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Butylone Facts

Stimulant; Entactogen; Substituted cathinone; Monoamine releasing agent

Description

Butylone (bk-MBDB) is a synthetic stimulant-entactogen of the cathinone class. It blocks dopamine reuptake and triggers serotonin release,[1] producing a hybrid of stimulant drive and entactogenic warmth.[2]

Subjective effects include euphoria, empathogenic warmth, increased energy, and loosened social inhibition. The experience sits between stimulant push and entactogenic openness — social settings draw out warmth and connection, while solitary contexts emphasize wakefulness and drive.

Butylone carries moderate abuse liability from its dopamine-blocking activity,[3] and two human deaths are documented — one from combined serotonin syndrome,[4] one from intentional overdose.[5] The most dangerous combination is with other serotonin-raising drugs, which can stack into a life-threatening overheating and seizure crisis.

Dose and durationby route · individual sensitivity varies

Oral(mg)
Threshold< 25 mgLight40 – 80 mgCommon80 – 150 mgStrong150 – 250 mgHeavy250+ mg

Starts in 15 – 60 minLasts 3 – 5 hoursAfter-effects 2 – 4 hours

Body and dependence

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

Tolerance

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

Effectslikely at a common dose

Perception
none likely · 5 possible, including Visual haze / noise
Body
Wakefulness; Stimulation; Appetite suppression; Body high; +22 possible, including Dehydration sensation, Insomnia, Excessive sweating
Thinking
none likely · 17 possible, including Compulsive redosing urge
Feeling
Euphoria; +9 possible, including Depression, Anhedonia, Anxiety
Self
none likely · 9 possible, including Craving, Ego inflation
Time
none likely · 2 possible
Awareness
none likely · 3 possible

Who shouldn't take it

Absolute
Long QT syndrome; Psychotic disorders; Pregnancy and breastfeeding; Concurrent serotonergic medication
Relative
Structural heart disease; Epilepsy; Bipolar disorder; Hepatic impairment

Combinations61 recorded

Lethal (3)
Ibogaine; MAOIs; Tramadol
Dangerous (34)
Alpha-2 adrenergic receptor antagonist; Anticholinergics; Atypical antipsychotics; Benzodiazepines, Barbiturates; 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; and 10 more, see full page
Caution (21)
See full page: psychedex.org/substances/butylone
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 · Not medical advice

References

  1. [1]
    ^Saha K, Li Y, Holy M, Lehner KR, Bukhari MO, Partilla JS, Sandtner W, Sitte HH, Baumann MH (2019) The synthetic cathinones, butylone and pentylone, are stimulants that act as dopamine transporter blockers but 5-HT transporter substrates. — Psychopharmacology doi:10.1007/s00213-018-5075-5
  2. [2]
    ^Simmler LD, Buser TA, Donzelli M, et al. (2012) Pharmacological characterization of designer cathinones in vitro — British Journal of Pharmacology doi:10.1111/j.1476-5381.2012.02145.x
  3. [3]
    ^Eshleman AJ, Wolfrum KM, Hatfield MG, Johnson RA, Murphy KV, Janowsky A (2013) Substituted methcathinones differ in transporter and receptor interactions — Biochemical Pharmacology doi:10.1016/j.bcp.2013.04.004
  4. [4]
    ^Warrick BJ, Wilson J, Hedge M, Freeman S, Leonard K, Aaron C (2012) Lethal serotonin syndrome after methylone and butylone ingestion. — Journal of Medical Toxicology doi:10.1007/s13181-011-0199-6
  5. [5]
    ^Rojek S, Kłys M, Strona M, Maciów M, Kula K (2012) Legal highs--toxicity in the clinical and medico-legal aspect as exemplified by suicide with bk-MBDB administration. — Forensic Science International doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2012.04.034
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