Skip to main content
Psychedex
Article

3-MMC Facts

Stimulant; Entactogen; Substituted cathinone; Monoamine releasing agent

Description

3-MMC (3-methylmethcathinone) — metaphedrone — is a synthetic stimulant of the substituted cathinone class. It forces dopamine and norepinephrine release,[1] making it a stimulant first and an empathogen second.

Subjective effects include psychostimulation, mood elevation, empathy enhancement, information processing enhancement, and mild dissociation. Social settings draw out sociability and warmth; solitary use foregrounds raw stimulant drive.[2]

Dependence liability is high — animal models match methamphetamine[3] and compulsive within-session redosing is well documented.[4] Short duration and strong dopamine reinforcement drive dose escalation; liver toxicity at human-relevant doses[5] and 27 confirmed deaths by 2021[6] define the acute risk.

Dose and durationby route · individual sensitivity varies

Oral(mg)
Threshold< 15 mgLight25 – 75 mgCommon75 – 150 mgStrong150 – 250 mgHeavy250+ mg

Starts in 15 – 30 minLasts 4 – 6 hoursAfter-effects 2 – 4 hours

Body and dependence

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

Tolerance

Builds
Moderate
Fully resets after
10 days
Carries over to
amphetamine; methamphetamine; mephedrone; cocaine; methylphenidate; MDMA

Effectslikely at a common dose

Perception
none likely · 6 possible
Body
Stimulation; Wakefulness; Appetite suppression; Pupil dilation; +24 possible, including Temperature dysregulation, Vasoconstriction, Excessive sweating
Thinking
none likely · 18 possible, including Compulsive redosing urge
Feeling
Euphoria; +9 possible, including Anhedonia, Anxiety, Dysphoria
Self
none likely · 7 possible, including Craving, Compulsive repetitive behavior
Time
none likely · 1 possible

Who shouldn't take it

Absolute
Hypertension; Coronary artery disease; Cardiac arrhythmias; Psychotic disorders; Pregnancy; Concurrent MAOI use
Relative
Bipolar disorder; Hepatic impairment; Concurrent serotonergic medication

Combinations61 recorded

Lethal (2)
MAOIs; Tramadol
Dangerous (33)
Alpha-2 adrenergic receptor antagonist; Anticholinergics; Atypical antipsychotics; Caffeine; Dopamine agonists; Ephedrine, Pseudoephedrine; Local anesthetics; MDMA, Amphetamines; MDMA, MDA; NDRIs (Wellbutrin); NRIs; Opioids; SNRIs; SSRIs; Stimulants; 5-HTP, Tryptophan; Antihistamines; Antipsychotics; Buspirone; Clonidine, Guanfacine; DXM; GHB, Baclofen; GHB, GBL; Ibogaine; and 9 more, see full page
Caution (23)
See full page: psychedex.org/substances/3-mmc
Not graded (3)
Not listed never means safe.

Seek help immediately if

  • Overheating / very high body temperature — heavy sweating, then hot dry skin (the leading cause of MDMA deaths, worse when dancing in hot venues)
  • Muscle rigidity, jaw clenching, tremor, or twitching (possible serotonin syndrome)
  • Fast, pounding heartbeat; chest pain
  • Agitation, confusion; seizures
  • Hyponatremia (water intoxication) — headache, confusion, drowsiness, vomiting, and seizures from drinking too much water
  • Nausea/vomiting; collapse or unconsciousness

What to do

  1. Move them somewhere cool and help them cool down — overheating is the main danger
  2. Sip water to stay hydrated but DO NOT overdrink — roughly a cup (250 ml) per hour if active; too much water can be deadly (hyponatremia)
  3. Get them to rest and stop dancing
  4. For overheating, seizures, chest pain, muscle rigidity/tremor, confusion, or unresponsiveness, call emergency services
  5. Recovery position if drowsy or vomiting; stay with them
  6. Be ready to give rescue breaths / CPR

Most resolve with cooling, rest, sensible hydration, and time. The life-threatening dangers are hyperthermia, serotonin syndrome, and hyponatremia (too much water) — each a medical emergency, not something to wait out.

988 Suicide & Crisis LifelineFireside Project: 62-FIRESIDE

Version r1.a1 · Not medical advice

References

  1. [1]
    ^Walther D, Shalabi AR, Baumann MH, Glennon RA (2019) Systematic Structure-Activity Studies on Selected 2-, 3-, and 4-Monosubstituted Synthetic Methcathinone Analogs as Monoamine Transporter Releasing Agents — ACS chemical neuroscience doi:10.1021/acschemneuro.8b00524
  2. [2]
    ^Ramaekers JG, Reckweg JT, Mason NL, Kuypers KPC, Toennes SW, Theunissen EL (2025) Safety and cognitive pharmacodynamics following dose escalations with 3-methylmethcathinone (3-MMC): a first in human, designer drug study — Neuropsychopharmacology doi:10.1038/s41386-024-02042-7
  3. [3]
    ^Chen Y, Zhang L, Ding Z, Wu X, Wang G, Shi J (2022) Effects of 3-methylmethcathinone on conditioned place preference and anxiety-like behavior: Comparison with methamphetamine — Frontiers in molecular neuroscience doi:10.3389/fnmol.2022.975820
  4. [4]
    ^van Amsterdam J, Nabben T, van den Brink W (2025) Appearance of 2-MMC and 3-MMC on the illicit drug market in the Netherlands: A systematic narrative review of the prevalence and risks — The International journal on drug policy doi:10.1016/j.drugpo.2025.104971
  5. [5]
    ^Dias da Silva D, Ferreira B, Roque Bravo R, Rebelo R, Duarte de Almeida T, Valente MJ, Silva JP, Carvalho F, Bastos ML, Carmo H (2019) The new psychoactive substance 3-methylmethcathinone (3-MMC or metaphedrone) induces oxidative stress, apoptosis, and autophagy in primary rat hepatocytes at human-relevant concentrations — Archives of toxicology doi:10.1007/s00204-019-02539-x
  6. [6]
    ^EMCDDA (2022) Report on the risk assessment of 2-(methylamino)-1-(3-methylphenyl)propan-1-one (3-methylmethcathinone, 3-MMC) — EMCDDA/EUDA Publications Link
Print version
Report an issue