4 methyl aminorex

[alexander]

"4-methyl aminorex produces a very long-lasting experience of about sixteen hours that is characterized by an increase in attention and an enhanced ability to recall, analyze and process information. What distinguishes 4-methyl aminorex from other substances like caffeine and nicotine, which also have these effects though to a lesser degree, is its effect on emotions. The 4-methyl aminorex experience resembles a low dose of MDMA in that it helps alleviate anxiety. 4-methyl aminorex enhances that aspect of intellectual work that questions, probes and explores the unknown."
There is a hint that the drug is getting more and more popular. Do you think that drugs like this should be allowed to hit the consimer market at somewhat freely?

[Biochemist]

Originally Posted by alexander

Do you think that drugs like this should be allowed to hit the consimer market at somewhat freely?

Hmmm. What is the source? I don't know the pharmacology of this (I have never heard of it). If it is a drug with abuse potential, the potential for contaminants always looms large. Where would one get it?

[TeleMad]

My first thought is to be warey. I few years ago when I was into bodybuilding I read a couple scientific publications (no, not ads in muscle mags) that showed the wonders of GHB (gamma-hydroxy butyric acid, I believe) and so started taking it. I never had any ill side effects but stop taking it anyway because I didn't have time to workout anymore. A few years later I saw a show on The History Channel about drugs and there it was: GHB...outlawed. It could be used as a date-rape drug and some people had unintentionally died. And of course there's Vioxx and all the other recent drug recalls.

Originally Posted by alexander

"4-methyl aminorex produces a very long-lasting experience of about sixteen hours that is characterized by an increase in attention and an enhanced ability to recall, analyze and process information.

Just a guess, but in those sentences it sounds like the drug might do its work by affecting the RAS (reticular activating system) of the reticular formation and also the hippocampus: the first because of increased attention and the latter because of improved recall.

"What distinguishes 4-methyl aminorex from other substances like caffeine and nicotine, which also have these effects though to a lesser degree, is its effect on emotions. The 4-methyl aminorex experience resembles a low dose of MDMA in that it helps alleviate anxiety.

Emotions are largely the domain of the amygdala specifically and limbic system in general. And could alleviating anxiety be the result of an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) activity?

alexander: There is a hint that the drug is getting more and more popular. Do you think that drugs like this should be allowed to hit the consimer market at somewhat freely?

If it helps humans without having more negative than positive, then why not? Maybe because the drug would cost a lot and the poor couldn't afford it? A lot has been said about where biotechnology is going and how the poor may be left out of a lot of it.

[Biochemist]

Originally Posted by alexander

Do you think that drugs like this should be allowed to hit the consimer market at somewhat freely?

Alexander-

I did a quick review of this. 4-methyl aminorex (4-MA) is pharmacologically very similar to amphetamine. We would expect all of the dangers associated with amphetamine to be associated with 4-MA. Short acting stimulants (i.e., sympathomimetics) share some common risks (acute hypertension, cardiac rate anomalies, etc). Further, and street-source drug is always at risk of dose variation or contamination.

4MU is associated specifically with incidents of pulmonary hypertension serious enough to require hospitalization.

I think use of any short-acting stimulant (e.g., amphetamine, crystal meth, etc) is a dangerous idea.