4-Methoxyphenethylamine
4-Methoxyphenethylamine, also known as O-methyltyramine, is a drug of the phenethylamine family. It is one of the methoxyphenethylamine positional isomers. Along with mescaline, 4-MPEA is naturally occurring in Lophophora williamsii and other cacti. It has also been found in the flowering plant Erica lusitanica, as well as in human urine.
Use and effects
4-MPEA was inactive in humans at a dose of up to 400mg.Pharmacology
4-MPEA has been found to act as a serotonin releasing agent and norepinephrine releasing agent in vitro. It has also been found to be very weakly active as a dopamine reuptake inhibitor, whereas dopamine release induction does not appear to have been assessed. The drug showed very low affinity for the serotonin receptors in the rat stomach fundus strip. 4-MPEA is a very-low-potency partial agonist of the human trace amine-associated receptor 1 .In animals, 4-MPEA produced catalepsy, catatonia, a hypokinetic rigid syndrome, and indirect sympathomimetic effects, among other effects.
The drug is metabolized by monoamine oxidase, specifically monoamine oxidase B. It is thought to be rapidly metabolized by MAO such that it is rendered inactive.