Journal of Analytical Toxicology
October 3, 2016
Eulàlia Olesti, Mitona Pujadas, Esther Papaseit et al.
41 citations
Mephedrone, a synthetic cathinone increasingly used by young people and linked to acute intoxication and fatalities, was studied in a controlled clinical trial. A gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method was developed to measure mephedrone in human plasma and urine. Six healthy men received 150 mg of mephedrone orally. Peak plasma concentration averaged 122.6 ng/mL, reached within 0.5–2 hours, and the drug was eliminated rapidly with a half-life of 2.2 hours. Less than 15% of the dose appeared unchanged in urine, and concentrations varied widely among individuals.
Frontiers in Pharmacology
March 18, 2020
Esther Papaseit, Marta Torrens, Mireia Ventura et al.
20 citations
2C-E, a psychedelic phenylethylamine similar to mescaline, acts as a partial agonist at serotonin 2A, 2B, and 2C receptors and inhibits norepinephrine and serotonin uptake. In an observational study, ten recreational psychedelic users self-administered single oral doses of 2C-E (6.5–25 mg). The drug induced alterations in perception, hallucinations, and euphoric mood, with saliva concentrations peaking 2 hours after administration. The effects resembled those of 2C-B and other serotonin-acting drugs.
Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy
March 24, 2022
Francisco Madrid-Gambin, Àlex Gomez‐gómez, Arnau Busquets-García et al.
14 citations
Consumption of ayahuasca increases N-acyl-ethanolamine endocannabinoids, decreases 2-acyl-glycerol endocannabinoids, and alters several large-neutral amino acids (LNAAs) in human plasma. Most LNAAs were inversely associated with nine of eleven subscales of the 5-Dimension Altered States of Consciousness Rating Scale, except tryptophan, which was positively associated. Several endocannabinoids and hexosylceramides were directly associated with ayahuasca alkaloids. Enrichment analysis confirmed dysregulation in pathways involved in serotonin and dopamine synthesis. A crosstalk between circulating LNAAs and subjective effects is suggested, independent of alkaloid concentrations, providing insights into the metabolic fingerprint and mechanism of action underlying ayahuasca experiences.