MBDB
Encyclopedia
Methylbenzodioxolylbutanamine (MBDB; Methyl-J; "Eden") is an entactogen
of the phenethylamine
chemical class. MBDB is a closely related chemical analogue of MDMA, with the only difference between the two molecule
s being an ethyl group
instead of a methyl group
attached to the alpha carbon
.
MBDB was first synthesized by David E. Nichols
, a leading pharmacologist and medicinal chemist, and later tested by Alexander Shulgin
and described in his book, PiHKAL: A Chemical Love Story
. MBDB's dosage, according to PiHKAL, is 180–210 mg; the proper dosage relative to body mass seems unknown. Its duration is 4–6 hours, with noticeable after-effects lasting for 1–3 hours.
MBDB was initially developed as a non-psychedelic entactogen. It has lower effects on the dopamine
system in comparison to other entactogens such as MDMA. MBDB causes many mild, MDMA-like effects, such as lowering of social barriers and inhibitions, pronounced sense of empathy
and compassion
, mood
lift, and mild euphoria
are all present. MBDB tends to produce less euphoria, psychedelia, and stimulation in comparison. Many users declare that MBDB is a "watered-down" version of MDMA. Despite these features which make MBDB less desirable as a recreational drug, it has been suggested that the drug may have greater therapeutic potential than MDMA.
Unlike MDMA, MBDB is not internationally scheduled under the United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances
. The thirty-second meeting of the WHO Expert Committee on Drug Dependence (September 2000) evaluated MBDB and recommended against scheduling. From the WHO Expert Committee assessment of MBDB:
Empathogen-entactogen
The terms empathogen and entactogen are used to describe a class of psychoactive drugs that produce distinctive emotional and social effects similar to those of MDMA. Putative members of this class include 2C-B, 2C-I, MDMA, MDA, MDEA, MBDB, 2C-T-7, and 2C-T-2, among others...
of the phenethylamine
Phenethylamine
Phenylethylamine or phenethylamine is a natural monoamine alkaloid, trace amine, and also the name of a class of chemicals with many members well known for psychoactive drug and stimulant effects. Studies suggest that phenylethylamine functions as a neuromodulator or neurotransmitter in the...
chemical class. MBDB is a closely related chemical analogue of MDMA, with the only difference between the two molecule
Molecule
A molecule is an electrically neutral group of at least two atoms held together by covalent chemical bonds. Molecules are distinguished from ions by their electrical charge...
s being an ethyl group
Ethyl group
In chemistry, an ethyl group is an alkyl substituent derived from ethane . It has the formula -C2H5 and is very often abbreviated -Et.Ethylation is the formation of a compound by introduction of the ethyl functional group, C2H5....
instead of a methyl group
Methyl group
Methyl group is a functional group derived from methane, containing one carbon atom bonded to three hydrogen atoms —CH3. The group is often abbreviated Me. Such hydrocarbon groups occur in many organic compounds. The methyl group can be found in three forms: anion, cation and radical. The anion...
attached to the alpha carbon
Alpha carbon
The alpha carbon in organic chemistry refers to the first carbon that attaches to a functional group . By extension, the second carbon is the beta carbon, and so on....
.
MBDB was first synthesized by David E. Nichols
David E. Nichols
David E. Nichols is an American pharmacologist and medicinal chemist.Presently the Robert C. and Charlotte P. Anderson Distinguished Chair in Pharmacology at Purdue University, Nichols has worked in the field of psychoactive drugs since 1969...
, a leading pharmacologist and medicinal chemist, and later tested by Alexander Shulgin
Alexander Shulgin
Alexander "Sasha" Theodore Shulgin is an American pharmacologist, chemist, artist, and drug developer.Shulgin is credited with the popularization of MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy, in the late 1970s and early 1980s, especially for psychopharmaceutical use and the treatment of depression and...
and described in his book, PiHKAL: A Chemical Love Story
PiHKAL
PiHKAL: A Chemical Love Story is a book by Dr. Alexander Shulgin and Ann Shulgin which was published in 1991. The subject of the work is psychoactive phenethylamine chemical derivatives, notably those that act as psychedelics and/or empathogen-entactogens...
. MBDB's dosage, according to PiHKAL, is 180–210 mg; the proper dosage relative to body mass seems unknown. Its duration is 4–6 hours, with noticeable after-effects lasting for 1–3 hours.
MBDB was initially developed as a non-psychedelic entactogen. It has lower effects on the dopamine
Dopamine
Dopamine is a catecholamine neurotransmitter present in a wide variety of animals, including both vertebrates and invertebrates. In the brain, this substituted phenethylamine functions as a neurotransmitter, activating the five known types of dopamine receptors—D1, D2, D3, D4, and D5—and their...
system in comparison to other entactogens such as MDMA. MBDB causes many mild, MDMA-like effects, such as lowering of social barriers and inhibitions, pronounced sense of empathy
Empathy
Empathy is the capacity to recognize and, to some extent, share feelings that are being experienced by another sapient or semi-sapient being. Someone may need to have a certain amount of empathy before they are able to feel compassion. The English word was coined in 1909 by E.B...
and compassion
Compassion
Compassion is a virtue — one in which the emotional capacities of empathy and sympathy are regarded as a part of love itself, and a cornerstone of greater social interconnection and humanism — foundational to the highest principles in philosophy, society, and personhood.There is an aspect of...
, mood
Mood (psychology)
A mood is a relatively long lasting emotional state. Moods differ from emotions in that they are less specific, less intense, and less likely to be triggered by a particular stimulus or event....
lift, and mild euphoria
Euphoria
Euphoria is an emotional and mental state defined as a sense of great elation and well being.Euphoria may also refer to:* Euphoria , a genus of scarab beetles* Euphoria, a genus name previously used for the longan and other trees...
are all present. MBDB tends to produce less euphoria, psychedelia, and stimulation in comparison. Many users declare that MBDB is a "watered-down" version of MDMA. Despite these features which make MBDB less desirable as a recreational drug, it has been suggested that the drug may have greater therapeutic potential than MDMA.
Unlike MDMA, MBDB is not internationally scheduled under the United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances
Convention on Psychotropic Substances
The Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971 is a United Nations treaty designed to control psychoactive drugs such as amphetamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, and psychedelics signed at Vienna on February 21, 1971...
. The thirty-second meeting of the WHO Expert Committee on Drug Dependence (September 2000) evaluated MBDB and recommended against scheduling. From the WHO Expert Committee assessment of MBDB:
- 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 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.
See also
- Benzodioxolylbutanamine (BDB; J)
- Butylone (bk-MBDB)
- Ethylbenzodioxolylbutanamine (EBDB; Ethyl-J)
- Methylbenzodioxolylpentanamine (MBDP; Methyl-K)