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α-PHP Facts

Stimulant; Substituted cathinone; Dopamine reuptake inhibitor

Description

α-PHP (α-pyrrolidinohexanophenone) — also known as PV-7 — is a synthetic stimulant of the pyrovalerone cathinone class. It blocks dopamine and norepinephrine recycling in the brain,[1] flooding the reward circuit and producing intense stimulation.[2]

Subjective effects include intense euphoria, high physical energy, wakefulness, heightened focus, and a powerful compulsive redosing urge. The experience is overwhelmingly stimulant — a sharp dopaminergic rush with no empathogenic warmth or perceptual distortion.

α-PHP carries high abuse liability — animal data rank its addictive potential comparable to methamphetamine[3] — with acute toxicity including dangerous elevations in heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature. Its slow release from the DAT[4] sustains compulsive redosing long after the peak has passed, compounding cardiovascular and psychiatric risk.[5]

Dose and durationby route · individual sensitivity varies

Oral(mg)
Threshold< 3 mgLight5 – 15 mgCommon10 – 25 mgStrong25 – 40 mgHeavy40+ mg

Starts in 15 – 45 minLasts 8 – 16 hoursAfter-effects 4 – 10 hours

Body and dependence

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

Tolerance

Builds
Moderate
Fully resets after
14 days
Carries over to
cocaine; methylphenidate; α-PVP; pyrovalerone; MDPV; other pyrovalerone cathinones

Effectslikely at a common dose

Perception
Dreaming suppression; +1 possible
Body
Appetite suppression; Body high; Dry mouth; Heart rate perception changes; Insomnia; Pupil dilation; Restlessness; Stimulation; Vasoconstriction; Wakefulness; +16 possible, including Dehydration sensation, Excessive sweating, Muscle tension
Thinking
Cognitive euphoria; Compulsive redosing urge; Thought acceleration; +9 possible, including Thought loops, Cognitive dysphoria, Cognitive impairment
Feeling
Euphoria; +4 possible, including Anxiety, Dysphoria, Paranoia
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; Pregnancy; Breastfeeding; Concurrent MAOI use
Relative
Seizure disorders; Psychotic disorders; Bipolar disorder; Hepatic impairment; Renal impairment

Combinations61 recorded

Lethal (1)
Ibogaine
Dangerous (29)
Alpha-2 adrenergic receptor antagonist; Amphetamines; Benzodiazepines, Barbiturates; Ephedrine, Pseudoephedrine; Local anesthetics; MAOIs; MDMA, Amphetamines; MDMA, MDA; NDRIs (Wellbutrin); NRIs; Opioids; SSRIs; Stimulants; Anticholinergics; Antipsychotics; Buspirone; Caffeine; Dopamine agonists; DXM; GHB, Baclofen; GHB, GBL; Ketamine, DXM, PCP; Lithium; NSAIDs; and 5 more, see full page
Caution (28)
See full page: psychedex.org/substances/alpha-php
Not graded (3)
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]
    ^Davies RA, Nguyen VT, Eltit JM, Glennon RA (2023) Structure-Activity Relationships for a Recently Controlled Synthetic Cathinone Dopamine Transporter Reuptake Inhibitor: α-Pyrrolidinohexiophenone (α-PHP) — ACS Chemical Neuroscience doi:10.1021/acschemneuro.3c00156
  2. [2]
    ^Kolaczynska KE, Thomann J, Hoener MC, Liechti ME (2021) The Pharmacological Profile of Second Generation Pyrovalerone Cathinones and Related Cathinone Derivative. — International journal of molecular sciences doi:10.3390/ijms22158277
  3. [3]
    ^Taffe MA, Nguyen JD, Vandewater SA, Grant Y, Dickerson TJ (2021) Effects of α-pyrrolidino-phenone cathinone stimulants on locomotor behavior in female rats. — Drug and Alcohol Dependence doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2021.108910
  4. [4]
    ^Niello M, Sideromenos S, Gradisch R, O'Shea R, et al. (2023) Persistent binding at dopamine transporters determines sustained psychostimulant effects — Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences doi:10.1073/pnas.2114204120
  5. [5]
    ^Grapp M, Kaufmann C, Schwelm HM, Neukamm MA (2023) Toxicological Investigation of a Case Series Involving the Synthetic Cathinone α-Pyrrolidinohexiophenone (α-PHP) and Identification of Phase I and II Metabolites in Human Urine — Journal of Analytical Toxicology doi:10.1093/jat/bkac057
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