Stimulus properties of a new designer drug: 4-methylaminorex ("U4Euh")

Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 1990 Mar;35(3):517-21. doi: 10.1016/0091-3057(90)90282-m.

Abstract

Like other phenylisopropylamine derivatives, 4-methylaminorex is a central stimulant. The cis isomer of 4-methylaminorex ("U4Euh"; "ICE") has appeared on the clandestine market as a novel designer drug and was recently classified as a Schedule I substance. In the present investigation, the stimulus properties of racemic cis, racemic trans, and all four individual optical isomers of 4-methylaminorex were examined in rats trained to discriminate 1 mg/kg of S(+)amphetamine sulfate from saline. The S(+)amphetamine stimulus generalized to all of the agents investigated and the relative potencies of the optical isomers (followed by ED50 values) were as follows: trans(4S,5S) (0.25 mg/kg) greater than cis(4S,5R) (1.2 mg/kg) = cis(4R,5S) (1.5 mg/kg) greater than trans(4R,5R). The trans(4R,5R) isomer did not completely substitute for S(+)amphetamine unless a longer (i.e., 60-min) presession injection interval was used, suggesting that it has a longer duration of onset than the other isomers of 4-methylaminorex. The results, which are consistent with established structure-activity relationships, suggest that the trans(4S,5S) isomer (which has not been scheduled) is similar in potency to (+)amphetamine (ED50 = 0.4 mg/kg) and is more potent than either of the cis isomers.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amphetamines / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal / drug effects*
  • Central Nervous System Stimulants / pharmacology*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Male
  • Oxazoles / pharmacology*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred Strains
  • Stereoisomerism
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Amphetamines
  • Central Nervous System Stimulants
  • Oxazoles
  • 4-methylaminorex