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Drug discrimination studies with MDMA and amphetamine
1Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy and Pharmacal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907.
Psychopharmacology
|January 1, 1988
Summary
New entactogens like MDMA and MBDB share stimulus properties distinct from stimulants and hallucinogens. This research clarifies their unique pharmacological classification and effects.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Neuroscience
- Drug Discrimination Studies
Background:
- The term "entactogen" describes a novel class of psychoactive compounds, exemplified by MDMA and MBDB.
- Distinguishing entactogens from hallucinogens and stimulants is crucial for understanding their unique pharmacological profiles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the similarities and differences in discriminative stimulus properties between MDMA and MBDB.
- To further differentiate entactogens from stimulants and hallucinogens based on their behavioral effects.
Main Methods:
- Rats were trained in a two-lever drug discrimination task to differentiate saline from either MDMA or S-(+)-amphetamine.
- Generalization tests were conducted using various related compounds, including optical isomers and different drug classes.
Main Results:
- The MDMA cue generalized to various MDMA and MBDB analogues, including optical isomers, but not to LSD or DOM.
- The S-(+)-amphetamine cue generalized to methamphetamine but not to MDMA, MBDB, or their isomers.
- S-(+)-isomers of both MDMA and MBDB demonstrated higher potency than their R-(-)-counterparts.
Conclusions:
- MDMA and MBDB share specific discriminative stimulus properties that differ from those of traditional stimulants and hallucinogens.
- The findings suggest that amphetamine-like stimulant activity is not a prerequisite for a compound to exhibit stimulus properties similar to MDMA.