5-MAPB · Lablypedia

The drug acts as a serotonin–norepinephrine–dopamine releasing agent (SNDRA) similarly to MDMA. It is also an agonist of several serotonin receptors, including the serotonin 5-HT_1B, 5-HT_2A, 5-HT_2B, and 5-HT_2C receptors. Some notable analogues of 5-MAPB besides MDMA include other benzofurans like 5-APB, 5-MAPDB, and 6-MAPB.

5-MAPB was first encountered as a novel designer drug in 2013 and was described in the scientific literature in 2014. It is said to have been first synthesized in 2009. The drug has been patented by Tactogen for potential use as a medicine to treat psychiatric disorders. It is openly sold as a legal recreational drug in the United States. In addition to its use by itself, 5-MAPB is used as a component of the more closely MDMA-mimicking Borax combo.

Use and effects

5-MAPB is an entactogen similarly to MDMA. Its dose is 30 to 70 mg orally and its duration is 5 to 6 hours. The drug has been described by Matthew Baggott as the MDMA analogue with the closest-known effects and so-called "magic" to MDMA itself. However, 5-MAPB is said to be less stimulating than MDMA. In addition, it has been anecdotally claimed to have less of the comedown or hangover of MDMA. It appears to be about 2- or 3-fold more potent than MDMA and to have a duration about twice as long. Other analogues of MDMA that similarly lack its full qualities include MBDB, methylone, 6-APDB, 5-APDB, 6-APB, 5-APB, MDAT, and MDAI, among others. Whereas certain other analogues like MDA and 6-APB are said to have mild psychedelic effects, 5-MAPB is said to be purely entactogenic. In addition to its use on its own, 5-MAPB, along with the related entactogen MDAI, is employed as a component of the MDMA-mimicking Borax combo, which is said to more closely mimic the effects of MDMA.

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Adverse effects

Adverse effects of 5-MAPB are similar to those of MDMA and may include dehydration and hyperthermia, among others. It may also cause serotonergic neurotoxicity like MDMA. There have been cases of hospitalization and death in association with 5-MAPB.

Interactions

Pharmacology

Pharmacodynamics

5-MAPB acts as a serotonin–norepinephrine–dopamine releasing agent with EC₅₀Tooltip half-maximal effective concentration values for induction of monoamine release of 64 nM for serotonin, 24 nM for norepinephrine, and 41 nM for dopamine using rat brain synaptosomes. It is also a partial agonist of the serotonin 5-HT_2A, 5-HT_2B, and 5-HT_2C receptors. In addition, unlike MDMA, it is a relatively potent agonist of the serotonin 5-HT_1B receptor, with EC₅₀ values of 161 nM for (S)-5-MAPB and 981 nM for (R)-5-MAPB.

5-MAPB has been marketed as a less- or non-neurotoxic alternative to MDMA. However, 5-MAPB has been found to be a dose-dependent serotonergic neurotoxin in rodents similarly to MDMA, and might also be a dopaminergic neurotoxin.

Pharmacokinetics

Little formal knowledge exists on 5-MAPB. It does not form the α-methyldopamine metabolite that contributes to the neurotoxicity of MDMA or MDA. A study in rats indicated that the major metabolites of 5-MAPB are 5-APB and 3-carboxymethyl-4-hydroxymethamphetamine.

Chemistry

Synthesis

The chemical synthesis of 5-MAPB has been described.

Analogues

Analogues of 5-MAPB include 5-APB, 5-APDB, 5-MAPDB, 6-APB, 6-MAPB, bk-5-MAPB, 5-MBPB, and others.

History

5-MAPB was first encountered as a novel designer drug in 2013 and described in the scientific literature in 2014. Ezekiel Golan has claimed that he first synthesized 5-MAPB in 2009.

Society and culture

Recreational use

Voyager Labs by Judd Weiss openly sells 5-MAPB as a legal recreational drug in the United States as of the mid-2020s.

Legal status

Canada

5-MAPB is not an explicitly listed controlled substance in the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act in Canada. However, it is an implicitly controlled substance in this country under the act's phenethylamine and amphetamine catch-all clauses, which bans amphetamines as well as phenethylamine benzofurans.

China

As of October 2015, 5-MAPB is a controlled substance in China.

Finland

Scheduled in the "government decree on psychoactive substances banned from the consumer market".

Luxembourg

As of July 2021, 5-MAPB is not cited in the list of prohibited substances. Therefore, it is still a legal substance.

United Kingdom

5-MAPB was originally banned in the UK in June 2013 under a Temporary class drug order. On March 5, 2014, the UK Home Office announced that 5-MAPB would be made a class B drug on 10 June 2014 alongside every other benzofuran entactogen and many structurally related drugs.

United States

5-MAPB is not an explicitly controlled substance under the United States Controlled Substances Act. It is also not named as a controlled substance under California's Uniform Controlled Substances Act. However, 5-MAPB could be considered a controlled substance as an analogue of MDMA under the United States Federal Analogue Act.