Alternative names
MBDB
Current Scheduling Status
None
Year(s) and type of review / ECDD meetings
Drug Class
Recommendation (from TRS)
Substance identification
N-Methyl-1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-2-butanamine (MBDB) or 2-(methylamino)-1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)butane (CAS 103818-46-8) is also known as "EDEN" and "Methyl-J". MBDB has one chiral centre and can exist as two enantiomers and as a racemate.
WHO review history
In 1998, at its thirty-first meeting (7), the Committee pre-reviewed MBDB and recommended critical review.
Similarity to known substances and effects on the CNS
In the rat, MBDB causes serotonergic neurotransmission effects similar to those seen after administration of MDMA; it also increases locomotor activity and decreases exploratory behaviour. Clinical studies have shown that MBDB has subjective effects similar to, but less potent than, MDMA.
Dependence potential
There have been no studies in animals or humans on the dependence potential of MBDB. However, drug discrimination studies have shown that rats can distinguish both MBDB and MDMA from 11 stimulants such as amphetamine, methamphetamine and cocaine and comparative hallucinogens such as 4 methyl-2,5-dimethoxyamphetamine (DOM), LSD and mescaline. The results of a pilot study have suggested that MBDB has less stimulant activity than MDMA. This finding has been confirmed by further studies involving both drugs. Whereas high doses of racemic MDMA completely substituted for amphetamine, S-MBDB demonstrated only partial substitution. Furthermore, in conditioned place preference testing in animals,MBDB was found to have only about 40% of the stimulant activity MBDB was found to have only about 40% of the stimulant activity of MDMA. Reports on subjective effects in humans also suggest that MBDB produces less euphoria than MDMA.
Actual abuse and or/evidence of likelihood of abuse
The abuse of MBDB was first reported in Europe during the first half of the 1990s. Recent reports of seizures of the drug from several European countries suggest that trafficking of MBDB may be decreasing, after having reached a peak during the latter half of the 1990s.
Therapeutic usefulness
MBDB has no recognized therapeutic usefulness.
Recommendation
Although MBDB is both structurally and pharmacologically similar to MDMA, the limited available data indicate that its stimulant and euphoriant effects are less pronounced than those of MDMA. There have been no reports of adverse or toxic effects of MBDB in humans. Law enforcement data on illicit trafficking of MBDB in Europe suggest that its availability and abuse may now be declining after reaching a peak during the latter half of the 1990s. For these reasons, the Committee did not consider that the abuse liability of MBDB would constitute a significant risk to public health, thereby warranting its placement under international control. Scheduling of MBDB was therefore not recommended.
N-Methyl-1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-2-butanamine (MBDB) or 2-(methylamino)-1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)butane (CAS 103818-46-8) is also known as "EDEN" and "Methyl-J". MBDB has one chiral centre and can exist as two enantiomers and as a racemate.
WHO review history
In 1998, at its thirty-first meeting (7), the Committee pre-reviewed MBDB and recommended critical review.
Similarity to known substances and effects on the CNS
In the rat, MBDB causes serotonergic neurotransmission effects similar to those seen after administration of MDMA; it also increases locomotor activity and decreases exploratory behaviour. Clinical studies have shown that MBDB has subjective effects similar to, but less potent than, MDMA.
Dependence potential
There have been no studies in animals or humans on the dependence potential of MBDB. However, drug discrimination studies have shown that rats can distinguish both MBDB and MDMA from 11 stimulants such as amphetamine, methamphetamine and cocaine and comparative hallucinogens such as 4 methyl-2,5-dimethoxyamphetamine (DOM), LSD and mescaline. The results of a pilot study have suggested that MBDB has less stimulant activity than MDMA. This finding has been confirmed by further studies involving both drugs. Whereas high doses of racemic MDMA completely substituted for amphetamine, S-MBDB demonstrated only partial substitution. Furthermore, in conditioned place preference testing in animals,MBDB was found to have only about 40% of the stimulant activity MBDB was found to have only about 40% of the stimulant activity of MDMA. Reports on subjective effects in humans also suggest that MBDB produces less euphoria than MDMA.
Actual abuse and or/evidence of likelihood of abuse
The abuse of MBDB was first reported in Europe during the first half of the 1990s. Recent reports of seizures of the drug from several European countries suggest that trafficking of MBDB may be decreasing, after having reached a peak during the latter half of the 1990s.
Therapeutic usefulness
MBDB has no recognized therapeutic usefulness.
Recommendation
Although MBDB is both structurally and pharmacologically similar to MDMA, the limited available data indicate that its stimulant and euphoriant effects are less pronounced than those of MDMA. There have been no reports of adverse or toxic effects of MBDB in humans. Law enforcement data on illicit trafficking of MBDB in Europe suggest that its availability and abuse may now be declining after reaching a peak during the latter half of the 1990s. For these reasons, the Committee did not consider that the abuse liability of MBDB would constitute a significant risk to public health, thereby warranting its placement under international control. Scheduling of MBDB was therefore not recommended.
ECDD Recommendation
Scheduling/control not currently recommended
Link to full TRS
who_trs_903.pdf1.33 MB