MDEA

The production, storage, transportation and distribution of MDEA without a license is criminalized and prohibited by most countries of the world; it is on the lists of the most tightly controlled substances ^[1] . It spread to the drug market in the late 1980s after the ban on MDMA, thus becoming a designer drug ^[1] . In the USA, MDEA came under the law on derivatives of prohibited substances, and became illegal since August 13, 1987, in Germany on January 28, 1991, in the Netherlands since 1993 ^[1] . MDEA synthesis pathways are close to those used for MDMA, use the same precursors — safrole and MDP2P — and also do not require complex or expensive equipment, which makes it difficult to combat its production, concentrated in 2004 mainly in Belgium and the Netherlands ^[1] .

The mechanism of action of MDEA is similar to the mechanism of action of MDMA and consists in the release of a large amount of the neurotransmitter serotonin , which is involved in the regulation of mood and feelings of pleasure - in this respect it is as strong as MDMA, but it shows greater selectivity, the release of other neutron transmitters from it is less than from other related phenylethylamines ^[1] . MDEA also suppresses tryptophan hydroxylase more weakly than MDA or MDMA, and serum levels of serotonin and its hydroxyindoleacetic acid metabolite recorded after use in the brain are less ^[1] . Thus, MDEA is thought to be less neurotoxic ^[1] .

Eve is most often found in multi-colored tablet form, similar to ecstasy, and is also marked with manufacturer's stamps ^[1] . Fillers are sorbitol , cellulose, or glucose , and instead of pure MDEA, its mixtures with MDA , MDMA, and MBDB are often found in Eva ^[1] . Doses of MDEA in tablets range from zero to 175 mg (2004) ^[1] . MDEA is also sometimes found in ecstasy tablets with or instead of MDMA ^[1] .

A typical use of MDEA is oral, less often intranasal or rectal ^[1] . A typical dose of MDEA is slightly larger than that of MDMA (100-200 mg, about 2 mg / kg) ^[1] . The psychedelic effect begins 20–85 minutes after oral administration and lasts from 3 to 5 hours - shorter than with MDMA or MDA ^{[1] [2]} . The maximum concentration of a substance in the blood after taking typical doses is slightly higher than that of MDMA - about 300 mg / l, and is reached 2-3 hours after taking ^[1] . The pharmacokinetics of MDEA are also stereoselective: R (-) - the enantiomer has a half-life of about 7.5 hours, and S (+) - about 4 ^[1] .

The main pathway of MDEA metabolism is oxidative dealkylation , the second most important N-demethylation , in which MDA is formed by the metabolite ^[1] . Metabolism occurs mainly in the liver under the action of the enzymes (only dealkylation) and CYP3A4 (both ways) ^[1] . Their genetic variations, the inhibitory effect of MDEA on them, and the known effects of various substances on them can explain the nonlinear pharmacokinetics of the concentrations of MDEA and its main metabolite HME in blood plasma ^[1] . Further metabolic products are excreted in the urine ^[1] .

For a qualitative analysis on MDEA in body fluids, standard for amphetamines ^[1] . For the exact determination of a substance, the gas standard with mass spectrometry is considered the gold standard ^[1] .

The psychological effects of all MDMA-like empathogens are very similar, in laboratory animals trained to distinguish between substances, they are all interchangeable ^[1] . User reviews give lower psychotropic properties of MDEA, a shorter effect and a stronger suppression of appetite, compared with MDMA ^[1] . There are three phases of MDEA action: the short initial ecstatic wave (slang English coming on ), the plateau phase (slang English plateau phase ) and the decay phase of the effects (slang English coming down ) ^[1] .

The onset of the effects of the substance in laboratory studies is characterized by the urge to vomit, blurred vision and deepened breathing, sometimes accompanied by anxiety, then most of the subjects report strong psychological relaxation, a pleasant feeling of peace and loss of feelings of anxiety, as opposed to the objectively observed, but not noticed by the tested effects of increased motor activity and blood pressure, logorrhea , tachycardia and tremor ^[1] . At least half of those who receive it demonstrate psychomotor stimulation, a positive emotional state with slight changes in perception (visual, sound and tactile), deterioration in cognitive functions and excitement of the sympathetic nervous system ^[1] . Only a small number of respondents experienced entactogenic sensations ^[1] .

The stimulating effect of MDEA is so strong that subjects taking it and going to bed all wake up after an hour or two ^[1] . The increase in blood pressure and heart rate after taking MDEA is confirmed in double-blind, placebo-controlled experiments, together with the effects of an increase in blood levels of cortisol and prolactin and a decrease in the level of growth hormone ^[1] . MDEA also causes an increase in body temperature ^[1] . S (+) - enantiomer has a significantly stronger effect on improving well-being and deterioration in cognitive abilities, and R (-) - on somatic manifestations of MDEA and an increase in reaction rate ^[1] .

These effects on the plateau phase - a pleasant increase in mood and energy - give a synergistic effect with electronic music, dancing and crowds at raves and clubs , where MDEA is mainly consumed ^[1] . They are apparently caused by serotonin release and excitation of the sympathetic nervous system ^[1] . In more than half of cases, side effects also occur: tachycardia , trismus , bruxism and xerostomia ^[1] . The decay phase is characterized by a return to the initial state, often with relatively negative emotions ^[1] .

Possible post-effects last from one to five days and include pain and muscle tension, headaches, poor mood, feelings of anxiety, cognitive impairment , fatigue ^[1] . The effects of chronic use of MDEA in humans have not been studied, but are likely to be similar from ecstasy ^[1] .

Possible psychological complications from taking MDEA include psychotic episodes, dysphoria, anxiety, and panic attacks ^[1] . The action of MDEA also leads to a deterioration in the quality of risk assessment and an increase in the frequency of various accidents ^[1] . Medical complications are similar to those of MDMA and include serotonin syndrome , hyperthermia , hyponatremia and their complications ^[1] . There have been cases of respiratory arrest , strokes and toxic hepatitis after taking MDEA ^[1] . Most deaths due to MDEA were accompanied by the use of other drugs, but in cases of mono-toxicity, the concentration of the substance in the blood ranged from 12 to more than 20 mg / l ^[1] .