Alternative names
MPA
IUPAC Name
1-(thiophen-2-yl)-2-methylaminopropane
Current Scheduling Status
Year(s) and type of review / ECDD meetings
Drug Class
Recommendation (from TRS)
Substance identification
Chemically, methiopropamine is N-methyl-1-(thiophen-2-yl)propan-2-amine. It has a chiral centre with two enantiomers.
Previous review
Methiopropamine was previously critically reviewed by the Committee at its thirty-sixth meeting. Owing to the insufficiency of data regarding dependence, abuse and risks to public health, the Committee recommended that methiopropamine not be placed under international control at that time but be kept under surveillance. Subsequent data collected from the literature and from different countries indicating that this substance may cause substantial harm and that it has no medical use warranted an updated critical review.
Similarity to known substances and effects on the central nervous system Methiopropamine is a thiophene analogue of methamphetamine, but is not readily converted into other controlled substances. It increases the synaptic levels of dopamine and noradrenaline, an effect similar to that of methamphetamine. Also similar to methamphetamine, it increases locomotor activity and induces its sensitization in mice. Adverse effects reported following administration include tachycardia, anxiety, panic attacks, perspiration, headache, nausea, difficulty in breathing, vomiting, difficulty urinating and sexual dysfunction. Case reports indicate that methiopropamine induces palpitations, chest tightness, anxiety, nausea, vomiting and visual hallucinations. Methiopropamine has been associated with 62 deaths; in at least 14 of these it was thought to have contributed to death even though other drugs were present. One death was thought to be solely related to methiopropamine use.
Dependence potential
No controlled studies in humans or laboratory animals regarding the potential physical dependence effects of methiopropamine have been reported.
Actual abuse and/or evidence of likelihood of abuse
Methiopropamine is sold on Internet websites as a "research chemical" or in branded products, predominantly in powder form. Methiopropamine abuse has been reported in many countries in different regions. Users report administering methiopropamine by insufflation, inhalation or the oral route. Case reports and user reports indicate that methiopropamine displays similar properties to methamphetamine, including stimulation, alertness and increase of focus and energy as well as talkativeness. Methiopropamine has been placed under national control in a number of countries in different regions.
Therapeutic usefulness
There are currently no known therapeutic applications for methiopropamine.
Recommendation
The Committee considered that the degree of risk to public health and society associated with the abuse of methiopropamine (N-methyl-1-(thiophen-2-yl) propan-2-amine) is substantial. Therapeutic usefulness has not been recorded. It recognized that methiopropamine has similar abuse and similar ill-effects to substances in Schedule II of the UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971. The Committee considered that there is sufficient evidence that methiopropamine is being or is likely to be abused so as to constitute a public health and social problem warranting the placing of the substance under international control. As per the Guidance on the WHO review of psychoactive substances for international control (2), higher regard was accorded to the substantial public health risk than to the lack of therapeutic usefulness. The Committee recommended that methiopropamine be placed in Schedule II under the UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971.
Chemically, methiopropamine is N-methyl-1-(thiophen-2-yl)propan-2-amine. It has a chiral centre with two enantiomers.
Previous review
Methiopropamine was previously critically reviewed by the Committee at its thirty-sixth meeting. Owing to the insufficiency of data regarding dependence, abuse and risks to public health, the Committee recommended that methiopropamine not be placed under international control at that time but be kept under surveillance. Subsequent data collected from the literature and from different countries indicating that this substance may cause substantial harm and that it has no medical use warranted an updated critical review.
Similarity to known substances and effects on the central nervous system Methiopropamine is a thiophene analogue of methamphetamine, but is not readily converted into other controlled substances. It increases the synaptic levels of dopamine and noradrenaline, an effect similar to that of methamphetamine. Also similar to methamphetamine, it increases locomotor activity and induces its sensitization in mice. Adverse effects reported following administration include tachycardia, anxiety, panic attacks, perspiration, headache, nausea, difficulty in breathing, vomiting, difficulty urinating and sexual dysfunction. Case reports indicate that methiopropamine induces palpitations, chest tightness, anxiety, nausea, vomiting and visual hallucinations. Methiopropamine has been associated with 62 deaths; in at least 14 of these it was thought to have contributed to death even though other drugs were present. One death was thought to be solely related to methiopropamine use.
Dependence potential
No controlled studies in humans or laboratory animals regarding the potential physical dependence effects of methiopropamine have been reported.
Actual abuse and/or evidence of likelihood of abuse
Methiopropamine is sold on Internet websites as a "research chemical" or in branded products, predominantly in powder form. Methiopropamine abuse has been reported in many countries in different regions. Users report administering methiopropamine by insufflation, inhalation or the oral route. Case reports and user reports indicate that methiopropamine displays similar properties to methamphetamine, including stimulation, alertness and increase of focus and energy as well as talkativeness. Methiopropamine has been placed under national control in a number of countries in different regions.
Therapeutic usefulness
There are currently no known therapeutic applications for methiopropamine.
Recommendation
The Committee considered that the degree of risk to public health and society associated with the abuse of methiopropamine (N-methyl-1-(thiophen-2-yl) propan-2-amine) is substantial. Therapeutic usefulness has not been recorded. It recognized that methiopropamine has similar abuse and similar ill-effects to substances in Schedule II of the UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971. The Committee considered that there is sufficient evidence that methiopropamine is being or is likely to be abused so as to constitute a public health and social problem warranting the placing of the substance under international control. As per the Guidance on the WHO review of psychoactive substances for international control (2), higher regard was accorded to the substantial public health risk than to the lack of therapeutic usefulness. The Committee recommended that methiopropamine be placed in Schedule II under the UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971.
ECDD Recommendation
Inclusion in Schedule II of the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances
Link to full TRS
9789241210140-eng.pdf426.09 KB
MS Questionnaire Report