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MBDB

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Subjective Effects
Interactions
Tolerance
Legality
MBDB molecule structureMBDB molecule structure
Open in Piru
Chemical Class
MDxx

MBDB is an entactogen1 in the MDxx class2 and the alpha-ethyl homologue of MDMA.3 It differs structurally from MDMA by having an ethyl group instead of a methyl group at the alpha carbon4 and is suspected to be less potent than related drugs. MBDB was first described in the scientific literature in 1986 by a group that included David E. Nichols and Alexander Shulgin.

Dosage & Duration

Log in Piru

Dosage

Doses are population estimates that vary widely between individuals.

Threshold~150 mg
Light150-180 mg
Moderate180-210 mg
Strong210-250 mg
Heavy250+ mg

Duration

Onset30-120 minutes
After Effects1-12 hours
Total3-8 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 → purple3 → black3
Mecke(ME)
white → yellow2
Simons(SI)
orange1 → blue3
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Pharmacology

Pharmacodynamics

MBDB promotes serotonin and norepinephrine release, with greater potency for serotonin release.5 In rat brain synaptosome assays, MBDB had little effect on dopamine release.5 MBDB binds to 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptors with affinities similar to those of MDMA, but does not elicit a head-twitch response in rodents; lower efficacy in activating 5-HT2A receptors may contribute to this finding.

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, though the abuse liability has been assessed as not constituting a significant risk to public health. The stimulant and euphoriant effects are less pronounced than MDMA, which may reduce compulsive redosing potential.

Toxicity

Central Nervous System

MBDB is a serotonergic neurotoxin, but at behaviorally comparable doses it seems less serotonergically neurotoxic than MDMA; in mice, unlike MDMA, it does not cause dopaminergic neurotoxicity.

History & Culture

MBDB was first synthesized by pharmacologist and medicinal chemist David E. Nichols and was initially developed as a non-psychedelic entactogen. Its first description in the scientific literature appeared in 1986, in work by a group that included Nichols, Robert A. Oberlender, Peyton Jacob III, and…

Legality

Legality not written up yet

References

Citations

  1. N-methyl-1-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-2-butanamine (MBDB): its properties and possible risks. Addiction Biology (2000). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1369-1600.2000.tb00191.x1
  2. Balancing Therapeutic Efficacy and Safety of MDMA and Novel MDXX Analogues as Novel Treatments for Autism Spectrum Disorder. Psychedelic Medicine (2023). https://doi.org/10.1089/psymed.2023.00231
  3. Neurotoxic effects of the alpha-ethyl homologue of MDMA following subacute administration. Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior (1989). https://doi.org/10.1016/0091-3057(89)90437-11
  4. Entactogens: How the Name for a Novel Class of Psychoactive Agents Originated. Frontiers in Psychiatry (2022). https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.8630881
  5. The effects of non-medically used psychoactive drugs on monoamine neurotransmission in rat brain. European Journal of Pharmacology (2007). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejphar.2006.11.07512
  6. Pharmacological characterization of designer cathinones in vitro. British Journal of Pharmacology (2013). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1476-5381.2012.02145.x12
  7. PiHKAL: A Chemical Love Story — #128 METHYL-J. Transform Press; authorized book excerpt hosted by Erowid (1991). https://www.erowid.org/library/books_online/pihkal/pihkal128.shtml12345
  8. Guidance on the Clinical Management of Acute and Chronic Harms of Club Drugs and Novel Psychoactive Substances. NEPTUNE; PDF hosted by MEDBOX (2015). https://www.medbox.org/index.php/dl/5e148832db60a2044c2d5fe61

Further Reading

  1. Johnson et al. 1986 - Effects of enantiomers of MDA, MDMA and related analogues on [3H]serotonin and [3H]dopamine release from superfused rat brain slices
  2. Marona-Lewicka 1996 - Reinforcing effects of certain serotonin-releasing amphetamine derivatives
  3. Oberlender & Nichols 1988 - Drug discrimination studies with MDMA and amphetamine

Article Status

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