yellow2 → yellow3
Not yet reviewed — this article is pending editorial review by Lyrea.
4-FMC
4-Fluoromethcathinone
Flephedrone, drone, 4F-MCAT
4-FMC is a synthetic stimulant of the substituted cathinone class.1 First appearing on the designer drug market in 2008,2 it was primarily marketed as a replacement for mephedrone. It is reported to produce typical cathinone stimulant effects alongside mild empathogenic properties. As a research chemical, it has limited formal study regarding its safety profile and long-term health effects.2
Dosage & Duration
Dosage
Threshold~25 mg
Light25-40 mg
Moderate40-100 mg
Strong100-150 mg
Heavy150+ mg
Duration
After Effects1-4 hours
Subjective Effects
The experience is that of a typical substituted cathinone stimulant, dominated by euphoria, increased energy and alertness, and a strong drive toward socialization and talking. Mood elevation and increased libido accompany the stimulation, though the emotional tone can become unstable, with moodiness and aggressiveness reported. At heavier use, perceptual disturbances in the form of visual and auditory hallucinations can occur.
Physical
The body load is that of a physical stimulant: increased energy, decreased need for sleep, appetite suppression, sweating, itchiness, and teeth grinding. Disturbed sleep patterns commonly follow use, and weight loss can occur with repeated use.
Stimulation
Physical stimulation is the core of the experience.
Uncomfortable
Cognitive
The headspace is energetic and socially disinhibited, characterized by mood lift, increased sociability, and excessive talking. This can shift into a more negative emotional register, with irritability, moodiness, and aggressiveness reported.
Emotional
The emotional character is predominantly euphoric and mood-lifting, but can turn volatile.
Visual
Visual effects are limited to hallucinations reported at heavy doses; the substance is not otherwise notably visual.
Auditory
Pharmacology
Pharmacology not written up yet
Interactions
Interactions not written up yet
An unlisted combination is an unknown one, not a safe one. Check a dedicated combination chart before mixing.
Tolerance
Tolerance not written up yet
Harm Potential
Addiction & Dependence
Psychological
Classified as habit-forming, suggesting potential for psychological dependence, though detailed characterization is lacking due to the substance's limited research history.
Psychosis Risk
Visual and auditory hallucinations have been reported among the substance's effects, though the frequency and clinical significance of these perceptual disturbances remain poorly characterized.3
History & Culture
Flephedrone first appeared on the recreational drug market in 2008, where it was sold online as a designer drug.2 It was marketed primarily as a replacement for mephedrone, which was gaining popularity during the same period. The substance represents one of the earlier synthetic cathinones to emerge in the designer drug marketplace, and its appearance prompted rapid regulatory responses across multiple jurisdictions, with Denmark becoming one of the first countries to prohibit it by the end of 2008.
Legality
By Country
United StatesIllegalSchedule I
Schedule I, 21 CFR 1308.11(d)(65)18
4-FMC (flephedrone) is listed as a Schedule I controlled substance in the federal controlled-substances regulations. The current eCFR entry names it as 4-fluoro-N-methylcathinone and assigns it controlled substance code 1238.
By state
All 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and five territories were reviewed against the federal baseline. 13 jurisdictions had source-backed mirror treatment; 42 remain research gaps. 1 divergent jurisdiction findings were independently upheld.
CaliforniaRestrictedsynthetic stimulant compound
AustriaIllegal (analog/blanket ban)NPS group
4-FMC (4-fluoromethcathinone) is an amino-phenyl-ethanone derivative: its methyl and para-fluoro substitutions are chemical structures expressly contemplated by the NPSV definition. The NPSV treats every substance covered by Anlage II as a new psychoactive substance. Under the NPSG, commercial production, import, export, supply, or procurement for psychoactive human use is punishable; the statute separately excludes substances already governed by the Suchtmittelgesetz.
ChinaIllegalSupplementary List
Measures for the Regulation of Non-medicinal Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, supplementary controlled-substances list8
Listed as a controlled substance since October 2015 under national drug control regulations.
FinlandControlledCitation needed
Scheduled in the government decree on psychoactive substances banned from the consumer market.
IrelandIllegal4-FMC
Misuse of Drugs Act 1977, Schedule 1A(a)10
4-FMC is specifically listed as 1-(4-Fluorophenyl)-2-methylaminopropan-1-one in Schedule 1A(a) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977. The Act defines a controlled drug as a substance specified in its Schedule, and possession of a controlled drug is prohibited subject to stated exceptions.
LithuaniaIllegalCitation needed
Prohibited since April 2010 under national drug control legislation.
PolandIllegalI-P
Regulation of the Minister of Health of 17 August 2018 on the list of psychotropic substances, narcotic drugs and new psychoactive substances (consolidated text, Dz. U. 2024 poz. 1139)13
Prohibited since April 2010 under national controlled substances legislation.
UkraineIllegalTable II List 2
Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 770 of 6 May 2000, Table II, List No. 215
Resolution No. 770 places 4-фторметкатинон (Flephedrone; 4-FMC), chemically 1-(4-фторфеніл)-2-(метиламіно)пропан-1-он, in Table II, List No. 2. That list covers especially dangerous psychotropic substances whose circulation is prohibited.
AustraliaPotentially illegalCitation needed
Most likely controlled as an analogue or derivative of cathinone under analogue provisions. Legal status may vary by state and territory.
BrazilIllegalCitation needed
Controlled since 2017 as an analogue or derivative of cathinone under Brazilian drug legislation.7
DenmarkIllegalCitation needed
Prohibited since December 2008. One of the earliest European nations to control flephedrone.
GermanyRestrictedAnlage II BtMG
Betäubungsmittelgesetz (BtMG), Anlage II zu § 1 Abs. 19
Flephedron is expressly listed in Anlage II as "Flephedron (4-Fluormethcathinon, 4-FMC)" with the chemical name 1-(4-Fluorphenyl)-2-(methylamino)propan-1-on. Anlage II covers trafficable but non-prescribable narcotics, so 4-FMC is not prescription-eligible under this listing.
JapanIllegalDesignated drug
Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Act11
Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare current designated-drug list names 1-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-(methylamino)propan-1-one and its salts, the chemical entry corresponding to 4-FMC. As a designated drug under the Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Act, it is subject to the Act's designated-drug prohibitions; this entry does not establish narcotic scheduling.
NorwayIllegal4-FMC
Forskrift om narkotika (narkotikaforskriften), vedlegg I12
4-FMC is expressly listed as "4-fluormetkatinon" in Vedlegg I to Norway’s Narkotikaforskriften. The regulation classifies the listed substance as a narcotic, so it is prohibited except where lawful authorization applies under Norway’s narcotics rules.
SwedenIllegalFlefedron
Förordning (1992:1554) om kontroll av narkotika, bilaga 114
Flefedron is expressly listed in Bilaga 1 as 1-(4-fluorfenyl)-2-(metylamino)propan-1-on. Under section 2, substances in that annex are deemed narcotics under Narkotikastrafflagen (1968:64).
United KingdomIllegal (analog/blanket ban)Class B
Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, Schedule 2, Part II, paragraph 1(aa) (as inserted by the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (Amendment) Order 2010)1617
4-FMC (4-fluoromethcathinone) falls within the Class B cathinone generic definition because it is structurally derived from 2-amino-1-phenyl-1-propanone with a halide substituent in the phenyl ring and an N-methyl substitution. The definition controls qualifying compounds under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971; the Act also controls their stereoisomeric forms, salts and preparations.
References
Source Pages
Citations
- R.P. Archer. (March 2009). Fluoromethcathinone, a new substance of abuse. Forensic Science International, 185(1–3), 10–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2008.11.0131
- Brandt SD. (2014). 4-Fluoromethcathinone (flephedrone; 4-FMC). Critical Review Report. Agenda item 4.16. Expert Committee on Drug Dependence. Thirty-sixth Meeting. Geneva, 16-20 June 2014. World Health Organization. https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/7401/123
- Stephen L Thornton, Roy R Gerona, & Christian A Tomaszewski. (September 2012). Psychosis from a bath salt product containing flephedrone and MDPV with serum, urine, and product quantification. Journal of Medical Toxicology, 8(3), 310–3. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13181-012-0232-41
- RIS: Neue-Psychoaktive-Substanzen-Verordnung (NPSV), consolidated text. ris.bka.gv.at (n.d.). https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/GeltendeFassung.wxe?Abfrage=Bundesnormen&Gesetzesnummer=200076421
- RIS: NPSV Anlage II, BGBl. II Nr. 106/2024. ris.bka.gv.at (n.d.). https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/Dokumente/Bundesnormen/NOR40261441/II_106_2024_Anlage_II.pdf1
- RIS: Neue-Psychoaktive-Substanzen-Gesetz (NPSG), consolidated text. ris.bka.gv.at (n.d.). https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/GeltendeFassung.wxe?Abfrage=Bundesnormen&Gesetzesnummer=200076051
- Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária (ANVISA). (2017-06-02). Resolução da Diretoria Colegiada - RDC nº 159, de 02/06/2017. Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária. https://anvisalegis.datalegis.net/action/ActionDatalegis.php?acao=abrirTextoAto&link=S&tipo=RDC&numeroAto=00000159&seqAto=000&valorAno=2017&orgao=RDC/DC/ANVISA/MS&cod_modulo=310&cod_menu=94281
- Measures for the Regulation of Non-medicinal Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, supplementary controlled-substances list. gaj.panjin.gov.cn (n.d.). https://gaj.panjin.gov.cn/2015_10/08_00/content-235605.html1
- Anlage II zu § 1 Absatz 1 BtMG. gesetze-im-internet.de (n.d.). https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/btmg_1981/anlage_ii.html1
- Misuse of Drugs Act 1977, Schedule 1A(a). revisedacts.lawreform.ie (n.d.). https://revisedacts.lawreform.ie/eli/1977/act/12/revised/en/html1
- Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Act. mhlw.go.jp (n.d.). https://www.mhlw.go.jp/bunya/iyakuhin/yakubuturanyou/scheduled-drug/list.html1
- Forskrift om narkotika (narkotikaforskriften), vedlegg I. lovdata.no (n.d.). https://lovdata.no/dokument/SF/forskrift/2013-02-14-1991
- Regulation of the Minister of Health of 17 August 2018 on the list of psychotropic substances, narcotic drugs and new psychoactive substances (consolidated text, Dz. U. 2024 poz. 1139). eli.gov.pl (n.d.). https://eli.gov.pl/api/acts/DU/2024/1139/text.html1
- Förordning (1992:1554) om kontroll av narkotika, bilaga 1. riksdagen.se (n.d.). https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-och-lagar/dokument/svensk-forfattningssamling/lag-19921554-om-kontroll-av-narkotika_sfs-1992-1554/1
- Постанова Кабінету Міністрів України № 770 — Перелік наркотичних засобів, психотропних речовин і прекурсорів. zakon.rada.gov.ua (n.d.). https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/770-2000-%D0%BF/print1
- Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. legislation.gov.uk (n.d.). https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1971/38/schedule/21
- The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (Amendment) Order 2010. legislation.gov.uk (n.d.). https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2010/1207/article/2/made1
- Schedule I, 21 CFR 1308.11(d)(65). ecfr.gov (n.d.). https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/chapter-II/part-1308/section-1308.111
- California Health and Safety Code § 11375.5(c). leginfo.legislature.ca.gov (n.d.). https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=HSC§ionNum=11375.51
Further Reading
Banks et al. (2015) - Abuse-Related Neurochemical Effects of Para-Substituted Methcathinone Analogs- Eshleman et al. (2013-2017) - In vitro transporter assays of synthetic cathinones
- Freeman, S. et al. (2012) "Analytical characterization and in vitro toxicity of 4-fluoromethcathinone"
Simmler et al. (2013) - Pharmacological characterization of designer cathinones- Strano-Rossi et al. (2014) - Immunoassay screening and LC-HRMS analysis of cathinones
Automated synthesisInformation aggregated and synthesized using an autonomous workflow built by Josie Kins.
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