Designer Amphetamines

Source 1 #

The term ‘designer amphetamine’ is often used to describe synthetic chemicals that are derived from amphetamine or methamphetamine. Designer amphetamines, like other designer drugs, are often created to avoid regulation by existing drug laws.

MDMA (methylenedioxymethamphetamine, commonly known as ecstasy) is the most well-known designer amphetamine. Other examples include, but are not limited to, MDEA (commonly known as ‘Eve’), MDA, 2-CB, and 25-I.

Reference: [ACMT Designer Amphetamines]

Source 2 #

Two stimulants: amphetamine and methamphetamine

Designer amphetamines: 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; Ecstasy), 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), and 3-4-methylenedioxyethylamphetamine (MDEA)

Other sympathomimetic amines (see Fig. 16.1) with similar structures include compounds such as ephedrine and pseudoephedrine.

Additional designer amphetamines are: methiopropamine, 4-fluoroamphetamine, 4-fluoromethamphetamine, 4-methylamphetamine, and cathinones.

Figure 16.1: Chemical structures of amphetamines and sympathomimetic amines

Reference: [Chapter 16 - Critical Issues When Testing for Amphetamine-Type Stimulants: Pitfalls of Immunoassay Screening and Mass Spectrometric Confirmation for Amphetamines, Methamphetamines, and Designer Amphetamines, p206-213]