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5-Methylethylone
5-Methylethylone is a synthetic cathinone of the amphetamine and phenethylamine chemical classes, structurally related to ethylone. It has been sold as a designer drug and is reported to produce empathogenic, stimulant, and psychedelic effects, with a potency suspected to be slightly higher than ethylone. Very little data exists regarding its pharmacological properties, metabolism, or toxicity, making it a particularly poorly understood research chemical.
Dosage & Duration
Dosage
Doses are population estimates that vary widely between individuals.
Threshold~30 mg
Light30-60 mg
Moderate60-150 mg
Strong150-300 mg
Heavy300+ mg
Subjective Effects
Legacy content. A statistically backed ontology from Mindstate Design Labs is coming soon.
The experience is that of a stimulating entactogenic cathinone, dominated by euphoria, mood lift, and a pronounced increase in energy, alertness, and sociability. Users tend to become talkative and outgoing, with a decreased need for sleep and reduced appetite while the effects are active. At higher doses or with sustained use, visual and auditory hallucinations can occur, and the emotional tone may shift toward moodiness and aggressiveness.
Physical
The body load is that of a stimulant, with sweating, teeth grinding, appetite suppression, itchiness, and disturbed sleep patterns among the most commonly reported physical effects.
Uncomfortable
Cognitive
The headspace is euphoric, energetic, and socially disinhibited, characterized by mood lift, excessive talking, and increased libido; irritability, aggressiveness, and moodiness can emerge as less desirable counterparts.
Emotional
Social
Visual
Auditory
Pharmacology
Pharmacodynamics
Relatively little data exists about the pharmacological properties of 5-methylethylone. Based on its structural relationship to ethylone and other synthetic cathinones, it has been suggested to act as a monoamine releasing agent, though this has not been conclusively established.
Pharmacokinetics
Little data exists regarding the metabolism of 5-methylethylone.
Metabolitesnone documented 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
Psychosis Risk
Visual and auditory hallucinations are listed among possible effects, though specific psychosis risk data is not available.
History & Culture
5-Methylethylone emerged as a novel designer drug within the synthetic cathinone class. As a structural analogue of ethylone, it belongs to the broader category of substituted cathinones that have appeared in recreational drug markets. The compound remains poorly characterized in the scientific literature, with relatively little data available regarding its pharmacological properties or toxicity profile.
Legality
By Country
Illegal1
United StatesIllegal5-Methylethylone is federally controlled in Schedule I as a positional isomer covered by 21 C.F.R. § 1308.11(d). It has the same molecular formula, cathinone core, and functional groups as listed eutylone, but one methyl moiety is repositioned from the alpha-carbon side chain to the aromatic ring without creating or destroying a chemical functionality, which satisfies the federal positional-isomer definition in 21 C.F.R. § 1300.01(b). Federal law therefore prohibits unauthorized possession, manufacture, distribution, dispensing, and possession with intent to manufacture, distribute, or dispense; state, territorial, tribal, District of Columbia, and local laws may differ.
References
Citations
- FDA Global Substance Registration System — 5-Methylethylone (UNII 3U77H8TN7N). gsrs.ncats.nih.gov (n.d.). https://gsrs.ncats.nih.gov/ginas/app/api/v1/substances/3U77H8TN7N1
- NIH PubChem PUG REST — Eutylone compound properties. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov (n.d.). https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/rest/pug/compound/name/eutylone/property/IUPACName,MolecularFormula,CanonicalSMILES,InChIKey/JSON1
- 21 C.F.R. § 1300.01 — Definitions relating to controlled substances (version effective July 9, 2026). ecfr.gov (n.d.). https://www.ecfr.gov/api/versioner/v1/full/2026-07-09/title-21.xml?section=1300.011
- 21 C.F.R. § 1308.11 — Schedule I (version effective August 27, 2026). ecfr.gov (n.d.). https://www.ecfr.gov/api/versioner/v1/full/2026-08-27/title-21.xml?section=1308.111
- Schedules of Controlled Substances: Placement of 10 Synthetic Cathinones Into Schedule I, 82 Fed. Reg. 12171. federalregister.gov (n.d.). https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2017/03/01/2017-03974.txt1
- Specific Listing for Eutylone, a Currently Controlled Schedule I Substance, 88 Fed. Reg. 21101. federalregister.gov (n.d.). https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2023/04/10/2023-07335.txt1
- DEA Controlled Substances — Alphabetical Order (27 August 2026). deadiversion.usdoj.gov (n.d.). https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/schedules/orangebook/c_cs_alpha.pdf1
- 21 U.S.C. § 841 — Prohibited acts A. uscode.house.gov (n.d.). https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title21-section841&num=0&edition=prelim1
- 21 U.S.C. § 844 — Penalties for simple possession. uscode.house.gov (n.d.). https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title21-section844&num=0&edition=prelim1
Article Status
Step 1 · Automated synthesisAn autonomous workflow built by Josie Kins compiled this article's foundation from information published across the web.
- Step 2 · First-pass reviewPending
Not yet reviewed — this article is pending editorial review by Lyrea.
- Step 3 · Citation reviewPending
No one has reviewed this article's citations yet. That second pass checks each claim against the source it cites.
Recent changes7 human edits · latest
Times are UTCNewest first
24 January 2026
Josie Kins · Updated the article · also 1,4-Butanediol, 1B-LSD, 1cP-AL-LAD and 573 more
Josie Kins · Updated the article · also 1,4-Butanediol, 1B-LSD, 1cP-AL-LAD and 573 more
Josie Kins · Updated the article · also 1,4-Butanediol, 1B-LSD, 1cP-AL-LAD and 573 more
Josie Kins · Updated the article · also 1,4-Butanediol, 1B-LSD, 1cP-AL-LAD and 573 more
Josie Kins · Updated the article · also 1,4-Butanediol, 1B-LSD, 1cP-AL-LAD and 573 more
Josie Kins · Updated the article · also 1,4-Butanediol, 1B-LSD, 1cP-AL-LAD and 573 more
Josie Kins · Updated the article · also 1,4-Butanediol, 1B-LSD, 1cP-AL-LAD and 573 more
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