The designer drug 2C-I is metabolized in rats through O-demethylation, deamination, oxidation, and reduction pathways, producing multiple metabolites that are partly excreted in conjugated form. A systematic toxicological analysis using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry after acid hydrolysis, liquid-liquid extraction, and microwave-assisted acetylation reliably detected a dose of 2C-I in rat urine equivalent to a common human drug user's dose. Assuming similar metabolism in humans, this detection method should be suitable for proving 2C-I intake in human urine.
Ethylbromazolam, a new designer benzodiazepine, has emerged in Canada, the UK, Australia, and Germany, with increasing detections since November 2024 and a concurrent decrease in bromazolam detections, likely due to bromazolam's international control on December 3, 2024. Other designer benzodiazepines like desalkylgidazepam and clobromazolam have also increased. In vitro patch clamp assays show ethylbromazolam has similar activity at the GABA-A receptor as bromazolam, with EC50 values of 10.1 nM and 15.2 nM respectively, indicating comparable pharmacological activity and potential harm. Ongoing market monitoring is recommended.