Bath Salts: A Synthetic Cathinone Whose Two Major Components Act Similar to Methamphetamine and Cocaine on the Human Dopamine Transporter

3,4-Methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) is a new psychoactive substance (NPS) and the most widespread and life-threatening synthetic cathinone of the “bath salts”. Preclinical research has proven the cocaine-like psychostimulant effects of MDPV and its potential for abuse. Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychotropic phytocannabinoid that has emerged as a new potential treatment for drug addiction. Here, we tested the effects of CBD (20 mg/kg) on MDPV (2 mg/kg)-induced conditioned place preference and MDPV (0.05 and 0.075 mg/kg/infusion) self-administration paradigms. In addition, we assessed the effects of the co-administration of CBD and MDPV (3 and 4 mg/kg) on anxiety-like behaviour using the elevated plus maze (EPM). CBD mitigated the MDPV-induced conditioned place preference. On the contrary, CBD administration throughout the MDPV (0.075 mg/kg/infusion) self-administration increased drug-seeking and taking behaviours, but only in the high-responders group of mice. Furthermore, CBD exerted anxiolytic-like effects, exclusively in MDPV-treated mice. Taken together, our results indicate that CBD modulation of MDPV-induced motivational responses in mice varies depending on the requirements of the learning task, resulting in a complex response. Therefore, further research attempting to decipher the behavioural and molecular interactions between CBD and MDPV is needed.

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The Reinforcing and Rewarding Effects of Methylone, a Synthetic Cathinone Commonly Found in “Bath Salts”

Journal of Addiction Research & Therapy ◽

10.4172/2155-6105.s9-002 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 04 (02) ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Lucas R Watterson

Keyword(s):

Bath Salts ◽

Synthetic Cathinone

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Synthetic cathinone “bath salts”: the mechanism of action, toxicological aspects, clinic, dependence development

Interactive science ◽

10.21661/r-130075 ◽

2017 ◽

pp. 29-39

Author(s):

Andrey Viktorovich Antsyborov ◽

Keyword(s):

Mechanism Of Action ◽

Bath Salts ◽

Synthetic Cathinone

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Erratum to: Mephedrone and methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), major constituents of “bath salts,” produce opposite effects at the human dopamine transporter

Psychopharmacology ◽

10.1007/s00213-013-3056-2 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 227 (3) ◽

pp. 501-501

Author(s):

Krasnodara Cameron ◽

Renata Kolanos ◽

Rakesh Vekariya ◽

Louis De Felice ◽

Richard A. Glennon

Keyword(s):

Dopamine Transporter ◽

Bath Salts

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Ethylone: A synthetic cathinone emerging in Barcelona

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2017.01.1715 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 41 (S1) ◽

pp. s860-s860

Author(s):

M. de Dios ◽

E. Monteagudo ◽

A. Trabsa ◽

M. Grifell ◽

L. Galindo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Illicit Drugs ◽

Drugs Of Abuse ◽

Sample Selection ◽

Drug Market ◽

Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽

Bath Salts ◽

Energy Control ◽

Report Analysis ◽

Synthetic Cathinone ◽

Competing Interest

IntroductionSynthetic cathinones, the active component in “bath salts”, have surfaced as a popular alternative to other illicit drugs of abuse, such as cocaine, MDMA (ecstasy), and methamphetamine, due to their potent psychostimulant and empathogenic effects.ObjectivesTo describe the presence of Ethylone in samples delivered to energy control from 2014 to 2015 in Spain.MethodsThe total number of samples analyzed from 2014 to 2015 was 8324. Only those samples containing ethylone were studied. They were analyzed by energy control, a Spanish harm reduction NGO that offers the possibility of analysing the substances that users report. Analysis was done by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.ResultsFrom June 2014 to December 2015, 8324 samples were delivered to EC. From this samples 28 (0.336%) contained ethylone. Twelve (0.144%) were delivered as MDMA, representing a 0.783% of the samples delivered as such, and only one sample (0.012%) delivered as MDMA presented ethylene as an adulterant along with MDMA. Other 6 samples (0.072%) were delivered as ethylone and 10 samples (0.120%) were delivered as unknown pills.DiscussionEthylone consumption is found to be an emerging issue according to the results of our samples, an increase of such is found during 2015. This might be traduced as an increase of ethylone in the drug market, but a sample selection bias should be considered as samples were voluntary delivered by consumers. An alarming phenomenon is that in some occasions ethylone is sold as MDMA, but effects take longer to occur and last longer, which may lead to an overdose if used as MDMA.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

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