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5-IAI

This article is a stubmissing:
Subjective Effects
Interactions
Tolerance
5-IAI molecule structure5-IAI molecule structure
5-Iodo-2-aminoindane
5-iodo-2-aminoindan, HDEP-28Open in Piru
Psychoactive Class
Chemical Class

5-IAI is another name for 5-iodo-2-aminoindan1. 5-IAI was first synthesized and reported in 19911, and a team led by Nichols developed it during the 1990s. In rats, it produced limited changes in serotonin markers and did not appear to cause significant serotonin deficits2, although evidence remains uncertain; animal studies found less serotonergic neurotoxicity than MDMA.

Dosage & Duration

Duration

After Effects1-24 hours

Subjective Effects

Subjective Effects not written up yet

Reagent Testing

Expected colorimetric results for common reagent tests. Colors show reaction change over 1–2 minutes.

Marquis(MQ)
white → orange2 → orange3 → brown2 → brown3
Mecke(ME)
white → orange2
Mandelin(MD)
yellow2 → green1
Liebermann(LB)
white → brown3
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Pharmacology

Pharmacodynamics

5-IAI acts primarily as a serotonin-dopamine-norepinephrine releasing agent, with relative monoamine release potency reported as serotonin greater than dopamine, followed by norepinephrine. It interacts with the serotonin transporter, norepinephrine transporter, and dopamine transporter3, and also shows high affinity for 5-HT1A, 5-HT2A, 5-HT2B, and 5-HT2C receptors and affinity for the α2A-, α2B-, and α2C-adrenergic receptors. Its EC50 values for monoamine release have not been reported.

Pharmacokinetics

Absorption & half-lifenot documented yetMetabolitesnone documented yet

Interactions

Interactions not written up yet

An unlisted combination is an unknown one, not a safe one. Check a dedicated combination chart before mixing.

Check TripSit

Tolerance

Tolerance not written up yet

Harm Potential

Addiction & Dependence

Psychological

Low

Classified as habit-forming, suggesting some potential for psychological dependence, though specific patterns of compulsive use are not well documented.

Toxicity

Central Nervous System

Regular high-dose use has been associated with serotonergic neurotoxicity and cognitive deficits in animal studies; the neurotoxic effects observed were relatively modest compared to related compounds and occurred at extremely high doses.

History & Culture

5-IAI was developed in the 1990s by a team led by David E. Nichols. A 1991 paper by Nichols and colleagues at Purdue University described 5-IAI2. An EMCDDA internet snapshot in 2010 anticipated its presence in the recreational drug market, and it was identified in recreational products sold in the United Kingdom in 20114, but never gained widespread popularity.

Legality

By Country

Illegal1
Sweden flagSwedenIllegal
Controlled / restricted1
Finland flagFinlandRestricted

References

Source Pages

  1. Bluelight: The 5-IAI Thread (2010)
  2. Wikipedia

Citations

  1. The Characterization of 4- and 5-Iodo-2-aminoindan. U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Microgram Journal (2012). https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/pr/microgram-journals/2012/mj9-1_18-26.pdf12
  2. 5-Iodo-2-aminoindan, a nonneurotoxic analogue of p-iodoamphetamine. PubMed (1991). https://doi.org/10.1016/0091-3057(91)90601-w12
  3. Pharmacological profiles of aminoindanes, piperazines, and pipradrol derivatives. Biochemical Pharmacology via MAPS Bibliography (2014). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bcp.2014.01.0241
  4. 5-Iodo-2-aminoindan (5-IAI): Chemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology of a research chemical producing MDMA-like effects. PubMed (2013). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/233478771
  5. Läkemedelsverkets föreskrifter (LVFS 2011:10) om förteckningar över narkotika, consolidated through HSLF-FS 2026:26. lakemedelsverket.se (n.d.). https://www.lakemedelsverket.se/globalassets/dokument/lagar-och-regler/lvfs/lvfs-2011-10-konsoliderad.pdf1
  6. Förordning (2019:611) om ändring i förordningen (1992:1554) om kontroll av narkotika. svenskforfattningssamling.se (n.d.). https://svenskforfattningssamling.se/sites/default/files/sfs/2019-10/SFS2019-611.pdf1
  7. Narkotikastrafflag (1968:64), current through SFS 2024:797. data.riksdagen.se (n.d.). https://data.riksdagen.se/dokument/sfs-1968-64.html1
  8. Valtioneuvoston asetus 650/2026 kuluttajamarkkinoilta kielletyistä psykoaktiivisista aineista annetun valtioneuvoston asetuksen liitteen muuttamisesta. finlex.fi (n.d.). https://www.finlex.fi/api/media/statute/1073201/mainPdf/main.pdf1
  9. Huumausainelaki 373/2008, ajantasainen säädös, 3 §, 5 § and 23 b §. finlex.fi (n.d.). https://www.finlex.fi/fi/lainsaadanto/2008/3731
  10. Valtioneuvoston asetus 1130/2014 kuluttajamarkkinoilta kielletyistä psykoaktiivisista aineista. finlex.fi (n.d.). https://www.finlex.fi/api/media/statute/87257/mainPdf/main.pdf1

Further Reading

  1. Coppola M & Mondola R. 5-IAI: chemistry, pharmacology and toxicology (Toxicol Lett 2013)
  2. Coppola M & Mondola R. 5-IAI: chemistry, pharmacology and toxicology of a research chemical producing MDMA-like effects (Toxicol Lett 218, 2013)
  3. Long-term behavioural effects of 5-IAI in adolescent rats (Pulsus Journals, 2018)
  4. Pinterova N et al. Synthetic Aminoindanes: A Summary of Existing Knowledge (Front Psychiatry 2017)
  5. Sainsbury PD et al. Aminoindanes—the next wave of 'legal highs'? (Drug Test Anal 2011)
  6. ScienceDirect: S0378427413000210
  7. Simmler LD et al. Pharmacological profiles of aminoindanes, piperazines, and pipradrol derivatives (Biochem Pharmacol 2014)
  8. Iversen et al. 2013 - Neurochemical profiles of some novel psychoactive substances

Article Status

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