Alternative names
2C-B
Current Scheduling Status
Year(s) and type of review / ECDD meetings
Drug Class
Recommendation (from TRS)
Substance identification
4-Bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine (2C-B), chemically 2-(4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)ethylamine (CAS 66142-81-2). Othernames include 4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxy-beta-phenethylamine (BDMPEA), "Erox", "MFT", "Nexus" and "Performax". There are no chiral centres; therefore, no stereoisomers or racemates are possible.
WHO review history
In 1998, at its thirty-first meeting (7), the Committee pre-reviewed 2C-B and recommended critical review.
Similarity to known substances and effects on the CNS
2C-B is structurally and pharmacologically similar to brolamfetamine and mescaline. It acts as a selective partial agonist for 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C serotonin receptors. In humans, 2C-B is more potent than mescaline but less potent than brolamfetamine. At low doses it enhances skin sensitivity and responsiveness to smells and tastes. At high doses it is a strong hallucinogen, producing particularly marked visual hallucinations with an intense colour play, intriguing patterns emerging on surfaces and distortions of objects and faces. 2C-B is also reported to enhance sexual feelings, perception and performance.
Dependence potential
There have been no studies in animals or humans on the dependence potential of 2C-B.
Actual abuse and or/evidence of likelihood of abuse
During the 1990s, 2C-B was sold as an aphrodisiac in several countries and abuse of 2C-B has been reported by a number of countries. This suggests that 2C-B, like many other hallucinogens, has modest abuse liability. Although hallucinogens are rarely associated with compulsive use or dependent use, they are known to have modest abuse potential, particularly among polydrug abusers.
Therapeutic usefulness
Apart from its controversial experimental use in psychotherapy, 2C-B, like most other hallucinogens, does not have any known therapeutic usefulness.
Recommendation
Although the available studies on 2C-B are limited, it has been shownto be chemically and pharmacologically similar to the hallucinogen mescaline. The altered state of mind induced by hallucinogens such as 2C-B may result in harm to the user and to others. On the basis of its perceived aphrodisiac effects and the known modest abuse potential of hallucinogenic drugs in general, it is estimated that 2C-B may be abused so as to constitute a public health and social problem, warranting its placement under international control. The Committee noted, however, that hallucinogens are rarely associated with compulsive use and that abuse of 2C-B has been infrequent, suggesting that the drug is likely to constitute a substantial, rather than an especially serious, risk to public health. For these reasons, the Committee recommended that 2C-B be placed in Schedule II of the 1971 Convention.
4-Bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine (2C-B), chemically 2-(4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)ethylamine (CAS 66142-81-2). Othernames include 4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxy-beta-phenethylamine (BDMPEA), "Erox", "MFT", "Nexus" and "Performax". There are no chiral centres; therefore, no stereoisomers or racemates are possible.
WHO review history
In 1998, at its thirty-first meeting (7), the Committee pre-reviewed 2C-B and recommended critical review.
Similarity to known substances and effects on the CNS
2C-B is structurally and pharmacologically similar to brolamfetamine and mescaline. It acts as a selective partial agonist for 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C serotonin receptors. In humans, 2C-B is more potent than mescaline but less potent than brolamfetamine. At low doses it enhances skin sensitivity and responsiveness to smells and tastes. At high doses it is a strong hallucinogen, producing particularly marked visual hallucinations with an intense colour play, intriguing patterns emerging on surfaces and distortions of objects and faces. 2C-B is also reported to enhance sexual feelings, perception and performance.
Dependence potential
There have been no studies in animals or humans on the dependence potential of 2C-B.
Actual abuse and or/evidence of likelihood of abuse
During the 1990s, 2C-B was sold as an aphrodisiac in several countries and abuse of 2C-B has been reported by a number of countries. This suggests that 2C-B, like many other hallucinogens, has modest abuse liability. Although hallucinogens are rarely associated with compulsive use or dependent use, they are known to have modest abuse potential, particularly among polydrug abusers.
Therapeutic usefulness
Apart from its controversial experimental use in psychotherapy, 2C-B, like most other hallucinogens, does not have any known therapeutic usefulness.
Recommendation
Although the available studies on 2C-B are limited, it has been shownto be chemically and pharmacologically similar to the hallucinogen mescaline. The altered state of mind induced by hallucinogens such as 2C-B may result in harm to the user and to others. On the basis of its perceived aphrodisiac effects and the known modest abuse potential of hallucinogenic drugs in general, it is estimated that 2C-B may be abused so as to constitute a public health and social problem, warranting its placement under international control. The Committee noted, however, that hallucinogens are rarely associated with compulsive use and that abuse of 2C-B has been infrequent, suggesting that the drug is likely to constitute a substantial, rather than an especially serious, risk to public health. For these reasons, the Committee recommended that 2C-B be placed in Schedule II of the 1971 Convention.
ECDD Recommendation
Inclusion in Schedule II of the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances
Link to full TRS
who_trs_903.pdf1.33 MB