MBDB was initially developed as a non-psychedelic entactogen. It has lower effects on thedopamine system in comparison to other entactogens such asMDMA. MBDB causes many mild, MDMA-like effects, in particular the lowering of social barriers andinhibitions, pronounced sense ofempathy andcompassion, and mildeuphoria, all of which are present. MBDB tends to produce less euphoria,psychedelia, andstimulation in comparison to MDMA.
Clinical studies have found that MBDB produces similarentactogenic effects to MDMA, but lackspsychedelic andstimulant effects.[2][3] It enhancesmood similarly to MDMA, but lacks the pronouncedeuphoria of MDMA.[2] MBDB producesprosocial effects similarly to MDMA, although it is said to be moderately less effective.[2]
MBDB has similaraffinities for theserotonin5-HT1A and5-HT2A receptors as MDMA.[2][8] However, MBDB did not show thehead-twitch response, a behavioral proxy ofpsychedelic effects, at any dose in rodents.[7] In addition, MBDB (as well as MDMA) do not substitute forlysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) indrug discrimination tests.[3] The lack of apparent hallucinogenic effects with MBDB is analogous to the case ofAriadne, the α-ethyl homologue ofDOM; (R)-Ariadne (BL-3912A) showed no psychedelic effects in humans at doses of up to 270mgorally, whereas DOM is active as a hallucinogen at doses of 5 to 10mg orally.[8][9] This may be due to lower activationalefficacy at the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor.[9]
MBDB is a ring substituted amphetamine and ananalogue ofMDMA. Like MDMA, it has a methylenedioxy substitution at the 3 and 4 position on the aromatic ring; this is perhaps the most distinctive feature that structurally define analogues of MDMA, in addition to their unique effects, and as a class they are often referred to as "entactogens" to differentiate between typicalstimulantamphetamines that (as a general rule) are not ring substituted.[citation needed] MBDB differs from MDMA by having anethyl group instead of amethyl group attached to thealpha carbon. Modification at the alpha carbon is uncommon for substituted amphetamines.[citation needed]
Unlike MDMA, MBDB is not internationally scheduled under the United NationsConvention on Psychotropic Substances. The thirty-second meeting of the WHO Expert Committee on Drug Dependence (September 2000) evaluated MBDB and recommended against scheduling.[14] From the WHO Expert Committee assessment of MBDB:
Although MBDB is both structurally and pharmacologically similar to MDMA, the limited available data indicate that its stimulant and euphoriant effects are less pronounced than those of MDMA. There have been no reports of adverse or toxic effects of MBDB in humans. Law enforcement data on illicit trafficking of MBDB in Europe suggest that its availability and abuse may now be declining after reaching a peak during the latter half of the 1990s. For these reasons, the Committee did not consider the abuse liability of MBDB would constitute a significant risk to public health, thereby warranting its placement under international control. Scheduling of MBDB was therefore not recommended.
MBDB is considered a Schedule 9 Prohibited substance in Australia under thePoisons Standard (October 2015).[15] A Schedule 9 substance is a substance which may be abused or misused, the manufacture, possession, sale or use of which should be prohibited by law except when required for medical or scientific research, or for analytical, teaching or training purposes with approval of Commonwealth and/or State or Territory Health Authorities.[15]
Sveriges riksdags health ministryStatens folkhälsoinstitut classified MBDB as "health hazard" under the actLagen om förbud mot vissa hälsofarliga varor (translatedAct on the Prohibition of Certain Goods Dangerous to Health) as of Feb 25, 1999, in their regulation SFS 1999:58 listed as "2-metylamino-1-(3,4-metylendioxifenyl)-butan (MBDB)", making it illegal to sell or possess.[18]
^abNagai F, Nonaka R, Satoh Hisashi Kamimura K (March 2007). "The effects of non-medically used psychoactive drugs on monoamine neurotransmission in rat brain".Eur J Pharmacol.559 (2–3):132–137.doi:10.1016/j.ejphar.2006.11.075.PMID17223101.
^abcJohnson MP, Nichols DE (May 1989). "Neurotoxic effects of the alpha-ethyl homologue of MDMA following subacute administration".Pharmacol Biochem Behav.33 (1):105–108.doi:10.1016/0091-3057(89)90437-1.PMID2476831.
^Nichols DE, Hoffman AJ, Oberlender RA, Jacob P, Shulgin AT (October 1986). "Derivatives of 1-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-2-butanamine: representatives of a novel therapeutic class".J Med Chem.29 (10):2009–2015.doi:10.1021/jm00160a035.PMID3761319.
^Nichols DE (1986). "Differences between the mechanism of action of MDMA, MBDB, and the classic hallucinogens. Identification of a new therapeutic class: entactogens".J Psychoactive Drugs.18 (4):305–313.doi:10.1080/02791072.1986.10472362.PMID2880944.
