Skip to main content
Psychedex
Article

Clephedrone Facts

Stimulant; Substituted cathinone; Monoamine releasing agent

Description

4-CMC (4-chloromethcathinone) — also known as clephedrone — is a synthetic stimulant of the substituted cathinone class. It floods nerve terminals with dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin simultaneously, combining stimulant drive with empathogenic warmth.[1]

Subjective effects include stimulation, euphoria, mood elevation, sociability, and wakefulness.[2] The experience sits between a pure stimulant and an empathogen — social settings amplify warmth and openness, while solitary use foregrounds restless drive.[3]

4-CMC does not produce strong physical dependence, but the dopamine-releasing mechanism drives compulsive redosing — and repeated use produces escalating rather than diminishing effects.[3] The body clears it unusually slowly, so each redose builds on the last, compounding cardiovascular and psychological risk.[4]

Dose and durationby route · individual sensitivity varies

Oral(mg)
Threshold< 25 mgLight50 – 100 mgCommon100 – 150 mgStrong150 – 200 mgHeavy200+ mg

Starts in 60 – 90 minLasts 4 – 6 hoursAfter-effects 2 – 6 hours

Body and dependence

Acute toxicity
Moderate
Chronic toxicity
Low
Physical dependence
Negligible
Psychological dependence
Moderate
Withdrawal
None recorded
Compulsive redosing
Moderate

Tolerance

Builds
None
Fully resets after
7 days
Carries over to
mephedrone; MDMA; amphetamine; methamphetamine

Effectslikely at a common dose

Perception
none likely · 3 possible
Body
Stimulation; Wakefulness; Appetite suppression; Pupil dilation; Dry mouth; Insomnia; +18 possible, including Heart rate perception changes, Vasoconstriction, Dehydration sensation
Thinking
Thought acceleration; +14 possible, including Compulsive redosing urge, Cognitive dysphoria, Confusion
Feeling
Euphoria; +8 possible, including Anxiety, Dysphoria, Depression
Self
none likely · 8 possible, including Craving, Compulsive repetitive behavior, Ego inflation
Time
none likely · 1 possible

Who shouldn't take it

Absolute
Severe cardiovascular disease; MAOI therapy
Relative
Seizure disorders; Bipolar disorder or psychotic disorders; Hepatic impairment; Pregnancy or lactation; Concurrent SSRI/SNRI therapy

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/4-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]
    ^Chojnacki MR, Thorndike EB, Partilla JS, et al. (2023) Neurochemical and Cardiovascular Effects of 4-Chloro Ring-Substituted Synthetic Cathinones in Rats — Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics doi:10.1124/jpet.122.001478
  2. [2]
    ^Poyatos L, Núñez-Montero M, Hladun O, Rosa G, Martín S, Videla S, Martínez-Couselo S, Ventura M, La Maida N, Trana AD, Busardò FP, Torrens M, Pichini S, Pérez-Maña C, Farré M, Papaseit E (2025) Oral Fluid Concentrations and Pharmacological Effects of Clephedrone and Methylone in Humans. — International Journal of Molecular Sciences doi:10.3390/ijms27010089
  3. [3]
    ^abWojcieszak J, Kuczyńska K, Zawilska JB (2021) Behavioral Effects of 4-CMC and 4-MeO-PVP in DBA/2J Mice After Acute and Intermittent Administration and Following Withdrawal from Intermittent 14-Day Treatment. — Neurotoxicity Research doi:10.1007/s12640-021-00329-x
  4. [4]
    ^Lopes RP, Ferro RA, Milhazes M, Figueira M, Caldeira MJ, Antunes AMM, Gaspar H (2023) Metabolic stability and metabolite profiling of emerging synthetic cathinones. — Frontiers in Pharmacology doi:10.3389/fphar.2023.1145140
Print version
Report an issue