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3-CMC Facts

Stimulant; Substituted cathinone; Monoamine releasing agent

Description

3-CMC (3-chloromethcathinone) — also known as clophedrone — is a synthetic stimulant of the substituted cathinone class. It floods the brain with dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin simultaneously,[1] producing the euphoria and sociability that define the experience.

Subjective effects include euphoria, sociability, physical stimulation, emotional warmth, and compulsive urges to redose.[2] The experience is a short-lived stimulant-entactogen hybrid — a rush of warm energy and social ease that peaks quickly and drops sharply, leaving a craving that defines the compound's character.

3-CMC carries high abuse liability, and fatalities where it was the sole identified substance confirm it can be lethal on its own.[3] The short duration drives compulsive redosing, escalating cardiovascular strain; combining it with GHB, MAOIs, or other serotonergic drugs multiplies the risk.[4]

Dose and durationby route · individual sensitivity varies

Oral(mg)
Threshold< 30 mgLight30 – 60 mgCommon60 – 100 mgStrong100 – 180 mgHeavy180+ mg

Starts in 15 – 30 minLasts 3 – 5 hoursAfter-effects 2 – 6 hours

Body and dependence

Acute toxicity
Moderate
Chronic toxicity
Low
Physical dependence
Low
Psychological dependence
High
Withdrawal
Moderate
Compulsive redosing
High

Tolerance

Builds
Moderate
Fully resets after
5 days
Carries over to
amphetamine; mephedrone; MDMA; 3-MMC; 4-CMC; methcathinone

Effectslikely at a common dose

Perception
none likely · 6 possible
Body
Appetite suppression; Dry mouth; Heart rate perception changes; Pupil dilation; Stimulation; Wakefulness; +15 possible, including Excessive sweating, Insomnia, Muscle tension
Thinking
none likely · 8 possible, including Compulsive redosing urge
Feeling
Euphoria; +7 possible, including Anhedonia, Anxiety, Depression
Self
none likely · 6 possible, including Craving

Who shouldn't take it

Absolute
Pre-existing cardiac conditions; Pregnancy and lactation; Concurrent MAOI therapy
Relative
Seizure disorders; Psychotic disorders and bipolar disorder; Pre-existing liver disease; Pre-existing kidney disease; CYP2D6 poor-metaboliser phenotype; Concurrent serotonergic medications

Combinations60 recorded

Lethal (1)
MAOIs
Dangerous (25)
Alpha-2 adrenergic receptor antagonist; Amphetamines; Ephedrine, Pseudoephedrine; GHB, Baclofen; GHB, GBL; Local anesthetics; MDMA, MDA; NDRIs (Wellbutrin); NRIs; Opioids; SNRIs; SSRIs; Stimulants; 5-HTP, Tryptophan; Antipsychotics; Buspirone; Caffeine; Dopamine agonists; DXM; Ibogaine; Ketamine, DXM, PCP; Lithium; NSAIDs; Psychedelics; and 1 more, see full page
Caution (25)
See full page: psychedex.org/substances/3-cmc
Not graded (9)
Not listed never means safe.

Seek help immediately if

  • Chest pain; racing, pounding, or irregular heartbeat
  • Very high body temperature; heavy sweating; hot, flushed skin
  • Severe agitation, paranoia, panic, or confusion
  • Severe headache; muscle rigidity or twitching
  • Seizures
  • Signs of stroke — face drooping, one-sided weakness, slurred speech
  • Difficulty breathing; collapse or unconsciousness

What to do

  1. Call emergency services for chest pain, overheating, seizure, or unresponsiveness
  2. Move them to a cool, quiet place and reduce stimulation
  3. Cool the body — remove excess clothing, apply cool damp cloths, fan them
  4. Keep them calm; reassure — panic worsens the cardiovascular strain
  5. If seizing, protect from injury (don't restrain); recovery position afterward
  6. Monitor breathing and be ready to give rescue breaths / CPR

Most stimulant overdoses settle with cooling, a calm environment, and time. The medical danger is hyperthermia, cardiac events (arrhythmia, heart attack, stroke), and seizures — get help immediately if any appear.

988 Suicide & Crisis LifelineFireside Project: 62-FIRESIDE

Version r1 · Not medical advice

References

  1. [1]
    ^Wojcieszak J, Kuczyńska K, Zawilska JB (2020) Four Synthetic Cathinones: 3-Chloromethcathinone, 4-Chloromethcathinone, 4-Fluoro-α-Pyrrolidinopentiophenone, and 4-Methoxy-α-Pyrrolidinopentiophenone Produce Changes in the Spontaneous Locomotor Activity and Motor Performance in Mice with Varied Profiles. — Neurotoxicity Research doi:10.1007/s12640-020-00227-8
  2. [2]
    ^PsychonautWiki contributors (2024) 3-CMC - PsychonautWiki Link
  3. [3]
    ^World Health Organization ECDD (2023) 3-CMC - Expert Committee on Drug Dependence Information Repository Link
  4. [4]
    ^Bassi M, Roda E, Corli G, Bilel S, De Luca F, Bernardi T, Gregori A, Di Rosa F, Lonati D, Locatelli CA, Marti M (2025) 3-CMC: Acute Effects in Male and Female Mice, Human Intoxication Case Series (Italy, 2014-2025), and Prediction of ADMET Properties. — International Journal of Molecular Sciences doi:10.3390/ijms262311600
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