3-MeO-PCP


3-Methoxyphencyclidine is a dissociative hallucinogen of the arylcyclohexylamine class related to phencyclidine which has been sold online as a designer drug. It acts mainly as an NMDA receptor antagonist, though it has also been found to interact with the sigma σ receptor and the serotonin transporter. The drug does not possess any opioid activity nor does it act as a dopamine reuptake inhibitor.

Pharmacology

3-MeO-PCP has a K of 20 nM for the dizocilpine site of the NMDA receptor, 216 nM for the serotonin transporter, and 42 nM for the sigma σ receptor. It does not bind to the norepinephrine or dopamine transporter nor to the sigma σ receptor. Based on its structural similarity to 3-hydroxy-PCP, which uniquely among arylcyclohexylamines has high affinity for the μ-opioid receptor in addition to the NMDA receptor, it was initially expected that 3-MeO-PCP would have opioid activity. However, radioligand binding assays with human proteins have shown that, contrary to common belief, the drug also does not interact with the μ-, δ-, or κ-opioid receptors at concentrations of up to 10,000 nM. As such, the notion that 3-MeO-PCP has opioid activity has been described as a myth.
3-MeO-PCP binds to the NMDA receptor with higher affinity than PCP and has the highest affinity of the three isomeric anisyl-substitutions of PCP, followed by 2-MeO-PCP and 4-MeO-PCP.

Chemistry

3-MeO-PCP hydrochloride is a white crystalline solid with a melting point of 204–205 °C.

History

3-MeO-PCP was first synthesized in 1979 to investigate the structure–activity relationships of phencyclidine derivatives. The effects of 3-MeO-PCP in humans were not described until 1999 when a chemist using the pseudonym John Q. Beagle wrote that 3-MeO-PCP was qualitatively similar to PCP with comparable potency. 3-MeO-PCP was preceded by the less potent dissociative 4-MeO-PCP and first became available as a research chemical in 2011.

Society and culture

Legal status

United Kingdom

On October 18, 2012 the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs in the United Kingdom released a report about methoxetamine, saying that the "harms of methoxetamine are commensurate with Class B of the Misuse of Drugs Act ". The report went on to suggest that all analogues of MXE should also become class B drugs and suggested a catch-all clause covering both existing and unresearched arylcyclohexylamines, including 3-MeO-PCP.

United States

3-MeO-PCP is not a controlled substance in the United States but possession or distribution of 3-MeO-PCP for human use could potentially be prosecuted under the Federal Analogue Act due to its structural and pharmacological similarities to PCP.

Sweden

Sweden's public health agency suggested classifying 3-MeO-PCP as hazardous substance on November 10, 2014.

Czech Republic

3-MeO-PCP is banned in the Czech Republic.

Chile

As per Chile's :es:Ley de drogas |Ley de drogas, aka Ley 20000, all esters and ethers of PCP are illegal. As 3-MeO-PCP is an ether of PCP, it is thus illegal.

Portugal

3-MeO-PCP is neither a salt nor an isomer of PCP, not making it illegal.