“New” drugs associated with chemsex? 2C-B in sexual context. A case report and review
European Psychiatry November 17, 2023 J. Curto Ramos, H. Dolengevich, M.a. Morillas Romerosa et al.
A patient who used 2C-B during chemsex—intentional drug use before or during sex—arrived at an emergency room with psychotic symptoms and was diagnosed with stimulant acute intoxication and acute psychotic symptoms induced by stimulants. 2C-B increases dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine, producing both stimulating and hallucinogenic effects. Men who have sex with men (MSM) are especially vulnerable to problematic drug use in sexual contexts. Chemsex users face mental health problems including psychotic symptoms, suicidal ideation, encephalopathy, and delirium. Polysubstance use is common in chemsex, making identification of specific drugs during acute intoxication challenging, but psychiatrists should investigate use of drugs beyond classic chemsex substances like mephedrone, GHB, and methamphetamine, including 2C-B, cocaine, MDMA, ketamine, and other cathinones.