Biomaterial Database

Pharmacology of MDMA- and Amphetamine-Like New Psychoactive Substances. 2018

Linda D Simmler, and Matthias E Liechti

Department of Basic Neurosciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland. linda.simmler@unige.ch.

New psychoactive substances (NPS) with amphetamine-, aminoindan-, and benzofuran basic chemical structures have recently emerged for recreational drug use. Detailed information about their psychotropic effects and health risks is often limited. At the same time, it emerged that the pharmacological profiles of these NPS resemble those of amphetamine or 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). Amphetamine-like NPS induce psychostimulation and euphoria mediated predominantly by norepinephrine (NE) and dopamine (DA) transporter (NET and DAT) inhibition and transporter-mediated release of NE and DA, thus showing a more catecholamine-selective profile. MDMA-like NPS frequently induce well-being, empathy, and prosocial effects and have only moderate psychostimulant properties. These MDMA-like substances primarily act by inhibiting the serotonin (5-HT) transporter (SERT) and NET, also inducing 5-HT and NE release. Monoamine receptor interactions vary considerably among amphetamine- and MDMA-like NPS. Clinically, amphetamine- and MDMA-like NPS can induce sympathomimetic toxicity. The aim of this chapter is to review the state of knowledge regarding these substances with a focus on the description of the in vitro pharmacology of selected amphetamine- and MDMA-like NPS. In addition, it is aimed to provide links between pharmacological profiles and in vivo effects and toxicity, which leads to the conclusion that abuse liability for amphetamine-like NPS may be higher than for MDMA-like NPS, but that the risk for developing the life-threatening serotonin syndrome may be increased for MDMA-like NPS.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D011619	Psychotropic Drugs	A loosely defined grouping of drugs that have effects on psychological function. Here the psychotropic agents include the antidepressive agents, hallucinogens, and tranquilizing agents (including the antipsychotics and anti-anxiety agents).	Psychoactive Agent,Psychoactive Agents,Psychoactive Drug,Psychopharmaceutical,Psychopharmaceuticals,Psychotropic Drug,Psychoactive Drugs,Agent, Psychoactive,Agents, Psychoactive,Drug, Psychoactive,Drug, Psychotropic,Drugs, Psychoactive,Drugs, Psychotropic
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000661	Amphetamine	A powerful central nervous system stimulant and sympathomimetic. Amphetamine has multiple mechanisms of action including blocking uptake of adrenergics and dopamine, stimulation of release of monamines, and inhibiting monoamine oxidase. Amphetamine is also a drug of abuse and a psychotomimetic. The l- and the d,l-forms are included here. The l-form has less central nervous system activity but stronger cardiovascular effects. The d-form is DEXTROAMPHETAMINE.	Desoxynorephedrin,Levoamphetamine,Phenopromin,l-Amphetamine,Amfetamine,Amphetamine Sulfate,Amphetamine Sulfate (2:1),Centramina,Fenamine,Mydrial,Phenamine,Thyramine,levo-Amphetamine,Sulfate, Amphetamine,l Amphetamine,levo Amphetamine
D000697	Central Nervous System Stimulants	A loosely defined group of drugs that tend to increase behavioral alertness, agitation, or excitation. They work by a variety of mechanisms, but usually not by direct excitation of neurons. The many drugs that have such actions as side effects to their main therapeutic use are not included here.	Analeptic,Analeptic Agent,Analeptic Drug,Analeptics,CNS Stimulant,CNS Stimulants,Central Nervous System Stimulant,Central Stimulant,Analeptic Agents,Analeptic Drugs,Central Stimulants,Agent, Analeptic,Agents, Analeptic,Drug, Analeptic,Drugs, Analeptic,Stimulant, CNS,Stimulant, Central,Stimulants, CNS,Stimulants, Central
D012702	Serotonin Antagonists	Drugs that bind to but do not activate serotonin receptors, thereby blocking the actions of serotonin or SEROTONIN RECEPTOR AGONISTS.	5-HT Antagonist,5-HT Antagonists,5-Hydroxytryptamine Antagonist,5-Hydroxytryptamine Antagonists,Antiserotonergic Agent,Antiserotonergic Agents,Serotonin Antagonist,Serotonin Blockader,Serotonin Blockaders,Serotonin Receptor Antagonist,Serotonin Receptor Blocker,Antagonists, 5-HT,Antagonists, 5-Hydroxytryptamine,Antagonists, Serotonin,Serotonin Receptor Antagonists,Serotonin Receptor Blockers,5 HT Antagonist,5 HT Antagonists,5 Hydroxytryptamine Antagonist,5 Hydroxytryptamine Antagonists,Agent, Antiserotonergic,Agents, Antiserotonergic,Antagonist, 5-HT,Antagonist, 5-Hydroxytryptamine,Antagonist, Serotonin,Antagonist, Serotonin Receptor,Antagonists, 5 HT,Antagonists, 5 Hydroxytryptamine,Antagonists, Serotonin Receptor,Blockader, Serotonin,Blockaders, Serotonin,Blocker, Serotonin Receptor,Blockers, Serotonin Receptor,Receptor Antagonist, Serotonin,Receptor Antagonists, Serotonin,Receptor Blocker, Serotonin,Receptor Blockers, Serotonin
D050483	Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins	Sodium chloride-dependent neurotransmitter symporters located primarily on the PLASMA MEMBRANE of dopaminergic neurons. They remove DOPAMINE from the EXTRACELLULAR SPACE by high affinity reuptake into PRESYNAPTIC TERMINALS and are the target of DOPAMINE UPTAKE INHIBITORS.	Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transporter Proteins,Neurotransmitter Transport Proteins, Dopamine-Specific,Neurotransmitter Transporters, Dopamine-Specific,DAT Dopamine Transporter,DAT Dopamine Transporter Proteins,Dopamine Carriers,Dopamine Transporter,Dopamine Transporter Proteins,Dopamine Uptake Complex,SLC6A3 Protein,Solute Carrier Family 6 (Neurotransmitter Transporter), Member 3 Protein,Carriers, Dopamine,Dopamine Transporter, DAT,Dopamine-Specific Neurotransmitter Transporters,Neurotransmitter Transport Proteins, Dopamine Specific,Neurotransmitter Transporters, Dopamine Specific,Protein, SLC6A3,Transporter Proteins, Dopamine,Transporter, DAT Dopamine,Transporter, Dopamine,Transporters, Dopamine-Specific Neurotransmitter
D050484	Norepinephrine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins	Sodium chloride-dependent neurotransmitter symporters located primarily on the PLASMA MEMBRANE of noradrenergic neurons. They remove NOREPINEPHRINE from the EXTRACELLULAR SPACE by high affinity reuptake into PRESYNAPTIC TERMINALS. The norepinephrine transporter regulates signal amplitude and duration at noradrenergic synapses and is the target of ADRENERGIC UPTAKE INHIBITORS.	Neurotransmitter Transporters, Noradrenaline-Specific,Norepinephrine Plasma Membrane Transporter Proteins,Norepinephrine Plasma Membrane Transporters,NET Protein, Neuronal,Noradrenaline Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins,Noradrenaline Transporter,Norepinephrine Transporter,Norepinephrine Transporter Protein,SLC6A2 Protein,Sodium-Dependent Noradrenaline Transporter,Solute Carrier Family 6 Member 2,Neuronal NET Protein,Neurotransmitter Transporters, Noradrenaline Specific,Noradrenaline Transporter, Sodium-Dependent,Noradrenaline-Specific Neurotransmitter Transporters,Sodium Dependent Noradrenaline Transporter,Transporter Protein, Norepinephrine,Transporter, Noradrenaline,Transporter, Norepinephrine,Transporters, Noradrenaline-Specific Neurotransmitter
D018817	N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine	An N-substituted amphetamine analog. It is a widely abused drug classified as a hallucinogen and causes marked, long-lasting changes in brain serotonergic systems. It is commonly referred to as MDMA or ecstasy.	MDMA,Methylenedioxymethamphetamine,Ecstasy (Drug),N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine Hydrochloride,Hydrochloride, N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine,N Methyl 3,4 methylenedioxyamphetamine,N Methyl 3,4 methylenedioxyamphetamine Hydrochloride