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Mexedrone Facts

Stimulant; Substituted cathinone; Serotonin releasing agent

Description

Mexedrone is a synthetic stimulant of the substituted cathinone class. It raises dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin levels by blocking their reuptake, producing weak stimulation with faint serotonin-driven warmth.[1]

Subjective effects include mild stimulation, mood lift, weak empathogenic warmth, and faint sociability. The experience is subdued — less euphoriant and less stimulating than mephedrone, closer to a low-potency antidepressant-stimulant hybrid than a classical cathinone.[1]

Mexedrone shows preclinical abuse potential but no documented physical dependence, and no lethal dose has been established in any species.[2] The primary acute risks are cardiovascular and psychiatric — elevated heart rate occurred in most confirmed hospital cases, and acute psychosis developed in over a quarter, including patients with no prior psychiatric history.[3]

Dose and durationby route · individual sensitivity varies

Oral(mg)
Threshold< 50 mgLight100 – 150 mgCommon150 – 250 mgStrong250 – 350 mgHeavy350+ mg

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

Body and dependence

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

Tolerance

Builds
Moderate
Fully resets after
10 days
Carries over to
mephedrone; other cathinones; dopamine-releasing stimulants; serotonergic stimulants

Effectslikely at a common dose

Perception
none likely · 5 possible
Body
Appetite suppression; Pupil dilation; Stimulation; Wakefulness; +20 possible, including Heart rate perception changes, Bruxism, Dehydration sensation
Thinking
none likely · 14 possible, including Compulsive redosing urge, Suggestibility enhancement
Feeling
Euphoria; +10 possible, including Anhedonia, Anxiety, Depression
Self
none likely · 8 possible, including Craving, Compulsive repetitive behavior
Time
none likely · 1 possible

Who shouldn't take it

Absolute
Cardiovascular disease; Pregnancy and lactation; Concurrent MAOI use; Concurrent tramadol use
Relative
History of psychotic disorders; Bipolar disorder; Hepatic impairment; Renal impairment; CYP2C19 poor metabolizer status; Concurrent SSRI/SNRI use

Combinations61 recorded

Lethal (2)
MAOIs; Tramadol
Dangerous (33)
Anticholinergics; Atypical antipsychotics; Caffeine; Dopamine agonists; Ephedrine, Pseudoephedrine; Local anesthetics; MDMA, Amphetamines; MDMA, MDA; NDRIs (Wellbutrin); NRIs; Opioids; Psychedelics; SNRIs; SSRIs; Stimulants; 5-HTP, Tryptophan; Alpha-2 adrenergic receptor antagonist; Antihistamines; Antipsychotics; Buspirone; Clonidine, Guanfacine; DXM; GHB, Baclofen; GHB, GBL; and 9 more, see full page
Caution (23)
See full page: psychedex.org/substances/mexedrone
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]
    ^abMcLaughlin G, Morris N, Kavanagh PV, Power JD, Dowling G, Twamley B, O'Brien J, Talbot B, Walther D, Partilla JS, Baumann MH, Brandt SD (2017) Synthesis, characterization and monoamine transporter activity of the new psychoactive substance mexedrone and its N-methoxy positional isomer, N-methoxymephedrone — Drug Testing and Analysis doi:10.1002/dta.2053
  2. [2]
    ^Jeon KO, Kim OH, Seo SY, Yun J, Jang CG, Lim RN, Kim TW, Yang CH, Yoon SS, Jang EY (2024) The psychomotor, reinforcing, and discriminative stimulus effects of synthetic cathinone mexedrone in male mice and rats — European Journal of Pharmacology doi:10.1016/j.ejphar.2024.176466
  3. [3]
    ^Roberts L, Ford L, Patel N, Vale JA, Bradberry SM (2017) 11 analytically confirmed cases of mexedrone use among polydrug users — Clinical Toxicology doi:10.1080/15563650.2016.1271424
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