Frontiers in Pharmacology
January 28, 2020
Esther Papaseit, Clara Pérez-mañá, Elizabeth B. de Sousa Fernandes Perna et al.
27 citations
Combining mephedrone with alcohol amplifies cardiovascular effects and intensifies euphoria and well-being compared to either drug alone, while mephedrone reduces the sedative effects of alcohol. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with 11 male volunteers, the combination increased blood pressure, heart rate, and subjective feelings of euphoria. Mephedrone alone and alcohol alone were also tested. The results suggest that the abuse liability of mephedrone is greater when taken with alcohol, similar to other psychostimulants like amphetamines and MDMA.
PLoS ONE
February 23, 2016
Kim P. C. Kuypers, Eef L. Theunissen, Janelle H. P. van Wel et al.
23 citations
Verbal memory performance in people who use Ecstasy (MDMA) does not differ from that of healthy non-users when they are not under the drug's influence, and there is substantial evidence supporting no long-term memory deficit. Clinically significant memory impairment—defined as performance more than 1.5 standard deviations below the average of healthy controls—was absent during abstinence. However, during acute MDMA intoxication, verbal memory was impaired. Pooled data from four experimental studies compared 65 Ecstasy users tested on placebo with 65 matched drug-naïve controls. History of use did not predict memory impairment. The findings suggest that Ecstasy/MDMA use does not cause clinically deficient long-term verbal memory.
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.
Frontiers in Pharmacology
July 6, 2018
Elizabeth B. de Sousa Fernandes Perna, Eef L. Theunissen, Patrick C. Dolder et al.
18 citations
A single 100 mg dose of 4-fluoroamphetamine (4-FA), a phenethylamine novel psychoactive substance, produced strong elevation in blood pressure for 4-5 hours followed by sustained increased heart rate in healthy volunteers. Effects on mood and neurocognitive function peaked at 1 hour, including significant elevations of vigor, friendliness, elation, arousal, and positive mood, along with improvements in attention and motor performance. Negative affect also increased during the acute and subacute phases. The 150 mg dose was canceled after an interim safety review. The findings confirm clinical observations of acute toxicity and warrant warnings about health risks.
Human Psychopharmacology Clinical and Experimental
October 25, 2018
Patrick C. Dolder, Elizabeth B. de Sousa Fernandes Perna, Natasha L. Mason et al.
6 citations
4-Fluoroamphetamine (4-FA), a novel psychoactive substance with effects between MDMA and amphetamine, reduced cognitive empathy while leaving emotional empathy unaffected in healthy poly-drug users. Plasma oxytocin levels increased one hour after a 100 mg dose compared with placebo, but this hormonal change was unrelated to the behavioral effects on empathy. The findings indicate that 4-FA affects empathy differently from MDMA and amphetamine, and confirm that drug-induced changes in peripheral oxytocin are not associated with empathy.