Pharmacological profile of novel psychoactive benzofurans
British Journal of Pharmacology March 13, 2015 Anna Rickli, Simone Kopf, Marius C. Hoener et al. 115 citations
Benzofurans, a class of newly used psychoactive substances, inhibit norepinephrine and serotonin uptake more than dopamine uptake, similar to MDMA and unlike methamphetamine. They also release monoamines and interact with trace amine-associated receptor 1, like classic amphetamines. Most benzofurans are partial 5-HT2A receptor agonists, similar to MDMA, but also activate 5-HT2B receptors, which is associated with heart valve fibrosis, unlike MDMA and methamphetamine. The benzodifuran 2C-B-FLY potently interacts with 5-HT2 receptors and binds to TA1 receptors, indicating predominant hallucinogenic properties and a risk for vasoconstriction.