;10(8):788
  • dc.rights © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
  • dc.rights.accessRights info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
  • dc.rights.uri http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
  • dc.subject.keyword MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine)
  • dc.subject.keyword Bath salts
  • dc.subject.keyword Methylone (3,4-methylenedioxymethcathinone)
  • dc.subject.keyword New psychoactive substances (NPS)
  • dc.subject.keyword Psychostimulants
  • dc.subject.keyword Synthetic cathinones
  • dc.title A comparison of acute pharmacological effects of methylone and MDMA administration in humans and oral fluid concentrations as biomarkers of exposure
  • dc.type info:eu-repo/semantics/article
  • dc.type.version info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion