3-Methoxyamphetamine

3-Methoxyamphetamine, also known as meta-methoxyamphetamine, is a monoamine releasing agent of the amphetamine family. It is a positional isomer of para-methoxyamphetamine. The drug has been encountered as a novel designer drug.

Use and effects

According to Alexander Shulgin, 3-MA showed no central or psychedelic effects in humans at a total dose of 50mg. However, sympathomimetic effects have occurred with the drug at an oral dose of 25mg in humans.

3-MA has similar effects in animal drug discrimination tests to para-methoxyamphetamine. However, it has a different balance of monoamine release, being a combined serotonin–norepinephrine–dopamine releasing agent rather than a fairly selective serotonin releasing agent like PMA. 3-MA's values for induction of monoamine release are 58.0nM for norepinephrine and 103nM for dopamine in rat brain synaptosomes, whereas the value for serotonin was not reported.
The drug has shown relatively low affinity for serotonin receptors in the rat stomach fundus strip, intermediate between amphetamine and amphetamine psychedelics like DOM and DOB. In another study, its affinities for the serotonin 5-HT₁ and 5-HT₂ receptors were 2,660nM and 7,850nM, respectively. 3-MA is also a weak agonist of the human trace amine-associated receptor 1, with micromolar potency.
3-MA produced hyperlocomotion, a psychostimulant-like effect, in rodents similarly to amphetamine and PMA. It also produced hyperthermia and myoclonus, which are serotonin syndrome-associated effects, in rodents similarly to PMA.
3-MA produces gepefrine, a sympathomimetic agent, as one of its major metabolites.

3-MA has appeared on the illicit market as a designer drug alternative to MDMA similarly PMA in the late 1980s and early 1990s, although far more rarely than PMA. Subsequently, it reappeared on the market, specifically via online sellers, in December 2021.