Butylone
Butylone is a synthetic entactogen and stimulant of the substituted cathinone class.1 It is the β-keto analogue of MBDB and bears a structural relationship to methylone analogous to that between MBDB and MDMA.1 First synthesized in 1967, it remained academically obscure until 2005 when it emerged as a designer drug. Butylone is frequently sold as a substitute or counterfeit for MDMA and methylone under the collective street label "Molly," though its subjective effects are not identical to either substance.2
Contents
Dosage & Duration
Dosage
Duration
Subjective Effects
Reagent Testing
Loading reagent data
Pharmacology
Pharmacodynamics
Butylone acts as a mixed reuptake inhibitor and releasing agent at the serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine transporters, increasing extracellular monoamine levels.21 Its activity profile is weighted toward reuptake inhibition, though it retains relatively robust monoamine releasing capabilities.23 Relative to methylone, butylone has approximately 4-fold lower affinity for the norepinephrine transporter, while its serotonin and dopamine transporter affinities are comparable.4
Pharmacokinetics
Butylone is metabolized through three primary pathways. The most prominent are demethylenation followed by O-methylation and β-ketone reduction, with N-dealkylation occurring less frequently.5 The most commonly observed metabolite in human urine is the 4-OH-3-MeO form.5 Hydroxyl-containing metabolites are excreted as conjugates in urine.5
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
ModerateChronic use is considered moderately addictive with a high potential for abuse and may cause psychological dependence.6 Cravings may develop with regular use, and users may experience difficulty stopping once a pattern of use has been established.
Physical
LowWithdrawal effects may occur when regular users suddenly stop, though these appear to primarily involve neurotransmitter depletion symptoms such as anxiety, depression, cognitive fatigue, and irritability rather than severe physical withdrawal.6
Psychosis Risk
Abuse at high dosages for prolonged periods can potentially result in stimulant psychosis presenting with paranoia, hallucinations, or delusions. Based on data from related amphetamine-class stimulants, approximately 5-15% of users who develop stimulant psychosis may not fully recover.7 Psychosis is unlikely with occasional use at moderate doses.
History & Culture
Butylone was first synthesized in 1967 by Koeppe, Ludwig, and Zeile, who documented their work in a paper from that year. Following its initial synthesis, the compound remained an obscure product of academic chemistry for nearly four decades, receiving little attention outside of laboratory…
Legality
By Country
References
Source Pages
Citations
- (September 2012). Comparative neuropharmacology of three psychostimulant cathinone derivatives: butylone, mephedrone and methylone. British Journal of Pharmacology, 167(2), 407–420. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1476-5381.2012.01998.x1234
- (March 2019). The synthetic cathinones, butylone and pentylone, are stimulants that act as dopamine transporter blockers but 5-HT transporter substrates. Psychopharmacology, 236(3), 953–962. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-018-5075-5123
- (January 2013). Pharmacological characterization of designer cathinones in vitro. British Journal of Pharmacology, 168(2), 458–470. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1476-5381.2012.02145.x1
- (June 2013). Substituted methcathinones differ in transporter and receptor interactions. Biochemical Pharmacology, 85(12), 1803–1815. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bcp.2013.04.0041
- (July 2009). Determination of the metabolites of the new designer drugs bk-MBDB and bk-MDEA in human urine. Forensic Science International, 188(1–3), 131–139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2009.04.0011234
- (March 2012). The toxicology of bath salts: a review of synthetic cathinones. Journal of Medical Toxicology, 8(1), 33–42. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13181-011-0193-z12
- (2009). Treatment for amphetamine psychosis. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.cd003026.pub31
- (2012). Lethal Serotonin Syndrome After Methylone and Butylone Ingestion. Journal of Medical Toxicology. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3550225/1
- (27 September 2015). 关于印发《非药用类麻醉药品和精神药品列管办法》的通知. China Food and Drug Administration. http://www.sfda.gov.cn/WS01/CL0056/130753.html1
- (1990). Arrêté du 22 février 1990 fixant la liste des substances classées comme stupéfiants. https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/loda/id/JORFTEXT000000533085/2020-11-20/1
- (2019). Anlage II BtMG. https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/btmg_1981/anlage_ii.html1
- Christina Rångemark Åkerman. (29 July 2022). Föreskrifter (HSLF-FS 2022:48) om ändring i Läkemedelsverkets föreskrifter (LVFS 2011:10) om förteckningar över narkotika. LVFS. https://www.lakemedelsverket.se/sv/lagar-och-regler/foreskrifter/2022-481
- (1971). The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (Amendment) Order 2010. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2010/1207/made1
- (1 March 2017). Schedules of Controlled Substances: Placement of 10 Synthetic Cathinones Into Schedule I (Final Rule, 82 FR 12171). Drug Enforcement Administration / Federal Register. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/03/01/2017-03974/schedules-of-controlled-substances-placement-of-10-synthetic-cathinones-into-schedule-i1
Further Reading
Automated synthesisInformation aggregated and synthesized using an autonomous workflow built by Josie Kins.
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