Effects of “Legal X” Piperazine Analogs on Dopamine and Serotonin Release in Rat Brain
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences October 1, 2004 Michael H. Baumann, Robert D. Clark, Allison G. Budzynski et al. 71 citations
The combination of the piperazine analogs BZP and TFMPP mimics the neurochemical effects of MDMA in rat brain. MDMA stimulates transporter-mediated release of serotonin (5-HT) and dopamine (DA), with greater effect on serotonin. BZP selectively releases DA, while TFMPP selectively releases serotonin. Coadministration of BZP and TFMPP produces elevations in extracellular serotonin and dopamine that mirror MDMA's effects, and at high doses, the rise in dopamine exceeds the sum of each drug alone, suggesting drug-drug synergism. These findings provide a basis for recreational use of the combination to mimic MDMA.