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Pentedrone

Pentedrone molecule structurePentedrone molecule structure
2-(Methylamino)-1-phenylpentan-1-one
Psychoactive Class
Chemical Class
Cathinone

Pentedrone is a stimulant of the substituted cathinone class1, first detected in online sales in 2010 as a designer drug. It is reported to produce powerful, short-lived euphoric stimulation comparable to cocaine and related stimulants. Use can be habit-forming, with reports of compulsive redosing and addictive behavior. Heavy or repeated use is reported to cause paranoia, delusions, and stimulant psychosis, although these adverse effects are not well established.

Dosage & Duration

Log in Piru

Dosage

Doses are population estimates that vary widely between individuals.

Threshold1 mg
Light2-5 mg
Moderate5-10 mg
Strong10-20 mg
Heavy20+ mg

Duration

Onset5-10 minutes
Peak30-90 minutes
Offset30-90 minutes
After Effects1-8 hours
Total1-4 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 → brown1
Mandelin(MD)
yellow2 → orange2 → red2 → brown2 → yellow2
Liebermann(LB)
white → yellow1
Simons(SI)
orange1 → blue2 → purple3
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Pharmacology

Pharmacodynamics

Pentedrone inhibits norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake without inducing monoamine release2, increasing the availability of these neurotransmitters at synapses. Reported reuptake inhibition is strongest for norepinephrine, with weaker inhibition of dopamine and substantially weaker inhibition of serotonin.3 In rodents, pentedrone increases locomotor activity in a dose-dependent manner.4

Pharmacokinetics

Absorption & half-lifenot documented yetMetabolitesnone documented yet

Interactions

Dangerous

Highest risk

These combinations are considered extremely harmful and should always be avoided. Reactions to these drugs taken in combination are highly unpredictable and have a potential to cause death.

AlcoholCocaineDXMDissociativesMAOIsMDMAMXENBOMe compoundsStimulantsTramadol
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Tolerance

Tolerance timelines are rules of thumb, not exact schedules, and vary widely between individuals and use patterns.

Full Tolerance
Prolonged, repeated use of pentedrone produces tolerance to many of its effects, requiring larger doses to achieve the same effects.
Baseline Reset
Tolerance returns to baseline in approximately 1–2 weeks when no further pentedrone is consumed.
Half Tolerance
Tolerance takes approximately 3–7 days to fall to half its previous level when no further pentedrone is consumed.
Cross Tolerance

All dopaminergic stimulants

Harm Potential

Addiction & Dependence

Psychological

High

Chronic pentedrone use is described as moderately addictive with high abuse potential and liable to cause psychological dependence, cravings, and withdrawal effects.

Toxicity

Lethal Dosage

Human toxicity data are limited. Pentedrone has been linked to at least one death in combination with alpha-PVP causing heart failure, and high-risk stimulant combinations may produce severe cardiovascular strain.

cardiovascular

Dangerous combinations can raise heart rate and blood pressure to dangerous levels and may cause heart strain or heart failure in extreme cases.

central nervous system

High-dose prolonged stimulant abuse can result in stimulant psychosis with paranoia, hallucinations, or delusions.

Psychosis Risk

Moderate

High-dose prolonged stimulant abuse is described as potentially causing stimulant psychosis with paranoia, hallucinations, or delusions.

Seizure Risk

Moderate

Combinations with highly stimulating 25x compounds or tramadol can increase seizure risk.

History & Culture

Pentedrone was first detected in online sales in 2010. From that year, it was also identified in several “bath salt” mixtures marketed as legal highs.2 It was sold as a designer drug intended to imitate or replace street drugs such as cocaine, MDMA, and methamphetamine.

Legality

By Country

Illegal7
United States flagUnited StatesIllegal
Brazil flagBrazilIllegal
China flagChinaIllegal
Czech Republic flagCzech RepublicIllegal
Germany flagGermanyIllegal
Switzerland flagSwitzerlandIllegal
United Kingdom flagUnited KingdomIllegal

References

Source Pages

  1. Bluelight: Pentedrone Discussion Thread
  2. Erowid Experience Vaults: Pentedrone
  3. Isomer Design (TiHKAL/PiHKAL)
  4. PsychonautWiki
  5. TripSit Factsheets
  6. Wikipedia

Citations

  1. Pentedrone. Expert Committee on Drug Dependence Information Repository (n.d.). https://ecddrepository.org/en/pentedrone1
  2. Pentedrone: Critical Review Report — 38th Expert Committee on Drug Dependence. World Health Organization (2016). https://ecddrepository.org/sites/default/files/2023-04/4.6_pentedrone_critreview.pdf12
  3. Monoamine transporter and receptor interaction profiles of a new series of designer cathinones. Neuropharmacology (2014). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropharm.2013.11.0081234
  4. Structure–Activity Relationship of Novel Second-Generation Synthetic Cathinones: Mechanism of Action, Locomotion, Reward, and Immediate-Early Genes. Frontiers in Pharmacology (2021). https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2021.7494291
  5. 我国管制毒品目录(2026年7月更新,540种+三大类) | 深圳市公安局. ga.sz.gov.cn (n.d.). https://ga.sz.gov.cn/SZJDZX/SZBMFW/content/post_12898420.html1
  6. 麻醉药品和精神药品管理条例(2024年修订) | 司法部行政法规库. xzfg.moj.gov.cn (n.d.). https://xzfg.moj.gov.cn/law/download?LawID=1744&type=pdf1
  7. 三部门联合发布最新版《非药用类麻醉药品和精神药品目录》 | 新疆生产建设兵团公安局. btgaj.xjbt.gov.cn (n.d.). https://btgaj.xjbt.gov.cn/c/2025-07-28/8428464.shtml1
  8. 非药用类麻醉药品和精神药品列管办法 | 盘锦市公安局(来源:公安部). gaj.panjin.gov.cn (n.d.). https://gaj.panjin.gov.cn/2015_10/08_00/content-235605.html1
  9. Lista de substâncias sujeitas a controle especial no Brasil. gov.br (n.d.). https://www.gov.br/anvisa/pt-br/assuntos/medicamentos/controlados/lista-substancias1
  10. Portaria SVS/MS nº 344, de 12 de maio de 1998 — consolidated Anexo I, Atualização N. 101. anvisalegis.datalegis.net (n.d.). https://anvisalegis.datalegis.net/action/ActionDatalegis.php?acao=abrirTextoAto&tipo=POR&numeroAto=00000344&seqAto=000&valorAno=1998&orgao=SVS/MS&codTipo=&desItem=&desItemFim=&cod_menu=1696&cod_modulo=134&pesquisa=true1

Further Reading

  1. NIST Chemistry WebBook: Pentedrone
  2. Maheux & Copeland 2011 - Chemical analysis of two new designer drugs: buphedrone and pentedrone

Article Status

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