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Aminorex

This article is a stubmissing:
Subjective Effects
Interactions
Tolerance
Legality
Aminorex molecule structureAminorex molecule structure
Aminorex
Menocil, Apiquel, McN-742Open in Piru
Psychoactive Class
Stimulant
Chemical Class
Aminorex2-amino-5-aryloxazoline

Aminorex is an anorectic stimulant1 in the 2-amino-5-aryloxazoline chemical class2. Developed by McNeil Laboratories in 1962, it is structurally related to amphetamine, phenmetrazine, and 4-methylaminorex; its stimulant potency is reported at roughly 2.5 times that of dextroamphetamine. It was withdrawn after being found to cause pulmonary hypertension3. Illicit cocaine may contain levamisole, which can metabolize into aminorex3.

Dosage & Duration

Log in Piru

Dosage

Doses are population estimates that vary widely between individuals.

Threshold~1 mg
Light1-3 mg
Moderate3-10 mg
Strong10-25 mg
Heavy25+ mg

Duration

Onset10-30 minutes
Total4-8 hours

Subjective Effects

Subjective Effects not written up yet

Pharmacology

Pharmacodynamics

Aminorex is a serotonin-norepinephrine-dopamine releasing agent, with substantially greater potency for norepinephrine and dopamine release than for serotonin release.4 It also acts as a weak agonist at the serotonin 5-HT2A, 5-HT2B, and 5-HT2C receptors. 5-HT2B receptor activation may contribute to pulmonary arterial hypertension and cardiac valvulopathy, although the direct agonist activity is much less potent than aminorex's norepinephrine-releasing activity and its role in toxicity remains uncertain.

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

High

Aminorex is classified as habit-forming and is approximately 2.5 times more potent than dextroamphetamine, suggesting significant psychological addiction potential consistent with potent stimulants.

Toxicity

Cardiovascular - Pulmonary

Aminorex causes pulmonary arterial hypertension in approximately 0.2% of patients, which led to its withdrawal from the market after being linked to a number of deaths.

Cardiovascular - Cardiac

Cardiac valvulopathy has been associated with aminorex use.

History & Culture

Aminorex was developed by McNeil Laboratories in 1962 and discovered that year by Edward John Hurlburt. In 1963, Poos and colleagues described its anorectic activity in rats following oral administration and its CNS-stimulating properties5.…

Legality

Legality not written up yet

References

Source Pages

  1. Bluelight: Aminorex Reports and Info
  2. DrugBank: Aminorex
  3. DrugBank: Aminorex, fenfluramine, and chlorphentermine
  4. Erowid: 4-Methylaminorex Basics
  5. PsychonautWiki: Substituted Aminorexes
  6. Wikipedia

Citations

  1. Aminorex. Office of Justice Programs (1994). https://www.ojp.gov/redirect-legacy/ncjrs/pdffiles1/Digitization/152430NCJRS.pdf1
  2. DARK Classics in Chemical Neuroscience: Aminorex Analogues. ACS Chemical Neuroscience (2018). https://doi.org/10.1021/acschemneuro.8b004151
  3. Aminorex, a metabolite of the cocaine adulterant levamisole, exerts amphetamine like actions at monoamine transporters. Neurochemistry International (2014). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuint.2013.11.01012
  4. Amphetamine-type central nervous system stimulants release norepinephrine more potently than they release dopamine and serotonin. Synapse (2001). https://doi.org/10.1002/1098-2396(20010101)39:11
  5. DARK Classics in Chemical Neuroscience: Aminorex Analogues. ACS Chemical Neuroscience / PMC (2018). https://doi.org/10.1021/cn-2018-00415d1
  6. An Historical Review of Steps and Missteps in the Discovery of Anti-Obesity Drugs. Endotext (2023). https://www.endotext.org/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/an-historical-review-of-steps-and-missteps-in-the-discovery-of-anti-obesity-drugs.pdf123
  7. Fatal Pulmonary Hypertension Associated with Short-Term Use of Fenfluramine and Phentermine. New England Journal of Medicine (1997). https://doi.org/10.1056/nejm1997082833709041

Further Reading

  1. Woolverton et al. 1994 - Evaluation of the abuse liability of aminorex
  2. Young & Glennon 1993 - Cocaine-stimulus generalization to two new designer drugs: Methcathinone and 4-methylaminorex

Article Status

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