Not yet reviewed — this article is pending editorial review by Lyrea.

4-MEC

4-Methylethcathinone

NRG-2

Psychoactive Class

Stimulant Entactogen

Chemical Class

Cathinone (substituted)

4-MEC is a substituted cathinone with stimulant and entactogen properties, structurally related to mephedrone.¹ It has been marketed alone or blended with other cathinones under names such as "NRG-2"²³ and has been identified as an active ingredient in counterfeit ecstasy tablets in some countries.⁴ Compared to mephedrone, it is considered less potent with a more pronounced stimulant character. Little is known about its safety profile.

Dosage & Duration

Dosage

Threshold~25 mg

Light25-40 mg

Moderate40-100 mg

Strong100-150 mg

Heavy150+ mg

Duration

Total2-3 hours

Subjective Effects

4-MEC produces a stimulating, euphoric experience broadly comparable to mephedrone, with which it shares close structural similarity, though it is generally regarded as somewhat milder and less distinctly entactogenic. The experience centers on mood lift, increased energy and alertness, and a strong pull toward socializing and talking. Sensory alteration is largely absent at common doses, though visual and auditory hallucinations have been reported, typically in the context of heavy or prolonged use.

Physical

The body load is that of a classic stimulant: increased energy, decreased need for sleep, appetite suppression, sweating, teeth grinding, and itchiness. Increased libido is commonly reported, and sleep patterns are often disturbed following use.

Stimulation

The physical effects are dominated by stimulation and its downstream consequences.

Increased libido

Uncomfortable

Increased perspiration Bruxism Itchiness

Cognitive

The headspace is euphoric, energetic, and markedly social, with pronounced talkativeness and increased sociability. The mood elevation can give way to moodiness, irritability, and aggressiveness, particularly as the effects wear off or with repeated dosing.

Emotional

The emotional tone is predominantly euphoric and elevated, though it can become unstable.

Visual

Visual hallucinations have been reported, generally in association with heavy use.

Auditory

Auditory hallucinations have been reported alongside visual disturbances at heavy doses.

Auditory hallucinations

Reagent Testing

Expected colorimetric results for common reagent tests. Colors show reaction change over 1–2 minutes.

Mandelin(MD)

Liebermann(LB)

Simons(SI)

Marquis(MQ)

No reaction

PROtestkit.eu

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.

Check

TripSit

Tolerance

Cross Tolerance

Substituted cathinones, Dopaminergic stimulants, Serotonergic entactogens

Harm Potential

Addiction & Dependence

Psychological

Moderate

Classified as habit-forming. As a substituted cathinone stimulant believed to have similar effects to mephedrone, it likely carries comparable psychological addiction potential, though little is known about its safety profile.

Toxicity

Vascular

Intravenous use is reported to be rough on veins and sometimes accompanied by a burning sensation; users are advised to dilute the substance as much as possible to reduce venous irritation.

Psychosis Risk

Visual and auditory hallucinations are listed among possible effects, suggesting some potential for perceptual disturbances, though specific data on psychotic episodes is not available.

History & Culture

4-MEC has been marketed commercially under the name "NRG-2,"⁵³ sold either as a standalone product or in mixtures containing other substituted cathinones. The compound has also been identified as an active ingredient in counterfeit ecstasy tablets, with reports from countries including New Zealand documenting its use as a substitute for MDMA in illicit pill markets.⁴

Legality

International

4-MEC is internationally controlled in Schedule II of the Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971. The Commission on Narcotic Drugs included 4-MEC in Schedule II by Decision 60/4, and the International Narcotics Control Board's current Green List identifies 4-methylethcathinone (4-MEC) among Schedule II substances.

By Country

United StatesIllegalSchedule I

Controlled Substances Act²⁴²⁵

Classified as a Schedule I controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act, indicating high abuse potential with no currently accepted medical use in treatment.²⁶²⁷

By state

All 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and five territories were reviewed against the federal baseline. 17 jurisdictions had source-backed mirror treatment; 38 remain research gaps. 1 divergent jurisdiction findings were independently upheld.

CaliforniaRestrictedsynthetic-stimulant-offense

AustriaIllegalSuchtgift (Anhang IV)

Suchtgiftverordnung, Anhang IV⁹¹⁰

Austria expressly lists 4-Methylethcathinon (4-MEC) as a Suchtgift in Anhang IV of the Suchtgiftverordnung. The listing also covers the listed substances' isomers, esters, ethers, molecular compounds, salts, and preparations subject to the stated analytical and diagnostic exception. The Suchtgift-Grenzmengenverordnung sets the Grenzmenge for 4-Methylethcathinon (4-MEC) at 30.0 grams of pure active substance.

DenmarkIllegalList B no. 292

Bekendtgørelse om euforiserende stoffer (BEK nr. 405 af 26. marts 2026), Liste B, nr. 292¹²

4-MEC is listed in List B, item 292, which expressly includes the 2-, 3-, and 4-methyl-N-ethylcathinone isomers. List B substances may only be used for medical and scientific purposes, and import, export, manufacture, trade, receipt, and possession are subject to the order's authorization rules.

IrelandIllegalSchedule 1 cathinone

Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2017 (S.I. No. 173 of 2017), Schedule 1, paragraph 1(b)¹⁴¹⁵

4-MEC is structurally derived from 2-amino-1-phenyl-1-propanone: its 4-methylphenyl group is an alkyl substitution in the phenyl ring and its N-ethyl group is an alkyl substitution at nitrogen. It therefore falls within Schedule 1's generic cathinone definition; production, supply, importation and exportation are prohibited unless authorised, and the Regulations provide no ordinary possession exemption for Schedule 1 drugs.

SingaporeIllegalClass A drug

Misuse of Drugs Act 1973, First Schedule (Class A drugs)¹⁷¹⁸

Singapore's First Schedule lists 2-(Ethylamino)-1-(4-methylphenyl)propan-1-one as 4-Methylethcathinone (4-MEC) among Class A drugs. The Act defines a substance specified in Part 1, 2 or 3 of the First Schedule as a controlled drug. Unless authorised under the Act, possession, consumption and trafficking of a controlled drug are offences.

UkraineIllegal4-МЕС

Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 770 of 6 May 2000, List of Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and Precursors²¹

Ukraine lists 4-МЕС (4-метилеткатинон), chemically (R,S)-2-етиламін-1-(4-метилфеніл)-пропан-1-он, in List No. 2 of Table I. List No. 2 is headed ‘Especially dangerous psychotropic substances, circulation of which is prohibited,’ so 4-MEC is prohibited.

AustraliaRestrictedBorder controlled

Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956, Schedule 4 item 146C; Customs (Prohibited Exports) Regulations 1958, Schedule 8 Part 1 item 27B⁶⁷⁸

4-methylethcathinone (4-MEC) is named in the Commonwealth prohibited-imports and prohibited-exports drug schedules. Its import and export require the applicable Office of Drug Control licence and permit; this entry records border controls only and does not classify domestic possession.

BrazilIllegalF2 prohibited psychotropic

Portaria SVS/MS nº 344/1998, Anexo I, Lista F2 (as amended by RDC nº 8/2015)¹¹

ANVISA’s current controlled-substances page records RDC nº 8/2015 as including 4-MEC (4-metiletilcatinona) in Lista F2 of Annex I to Portaria SVS/MS nº 344/1998. The same official page identifies later list updates, including RDC nº 999/2025 and the current 2026 version, without recording an exclusion of 4-MEC; Lista F2 is the prohibited psychotropic list.

GermanyRestrictedAnlage II

Betäubungsmittelgesetz (BtMG), Anlage II¹³

Germany expressly lists 4-Methylethcathinon (4-MEC) in Anlage II of the BtMG, with the chemical name 2-(Ethylamino)-1-(4-methylphenyl)propan-1-on. Anlage II covers marketable but non-prescribable narcotics, so 4-MEC is restricted and is not available by prescription.

NetherlandsIllegalLijst I

Opiumwet, lijst I¹⁶

4-MEC is expressly listed in lijst I of the Dutch Opiumwet as 4-methylethcathinon. Article 2 prohibits importing or exporting, preparing, processing, selling, supplying, transporting, possessing, and manufacturing a lijst I substance, subject to the Act's specified exemptions and dispensations.

SwedenIllegal4-MEC

Förordning (1992:1554) om kontroll av narkotika, 2 § och bilaga 1¹⁹²⁰

Bilaga 1 lists 2-etylamin-1-(4-metylfenyl)-1-propanon (4-MEC) among central stimulants. Under 2 §, substances listed in bilaga 1 are deemed narcotics under narkotikastrafflagen (1968:64); unlawful possession, use, transfer, manufacture, and other handling are punishable under that Act.

United KingdomIllegal (analog/blanket ban)Class B cathinone

Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, Schedule 2, Part II, paragraph 1(aa)²²²³

4-MEC (4-methylethcathinone; 1-(4-methylphenyl)-2-(ethylamino)propan-1-one) is a Class B controlled drug under the Act's generic cathinone definition. Its para-methyl phenyl substituent meets paragraph 1(aa)(i), and its N-ethyl substituent meets paragraph 1(aa)(iii); it has no 3-position alkyl substitution under paragraph 1(aa)(ii). It is not bupropion, cathinone, diethylpropion, pyrovalerone, or a separately specified paragraph 1(a) compound, so none of paragraph 1(aa)'s exclusions applies. The current Act includes salts and preparations of paragraph 1 substances; its Class B ester-or-ether provision does not extend to paragraph 1(aa).

References

Source Pages

Citations

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