A-PVP |
| A-PVP | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| The skeletal formula of A-PVP | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Chemical Nomenclature | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Common names | α-PVP, flakka | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Substitutive name | alpha-pyrrolidinovalerophenone, α-PVP, alpha-PVP, O-2387, β-ketone-prolintane, Prolintanone | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Systematic name | (RS)-1-Phenyl-2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-1-pentanone | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Psychoactive class | Stimulant | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chemical class | Cathinone | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Routes of Administration | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Summary sheet: A-PVP |
α-PVP (also known as α-Pyrrolidinopentiophenone or flakka) is a synthetic stimulant drug of the cathinone and pyrovalerone classes. It is chemically similar to other pyrovalerone compounds such as MDPV and cathinone compounds found in the khat plant of eastern Africa. It generally comes in the form of either a crystalline powder or large crystal shards which users can ingest to produce effects which are somewhat similar to that of amphetamine and cocaine.
α-PVP has a short history of use and is subject to much scrutiny by the media, similar to how MDPV and "bath salts" were portrayed in early 2011. It is commonly mass produced in China and sold as a research chemical through online vendors.
Contents
Chemistry
α-PVP is a substituted pentanone bound to a phenyl group and a pyridine group. It is a stimulant of the monoamine cathinone class, similar to pentadrone. α-PVP shares a similar structure to amphetamine, featuring a susbtituted phenethylamine core featuring a phenyl ring bound to an amino (NH2) group through an ethyl chain. It is alpha-substituted (Rα with a propyl chain. Additionally it features a oxygen substitution double-bonded to R2.
Pharmacology
The mechanism of action is unknown for α-PVP. It is believed to act similarly to the designer drug MDPV, which acts as a norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor (NDRI),[1] although no substantial research on this compound has been conducted.
Subjective effects
The effects listed below are based upon the subjective effects index and personal experiences of PsychonautWiki contributors. These are described below and generally include:
- Spontaneous tactile sensations - The "body high" of α-PVP can be described as a moderate to extreme euphoric tingling sensation that encompasses the entire body. It is capable of becoming overwhelming at higher dosages. This sensation maintains a consistent presence that steadily rises with the onset and hits its limit once the peak has been reached.
- Stimulation - In terms of its effects on the user's physical energy levels, α-PVP can be considered to be extremely stimulating and energetic. This encourages activities such as running, climbing and dancing. The particular style of stimulation which α-PVP presents can be described as forced. This means that at higher dosages it becomes difficult or impossible to keep still as jaw clenching, involuntarily bodily shakes and vibrations become present, resulting in an extreme unsteadiness of the hands and a general lack of motor control.
- Vibrating vision - A person's eyeballs may begin to spontaneously wiggle back and forth in a rapid motion, causing vision to become blurry and temporarily out of focus-- a condition known as nystagmus.
- Dehydration - Dry mouth and dehydration are a universal experience with α-PVP and are a product of an increased heart rate and extreme motivation to engage in strenuous physical activities. While it is important to avoid becoming dehydrated, especially when out dancing in a hot environment, there is a potential possibility of suffering from water intoxication through over-drinking so it is advised that users simply sip at water and never over drink.
- Difficulty urinating - Higher doses of α-PVP result in an overall difficulty when it comes to urination, an effect that is completely temporary and harmless.
- Vasoconstriction - α-PVP can be considered very vasoconstricting at higher doses, and is on par with that of amphetamine and methamphetamine.
- Tactile enhancement
- Increased heart rate
- Increased perspiration
- Appetite suppression
- Visual acuity suppression
- Focus enhancement
Cognitive effects
The cognitive effects of α-PVP can be broken down into several components which progressively intensify proportional to dosage. The general head space of α-PVP is described by many as one of extreme mental stimulation and powerful euphoria. It contains a large number of typical stimulant cognitive effects.
The most prominent of these cognitive effects generally include:
- Euphoria - A euphoria very similar to amphetamine is present as well as feelings of joy and happiness and are likely a direct result of serotonin and dopamine release.
- Thought acceleration
- Analysis enhancement
- Immersion enhancement
- Time distortion - Strong feelings of time compression are common within α-PVP and increase in the perception of percieved experience is greatly increased.
- Ego inflation
- Disinhibition
- Motivation enhancement
- Anxiety
- Compulsive redosing
- Cognitive fatigue - This component can occur during the offset of this compound as a rebound effect which is usually equal in its intensity to the enhancements which occurred before it.
Toxicity and harm potential
Almost nothing is known about the long-term effects of α-PVP due to its short history of use.
There have been reports of overdose when combined with the cathinone drug petedrone and it is identified as a cause or a significant contributory in the death and suicides of poly-drug overdoses.[2][3]
Tolerance and addiction potential
Tolerance develops rapidly in α-PVP abuse, so periods of extended use require increasing doses of the drug in order to achieve the same effect. Addiction is a serious risk with heavy recreational α-PVP use, but is unlikely to arise from occasional and responsible usage.
Dangerous interactions
Although many drugs are safe on their own, they can become dangerous and even life-threatening when combined with other substances. The list below contains some common potentially dangerous combinations, but may not include all of them. Certain combinations may be safe in low doses of each but still increase the potential risk of death. Independent research should always be done to ensure that a combination of two or more substances is safe before consumption.
- Stimulants - α-PVP can be potentially dangerous in combination with other stimulants as it can increase one's heart rate and blood pressure to dangerous levels.
- 25x-NBOMe - Both the NBOMe series and cathinones induce powerful stimulation. Side effects such as thought loops, seizures, increased blood pressure, vasoconstriction, increased heart rate, and heart failure (in extreme cases) may occur.
- Alcohol - It is dangerous to combine alcohol, a depressant, with stimulants due to the risk of excessive intoxication. Stimulants decrease the sedative effect of alcohol which is the main factor most people consider when determining their level of intoxication. Once the stimulant wears off, the effects of alcohol will be significantly increased, leading to intensified disinhibition as well as other effects. If combined, one should strictly limit themselves to only drinking a certain amount of alcohol per hour.
- DXM - This combination may cause increased heart rate and panic attacks (in extreme cases).
- MXE - Increased heart rate and blood pressure may occur.
- Tramadol - This combination can increase the risk of seizures.
- MDMA - The neurotoxic effects of MDMA may be increased when combined with other stimulants.
- Cocaine - This combination will increase strain on the heart.
Serotonin syndrome risk
Combinations in the list below may increase the amount of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine to dangerous or even fatal levels.
- MAOIs such as syrian rue, banisteriopsis caapi, 2C-T-2, 2C-T-7, αMT, and some antidepressants[4]
- Serotonin releasers such as MDMA, 4-FA, MDAI and αMT
- Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
- 5-HTP
Legal issues
- United States- On January 28, 2014, the U.S. DEA listed α-PVP, along with 9 other synthetic cathinones, on the Schedule 1 with a temporary ban, effective February 27, 2014.[5]
See also
References
- ↑ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2602954
- ↑ http://dx.doi.org/10.1093%2Fjat%2Fbks136
- ↑ http://www.aafs.org/sites/default/files/pdf/ProceedingsWashingtonDC2013.pdf
- ↑ Monoamine oxidase inhibitors, opioid analgesics and serotonin toxicity | http://bja.oxfordjournals.org/content/95/4/434
- ↑ http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/fed_regs/rules/2014/fr0128.htm
