Received 2022 Dec 22; Revised 2023 Jan 10; Accepted 2023 Jan 11; Collection date 2023 Jan.
This month, Xiaohong Guan and collaborators at Tongji University and East China Normal University (both in Shanghai) reported an entirely different use for naproxen. They described a method for using the compound in turn-on chemiluminescent probes for quantifying concentrations of the sulfate radical SO4∙– in oxidation processes for wastewater treatment that use the radical anion. Nevertheless, PEA (1)-caffeine combinations require investigation in documented scientific studies. H5-HT2A receptor binding data for a few representative examples of phenylalkylamines using 3Hketanserin (3HKET),37 3HDOB38 or 125IDOI27 as radioligand.
Phenethylamine is a trace amine found in tiny amounts in the brain that increases the release of the “happy hormones” dopamine and serotonin. Supplements are likely unsafe for most people and there is insufficient evidence that they improve mood, weight loss, or cognitive function. Read this post to find out more about the roles and dangers of phenethylamine. Most of the drug abuse-related studies from the author’s laboratory were supported by NIDA grants DA (receptor binding and drug discrimination studies involving hallucinogens, central stimulants, and cathinone/methcathinone analogs) and DA (new “synthetic cathinones”). Some studies were supported by NIMH grant MH (various serotonergic agents including development of NAN-190).
A Peripheral 5-HT Receptors
MDMA tends to distort sensory perceptions or cause hallucinations much less than classical tryptamine psychedelics (e.g. psilocybin, LSD, DMT). For these reasons one may consider MDMA more of a serotonergic amphetamine than a true psychedelic. Psychostimulants include amphetamine, methamphetamine, methcathinone and cathinone which are non-selective for adrenergic receptors in the sympathetic and central nervous system. Activation of receptors by these agents induces a release of norepinephrine and dopamine neurotransmitters from the synapse. The release of dopamine by the presynaptic cell is thought to give rise to the addictive potential of these agents. Phenylethylamine has earned the nickname ‘chocolate amphetamine.’ High levels of this neurotransmitter help promote feelings of attraction, excitement, giddiness and apprehension.
Category:Phenethylamines
Burnett et al. suggest ketamine as an alternative chemical restraint agent for patients in excited delirium, and they are not alone in this suggestion 52, 53. Benefits of ketamine include rapid onset, predictable ability to induce a dissociated state, and lack of cardiovascular or respiratory depression. However, ketamine may result in airway compromise, including laryngospasm and hypoxia, or have stimulatory cardiovascular effects resulting in increased tachycardia and hypertension. Management of acute 2C intoxication consists of focused, symptom-based supportive care. Initial treatment must consist of maintaining airway, breathing, and circulation.
- Phenethylamines belong to a broad category of psychoactive substances with a long history of licit and illicit use.
- These drugs may be characterized by either serotonergic toxicity or a sympathomimetic toxidrome, but a presentation consistent with excited delirium is consistent amongst the reported 2C-related deaths.
- The benefits of PEA have been researched for their positive impact on alertness, focus, and cognition.
- These interactions can amplify or diminish its effects and may increase the risk of side effects.
- Earlier this year, Narciso M. Garrido and colleagues at the University of Salamanca (Spain) published a review of 2-phenylethylamines in medicinal chemistry.
- Finally, using acid hydrolysis the metal alcoholate is decomposed and the product can be isolated and extracted from the ether.
Phenethylamine Adverse Side Effects May Include:

Phenylpropanolamines are β-hydroxy (β-OH) analogs of phenylisopropylamines. Phenylisopropylamines (i.e., α-methyl analogs of phenylethylamines) are a class of phenylalkylamines that includes amphetamine (8) and methamphetamine (52; Figure 11). By introduction of the β-OH function, phenylpropanolamines now possess two chiral centers and four optical isomers are possible (Figure 11). Depending upon stereochemistry, norephedrine is the β-OH analog of amphetamine whereas ephedrine is the β-OH analog of methamphetamine; the other two optical isomers are referred to using the prefix “pseudo” (Figure 11). The naturally-occurring (-)ephedrine (53), the most potent of the phenylpropanolamines as a central stimulant, is several times less potent than amphetamine or methamphetamine.
Serotonin Level Testing: Methods, Importance, And Implications For Mental Health
Ketamine is also controlled under the same act and listed as a Schedule III drug. Due to the illegal or controlled nature of these drugs, it is not advised that you attempt to purchase, source, or otherwise possess any Scheduled substances, as you may be at risk of civil and criminal penalties. PEA is rapidly broken down by monoamine oxidase-B (MAO) so unless you stack PEA with a brain chemical like a MAO-B inhibitor, don’t expect its effects to last. Most experience a peak within 15 minutes and sustained energy for 30 min. to an hour.
- Multiple names under which 2C drugs are sold were identified and tabulated.
- Common MAO substrates are 5-hydroxy-tryptamine and catecholamines (dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine).
- In fact, chemically it works similarly to the drug amphetamine (or Adderall, used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, narcolepsy and obesity), which is why taking too much is a bad idea.
- Additionally, a SciFinder and Scopus structure search, with the scope described early in this review (Figure 2), was employed.
- The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
- Initially described as opioid receptors, sigma receptors conform their own family, unrelated to other receptors.
The 2-phenethylamine motif is widely present in nature, from simple, open-chain structures to more complex polycyclic molecular arrangements. Several naturally occurring alkaloids, i.e., morphine, (S)-reticuline or berberine, embedded in the 2-phenethylamine unit form more complex cyclic frameworks derived from its natural biosynthetic pathways (Figure 1). A concise review covering updated presence and role of 2-phenethylamines in medicinal chemistry is presented. Open-chain, flexible alicyclic amine derivatives of this motif are enumerated in key therapeutic targets, listing medicinal chemistry hits and appealing screening compounds. Latest reports in discovering new bioactive 2-phenethylamines by research groups are covered too. Street names for some phenethylamines include ‘Europa’ for 2C-E; ‘4-FMP’, ‘para-fluoroamphetamine’, ‘RDJ’ for 4-FA; and ‘4-MMA’, ‘Methyl-MA’ for PMMA.
What Do Your Genes Tell You About Your Health?

However, several studies have employed daily doses split into two or three, ranging from 500 to 1500 mg. Given that more significant doses could have adverse consequences, beginning with a modest dose and gradually increasing it is crucial. On the other hand, phenethylamine supplements are probably dangerous for most people.
The changes in DA concentration of the dorsal striatum after the acute administration of saline or β-PEA were measured using a DA ELISA kit (#KA1887, Abnova, Taipei, Taiwan). According to the manual, standards, controls, and samples (protein lysates of the dorsal striatum) were subjected to extraction and acylation assays. The acylated standards, controls, and samples were pipetted into the appropriate wells of the DA microtiter strips and incubated with DA antiserum for 30 min at room temperature on a shaker. The conjugate was added to all wells and incubated for 15 min, and the wells were washed. After 3 washes for 10 min, the stop solution was added into the wells, and then the absorbance was measured at 450 nm in a GloMax microplate multimode reader (Promega, Madison, WI, USA).
Recently, the term “novel psychoactive substances” (NPS) has been coined; and, these NPS include, for the most part, novel phenylalkylamines, especially, phenylalkylamine hallucinogens and phenylpropanonamines (i.e. synthetic cathinones). Many of the agents are abused substances, others possess mechanistic attributes that (internally – SERT vs DAT action of a given agent) temper, or potentiate (i.e., 8-OH DPAT), these actions, and the actions of some agents probably involve multiple mechanisms. However, the potential for specific agents acting by a combination of these mechanisms represents nuances that require further investigation. Nevertheless, it is rather astounding how relatively minor structural changes on a very simple Ph-C-C-N molecule have such a profound influence on its actions.
Comparative Pharmacology Of Amphetamine, MDMA And 4-MMC: Dopamine & Duration Of Action
In fact, some suggest that a PEA deficit may be the cause of depression in the first place. One study had 14 patients with major depression take up to 60 mg per day of Phenylethylamine (PEA) along with 10 mg of selegiline (L-Deprenyl) for up to 50 weeks. Aromatic amino-acid decarboxylase converts phenylalanine to phenylethylamine. In this review we investigate how phenylethylamine (PEA) works in the human brain. As a dietary supplement or powder, a typical dosage is about 100 milligrams to to 500 milligrams daily, equivalent to about 1/8 teaspoon of powder. While small amounts of PEA are found in some foods, taking PEA supplements is the best way to increase levels.

This allows elucidation of the functional analysis of adenosine receptor A2A through competitive binding assays against 3H-NECA (N-ethyladenosine-5′-uronamide) 23. Seizures of phenethylamines were first reported from the United States and European countries and since 2009 substances such as 2C-E, 2C-I, 4-FA and PMMA have been commonly reported by several countries in different regions. Other phenethylamines increasingly reported to UNODC since 2011 include 4-FMA, 5-APB, 6-APB and 2C-C-NBOMe. Taking phenethylamine along with dextromethorphan (Robitussin DM, others) might cause too much serotonin in the brain and can result in serious side effects including heart problems, shivering, and anxiety. Do not take phenethylamine if you are taking dextromethorphan (Robitussin DM, and others). There are some cases of users experiencing extremely dangerous brain bleeds caused by the increase in blood pressure in high doses.
Figure 9
Here, it was demonstrated that certain conformationally-constrained phenylalkylamines lack many of the actions of their flexible counterparts and open new vistas for further research. For many years, the tritiated version of the 5-HT2 receptor antagonist ketanserin, 3Hketanserin, introduced by Janssen Pharmaceutica was employed as a radioligand for labeling 5-HT2 receptors; it is still used today. As an aside, probably the two synthetic agents to make the greatest impact on early 5-HT receptor research since the discovery of 5-HT itself (in my opinion), were the 5-HT2 receptor antagonist ketanserin and the 5-HT1A receptor agonist 8-OH DPAT (7). In the context of ADHD, PEA’s effects on focus and cognitive function have led to interest in its potential as a natural alternative or complement to traditional stimulant medications.

1-phenylethylamine can be synthesized by Escherichia coli overexpressing ω-transaminase (Cardenas-Fernandez et al., 2012). Likewise, the PEA biosynthetic enzyme from Enterococcus faecium can be expressed in E. Coli, which leads to large amounts of L-phenylalanine and tyrosine decarboxylase activity (Marcobal et al., 2006). Intriguingly, PEA can serve as a substrate for the synthesis of other drugs, such as sulfonamides that are being used as antimicrobials (Rehman et al., 2012).
These Conditions Include: (22,

As a central nervous system Stimulant, Phenethylamine stimulates the body to create some chemicals that may help with depression and other mental illnesses. As a central nervous system stimulant, phenethylamine is used to treat depression and many other mental illnesses. Most importantly, it is used for weight loss, sports performance, and improving mood and concentration. Taking phenethylamine as a supplement can help those who cannot produce enough phenethylamine naturally. However, using too much of phenethylamine may cause side effects that are known to be similar to those of amphetamine (2)(3). As mentioned above, others have evaluated the abuse potentials of β-PEA by measuring the behavioral and neurochemical changes in rodents; however, the mechanism underlying this effect is unknown.