6-APB
6-APB is a synthetic entactogen of the benzofuran class, structurally related to MDA.1 First synthesized in 1993 by David E. Nichols as a potential non-neurotoxic alternative to MDMA, it did not see recreational use until over a decade later, when it was briefly sold on the research chemical market under the name "Benzofury."21 Compared to MDMA, 6-APB is reported to produce stronger psychedelic and visual effects while retaining comparable entactogenic qualities.3 Wide variability in dose response has been noted.
Contents
Dosage & Duration
Dosage
Different salt forms (hydrochloride, succinate, fumarate) exhibit varying potencies by weight and bulk density.
Duration
Subjective Effects
6-APB produces an entactogenic experience with stimulant and mild psychedelic qualities, frequently compared to MDMA and MDA. Relative to MDMA it tends to carry more visual effects and a stronger psychedelic character while being at least as entactogenic. The experience centers on mood lift, euphoria, empathy, and a pervasive sense of well-being and contentment, with a comfortable warmth that emerges within the first half hour and settles into a long, gentle plateau. At moderate doses users remain functional and able to concentrate, though a period of low mood and irritability lasting several days after use has been reported.
Physical
A pleasant body warmth and a dreamy, heady bliss characterize the physical experience, accompanied by mild stimulation. Sweating, slight increases in heart rate and blood pressure, jaw tension, tremors, nausea, and alternating sensations of cold or shivering are among the reported side effects.
Bodily
Stimulation
Stimulation is present but gentle at moderate doses, leaving users functional and able to focus on tasks.
Cognitive
The headspace combines euphoria, enhanced empathy, and a strong sense that all is well, alongside increases in associative and creative thinking and awareness. Perception of time can shift, and anxiety or confusion occur in some users; overdoses may feature paranoia and agitation.
Emotional
The emotional tone is warm and positive — a gentle, flowing contentment and mood lift with a distinct empathogenic edge.
Visual
Visual effects are light to moderate for most users, described as organic and cartoon-like, with both closed- and open-eye components. 6-APB is generally regarded as more visual than MDMA.
Auditory
Music appreciation is notably increased.
Tactile
Reagent Testing
Loading reagent data
Pharmacology
Pharmacodynamics
6-APB acts as a serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine releasing agent and reuptake inhibitor, with EC50 values for monoamine release of 10 nM (dopamine), 14 nM (norepinephrine), and 36 nM (serotonin) in rat brain synaptosomes.4 Its highest-affinity binding target is the serotonin 5-HT2B receptor (Ki = 3.7 nM),5 for which it shows approximately 100-fold selectivity over the 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptors; it has been characterized as either a high-efficacy partial agonist or full agonist at this site (Emax = 70%).51 6-APB also displays partial agonism at the 5-HT2A receptor and agonist activity at the 5-HT2C receptor at considerably lower potencies, and binds with high affinity to the α2C-adrenergic receptor (Ki = 45 nM),5 though the functional significance of this binding in humans is unknown.
Pharmacokinetics
Available metabolic data, derived from rat studies, indicates that 6-APB undergoes Phase I metabolism involving hydroxylation and cleavage of the furan ring, followed by reduction of the resulting unsaturated aldehyde.6 This intermediate is then either oxidized to a carboxylic acid or reduced to an alcohol and subsequently hydroxylated. Phase II metabolism proceeds via glucuronidation.6
Dangerous
Highest riskThese combinations are considered extremely harmful and should always be avoided. Reactions to these drugs taken in combination are highly unpredictable and have a potential to cause death.
Tolerance
Dopaminergic stimulants
Harm Potential
Addiction & Dependence
Psychological
ModerateModerately addictive with high potential for abuse, capable of causing psychological dependence in some users. Compulsive redosing can occur due to euphoric effects, though this urge is often reported as less pressing than with MDMA due to the longer duration.3
Physical
LowCravings and withdrawal effects may occur when chronic use is suddenly stopped. After-effects including depression, irritability, and cognitive fatigue for several days following use are commonly reported, attributed to neurotransmitter depletion rather than true physical dependence.
Toxicity
Long-term or chronic use involving regular daily or weekly dosing is likely cardiotoxic and may lead to valvulopathy; occasional recreational use at typical doses carries significantly lower risk.
Repeated or high-dose administration may result in neurotoxicity presenting as deficits in cognitive, affective, and psychomotor function, though 6-APB was specifically designed to be less neurotoxic than MDA or MDMA and single responsible uses are likely physically safe.
Psychosis Risk
Acute psychosis has been reported in combination with synthetic cannabinoids.2 Delusions are listed among possible cognitive effects, typically at higher doses or during the offset phase of the experience.
Seizure Risk
Rare effect primarily occurring in predisposed individuals, particularly when taking high doses or redosing while dehydrated, fatigued, undernourished, or overheated.
History & Culture
Discovery and Scientific Development
The benzofuran entactogens emerged from academic research into the structure-activity relationships of MDMA and related compounds. In 1993, medicinal chemist David E. Nichols and colleagues at Purdue University investigated 5-APDB and 6-APDB as serotonin releasing agents and entactogens, examining…
Trip Reports
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Legality
International
1961 Single Convention: 6-APB is not individually scheduled.
1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances: 6-APB is not individually scheduled.
1988 Convention: 6-APB is not listed in precursor Tables I or II.
By Country
References
Source Pages
Citations
- (July 2015). Pharmacological profile of novel psychoactive benzofurans. British Journal of Pharmacology, 172(13), 3412–3425. https://doi.org/10.1111/bph.1312812345
- (September 2013). Acute psychosis associated with recreational use of benzofuran 6-(2-aminopropyl)benzofuran (6-APB) and cannabis. Journal of Medical Toxicology, 9(3), 278–81. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13181-013-0306-y12
- (January 2026). | class = [[Serotonin–norepinephrine–dopamine releasing agent]]; [[Serotonin]] [[5-HT2 receptor|5-HT<sub>2</sub> receptor]] [[agonist]]; [[Entactogen]]; [[Stimulant]]; [[Serotonerg. https://doi.org/10.1177/026988112092042012
- (December 2020). The psychoactive aminoalkylbenzofuran derivatives, 5-APB and 6-APB, mimic the effects of 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) on monoamine transmission in male rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl), 237(12), 3703–3714. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-020-05648-z12
- (January 2013). Neurochemical profiles of some novel psychoactive substances. European Journal of Pharmacology, 700(1–3), 147–151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejphar.2012.12.006123
- Welter J, Brandt SD, Kavanagh P, Muller C, & Maurer HH. (2015). Metabolic fate, mass spectral fragmentation, detectability, and differentiation in urine of the benzofuran designer drugs 6-APB and 6-MAPB in comparison to their 5-isomers using GC-MS and LC-(HR)-MSn techniques. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 407(12), 3457–3470. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-015-8552-212
- Fitzgerald LW, Burn TC, Brown BS, & et al.. (2000). Possible role of valvular serotonin 5-HT(2B) receptors in the cardiopathy associated with fenfluramine. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10617681/1
- Monks TJ, Jones DC, Bai F, & Lau SS. (2004). The role of metabolism in 3,4-(+)-methylenedioxyamphetamine and 3,4-(+)-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (ecstasy) toxicity. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15228153/1
- (1993). Synthesis and pharmacological examination of benzofuran, indan, and tetralin analogs of 3,4-(methylenedioxy)amphetamine. https://doi.org/10.1021/jm00075a0271
- (n.d.). Aminoalkylbenzofurans as serotonin (5-HT(2c)) agonists. https://patents.google.com/patent/US7045545B1/12
- Home Office. (2013). Circular 008/2013: Temporary class drug order on NBOMe and benzofuran compounds. UK Home Office. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/circular-temporary-class-drug-order-on-nbome-and-benzofuran1
- UK Parliament. (2013). The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (Temporary Class Drug) Order 2013. UK Legislation. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/1294/schedule/made1
- UK Home Office. (28 April 2014). The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (Ketamine etc.) (Amendment) Order 2014. The National Archives. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2014/1106/contents/made1
- (2024-07-01). UNODC Legal Systems – Drug Laws, China: Notice on inclusion of 46 substances (effective 1 July 2024). UNODC. https://www.unodc.org/LSS/Country/DetailsLegalSystem?code=DLIL&country=CN1
- (2013). https://www.zakonyprolidi.cz/cs/2013-463. https://www.zakonyprolidi.cz/cs/2013-4631
- (2018-05-03). Arrêté du 3 mai 2018 modifiant l'arrêté du 22 février 1990 fixant la liste des substances classées comme stupéfiants. Légifrance (République Française). https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORFTEXT0000368854451
- (n.d.). Neue-psychoaktive-Stoffe-Gesetz, Anlage. gesetze-im-internet.de. https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/npsg/anlage_1.html1
- (2022). 平成２４年１２月１７日付けで以下の８物質が指定薬物に指定されました。. https://www.mhlw.go.jp/bunya/iyakuhin/yakubuturanyou/scheduled-drug/new.html1
- (2025-08-07). Netherlands: Generic Designer Drug Ban Enters into Force. Library of Congress Global Legal Monitor. https://www.loc.gov/item/global-legal-monitor/2025-08-07/netherlands-generic-designer-drug-ban-enters-into-force/1
- (n.d.). Misuse of Drugs Act 1971; Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001. gov.uk. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/benzofuran-compounds-a-review-of-the-evidence-of-use-and-harm1
- (n.d.). 21 U.S. Code § 813 – Treatment of controlled substance analogues. Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School. https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/21/8131
- (2013). Florida Statutes § 893.03 (2013) – Standards and Schedules. Florida Senate. https://www.flsenate.gov/laws/statutes/2013/893.031
- (n.d.). Louisiana Revised Statutes § 40:964 – Composition of schedules. Louisiana State Legislature. https://legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=988771
- (n.d.). Minnesota Statutes § 152.02 – Schedules of Controlled Substances (version 2014-10-07). Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/152.02/version/2014-10-07%2006:00:53+00:001
- (n.d.). Wisconsin Statutes § 961.14 – Schedule I controlled substances. Wisconsin Legislature. https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/961.14(4)(wi)1
Further Reading
Automated synthesisInformation aggregated and synthesized using an autonomous workflow built by Josie Kins.
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