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New psychoactive substances: an overview on recent publications on their toxicodynamics and toxicokinetics

  • Review Article
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Abstract

This review article covers English-written and PubMed-listed review articles and original studies published between January 2015 and April 2016 dealing with the toxicodynamics and toxicokinetics of new psychoactive substances. Compounds covered include stimulants and entactogens, synthetic cannabinoids, tryptamines, NBOMes, phencyclidine-like drugs, benzodiazepines, and opioids. First, an overview and discussion is provided on timely review articles followed by an overview and discussion on recent original studies. Both sections are then concluded by an opinion on these latest developments. This review shows that the NPS market is still highly dynamic and that the data published on their toxicodynamics and toxicokinetics can hardly keep pace with the appearance of new entities. However, data available are very helpful to understand and predict how NPS may behave in severe intoxication. The currently best-documented parameter is the in vitro metabolism of NPS, a prerequisite to allow detection of NPS in biological matrices in cases of acute intoxications or chronic consumption. However, additional data such as their chronic toxicity are still lacking.

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Fig. 1

Figure and legend taken from Sitte and Freissmuth (2015)

Fig. 2

Figure and legend taken from Schaefer et al. (2015)

Fig. 3

Figure and legend taken from Caspar et al. (2015)

Fig. 4

Figure and legend taken from Szabo (2015)

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Abbreviations

2C-B:

2,5-Dimethoxy-4-bromophenethylamine

2C-B-FLY:

2-(4-Bromo-2,3,6,7-tetrahydrofuro[2,3-f][1]benzofuran-8-yl)ethanamine

2-MPA:

2-Methiopropamine

3,5-AB-CHMFUPPYCA:

N-(1-Amino-3-methyl-1-oxobutan-2-yl)-1-(cyclohexylmethyl)-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-1H-pyrazole-5-carboxamide

3-MeO-PCP:

3-Methoxyphencyclidine

3-MMC:

3-Methylmethcathinone

4-MEC:

4-Methylethcathinone

5-APB:

5-(2-Aminopropyl)benzofuran

5F-UR-144:

1-(5-Fluoropentyl)-1H-indol-3-yl)(2,2,3,3-tetramethylcyclopropyl)methanone

5-IT:

5-(2-Aminopropyl)indole

6-APB:

6-(2-Aminopropyl)benzofuran

AB-CHMINACA:

N-[(1S)-1-(Aminocarbonyl)-2-methylpropyl]-1-(cyclohexylmethyl)-1H-indazole-3-carboxamide

AB-PINACA:

N-[(1S)-1-(Aminocarbonyl)-2-methylpropyl]-1-pentyl-1H-indazole-3-carboxamide

AH-7921:

3,4-Dichloro-N-[1-(dimethylamino)cyclohexyl]methylbenzamide

AM-1220:

(R)-(1-((1-Methylpiperidin-2-yl)methyl)-1H-indol-3-yl)(naphthalen-1-yl)methanone

AM-2201:

1-(5-Fluoropentyl)-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole

AM-2232:

1-(4-Cyanobutyl)-3-(naphthalen-1-oyl)indole

AM-694:

1-(5-Fluoropentyl)-3-(2-iodobenzoyl)indole

AMB:

Methyl(1-pentyl-1H-indazole-3-carbonyl)-l-valinate)

AMT:

Alpha-methyltryptamine

APICA:

N-(1-Adamantyl)-1-pentyl-1H-indole-3-carboxamide

APINACA:

N-(1-Adamantyl)-1-pentyl-1H-indazole-3-carboxamide

CP-47,497-C8:

2-[(1S,3R)-3-Hydroxycyclohexyl]-5-(2-methyloctan-2-yl)phenol)-C8-homologue

DALT:

N,N-Diallyltryptamine

DMAR:

4,4′-Dimethylaminorex

FUBIMINA:

(1-(5-Fluoropentyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)(naphthalen-1-yl)methanone

HU-308:

[(1R,2R,5R)-2-[2,6-Dimethoxy-4-(2-methyloctan-2-yl)phenyl]-7,7-dimethyl-4-bicyclo[3.1.1]hept-3-enyl]methanol

HU-433:

[(1S,2S,5S)-2-[2,6-Dimethoxy-4-(2-methyloctan-2-yl)phenyl]-7,7-dimethyl-4-bicyclo[3.1.1]hept-3-enyl]

JWH-018:

1-Pentyl-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole

JWH-133:

(6aR,10aR)-3-(1,1-Dimethylbutyl)-6a,7,10,10a-tetrahydro-6,6,9-trimethyl-1H-dibenzo[b,d]pyran

JWH-200:

1-(2-Morpholin-4-ylethyl)indol-3-yl)-naphthalen-1-ylmethanone

JWH-210:

4-Ethylnaphthalen-1-yl-(1-pentylindol-3-yl)methanone

LSD:

Lysergic acid diethylamide

MA:

Methylphenyl-amphetamines

MAM-2201:

4′-Methyl-AM-2201

MDAI:

5,6-Methylenedioxy-2-aminoindane

MDMA:

3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine

MDMAR:

3,4-Methylenedioxy-4-methylaminorex

MDPV:

3,4-Methylenedioxypyrovalerone

MT-45:

1-Cyclohexyl-4-(1,2-diphenylethyl)piperazine

MXE:

Methoxetamine

MXP:

Methoxphenidine

PB-22:

1-Pentyl-1H-indole-3-carboxylic acid 8-quinolinyl ester

Phenibut:

Beta-phenyl-gamma-aminobutyric acid

RCS-4:

1-Pentyl-3-(4-methoxybenzoyl)indole

RCS-8:

1-(2-Cyclohexylethyl)-3-(2-methoxyphenylacetyl)indole

THC:

Tetrahydrocannabinol

THJ-018:

1-Naphthalenyl(1-pentyl-1H-indazol-3-yl)-methanone

WIN 55,212-2:

[2,3-Dihydro-5-methyl-3-(4-morpholinylmethyl)pyrrolo[1,2,3-de]-1,4-benzoxazin-6-yl]-1-napthalenylmethanone

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Acknowledgments

The author would like to thank Hans H. Maurer and Lea Wagmann for their support.

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  1. Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacoepidemiology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany

    Markus R. Meyer

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Meyer, M.R. New psychoactive substances: an overview on recent publications on their toxicodynamics and toxicokinetics. Arch Toxicol 90, 2421–2444 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00204-016-1812-x

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