6-APB

Contents 1 The Basics 1.1 Introduction and Basic Description 1.2 Timeline of Experience 1.3 Effects 1.4 Dosages 1.5 Method of administration 1.5.1 Method 1 1.5.2 Method 2 2 Problems 2.1 Contraindications and Overdose 2.2 Negative Short-Term Side Effects 2.3 Negative Long-Term Side Effects 2.4 Addiction and Withdrawal Issues 2.5 Harm Reduction 2.6 Legal Issues 3 Background and Chemistry 3.1 History of Drug 3.2 Chemistry 3.3 Pharmacological Action 4 Trip reports and links 4.1 Trip Reports 4.2 Links

The Basics

CAUTION: As 6-APB is such a new drug, very little is known about it. Any information presented here must be considered as tentative at best. All information is taken from anecdotal reports of 6-APB's effects, often provided by pseudonymous Bluelighters. These reports may not be accurate or may contain deliberate misinformation. Even if they are provided in good faith, we cannot guarantee that the person providing the information had actually taken 6-APB. Finally, any reported effects may be unique to that individual and their own situation. You should not assume that the effects will necessarily generalise to you. (Whereas for a drug like ecstasy/MDMA, we have reports from many millions of users, and many scientific studies of the effects).

Introduction and Basic Description

6-APB is thought to be a stimulant/entactogen drug. It became popular in 2010. It is currently legal in the United Kingdom and in some other countries. It is generally purchased from online vendors. However, it is known that some vendors have been selling other, unknown drugs under the name of 6-APB. Please exercise caution.

Users report heightened appreciation for music, loveyness, and euphoria. Negative reported effects include extreme jaw clenching, sweating, and an inability to sleep for many hours after coming down. The effects appear to be relevantly dose-dependent, with some users reporting extreme vomiting after taking two 100mg tablets.

Timeline of Experience

From the limited number of trip reports we have, the timeline might go something like this (note that T= the time that you take the drug, T+x:yy is the time in hours and minutes after taking the drug):

T+0:00: take drug

T+0:30: or so: begin coming up. Generally reported as gentle, similar to a mellow MDMA comeup.

T+1 to T+5: the peak. Trippy, lovey, appreciating music. Not stimulating.

T+5 to T+6: gentle comedown.

T+6 to T+12-18: unable to sleep. Sweaty, wired, woozy. Jaw clenching. (Unsurprisingly, users who re-dosed or took other stimulants reported taking longer to get to sleep. Some users have reported a more gentle comedown).

T+12-18: onwards: sleep.

Effects

Expand on the introduction.

Next day: some reports compare the experience to the morning after a heavy pill session (stiff, aching limbs and jaw). Others have reported anxiety, being unable to sleep or eat. Others report milder effects, like an alcohol hangover or merely tiredness.

Dosages

6-APB is sold in either powder or pill form. The pills are reported to contain 100mg of 6-APB, though this has not been conclusively confirmed. Other vendors have been known to sell 6-APB in powder form, though it is unclear whether or not this is really 6-APB.

Reports suggest that a single (100mg) dose is sufficient, though one user reported it as "not quite getting me there [to the desired state]". Problems have been reported at 200mg doses, with the same user reporting hours of vomiting and jaw-clenching after taking a second pill.

Method of administration

Method 1

Orally. The pills or powder can be taken orally.

Method 2

Insuffulated. The powder can be snorted.

Problems

Contraindications and Overdose

As 6-APB is such a new drug, there is as yet no information about overdoses or contradictions.

Negative Short-Term Side Effects

These include:

• Nausea/Vomiting: at higher doses, this has been reported
• Jaw clenching: this appears to be worse than on MDMA. It is possible that taking magnesium prior to taking 6-APB may help prevent jaw clenching.
• Sleeplessness: users have reported extreme difficulty in sleeping after coming down, with some not getting to sleep until late the day after the experience. Some users have reported taking benzos to help them sleep, but not necessarily with success.
• Excessive sweating: some users have reported taking baths to stop sweating.

Negative Long-Term Side Effects

We have no knowledge of any potential long-term side effects, as 6-APB is so new.

Addiction and Withdrawal Issues

There have been no reports of addiction or withdrawal issues, as 6-APB is so new.

Harm Reduction

Explain how to avoid problems, as much as possible.

Legal Issues

UK: 6-APB is legal (as at November 2010), but may be banned in the near future. (This will likely depend on how much publicity the drug receives, as per Mephedrone

United States: 6-APB is unscheduled in the United States. However, this chemical may be covered under the Federal Analogue Act in the United States.

Certain countries contain a "substantially similar" catch all clause in their drug law, such as New Zealand and Australia. This includes 6-APB as it is in some respects similar in chemical structure to the class A drug MDA, meaning 6-APB is likely to be viewed as a controlled substance analogue in these jurisdictions (see the New Zealand [Misuse of Drugs Act 1975|http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1975/0116/latest/DLM436101.html], though note that New Zealand case law is undeveloped on this issue and it is possible a judge would not necessarily accept that a given drug is an analogue of another drug)

Canada: 6-APB is unscheduled under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) in Canada, although because of its similar structure it is believed to be an analogue and possibly controlled under item 1. Canada's item 1 Schedule III of the CDSA defines an analogue as any substance that, in relation to a controlled substance, has a substantially similar chemical structure.

Background and Chemistry

History of Drug

Brief history e.g. MDMA patented by Merck then basically forgotten, Shulgin synths it out of interest in its similarity with MDA. The Texas crew, then Ibiza, the Euros getting into it in a big way, link to rave culture, etc. Talk about current situation.

Chemistry

From Wikipedia: 6-(2-aminopropyl)benzofuran or 1-benzofuran-6-ylpropan-2-amine (6-APB) is thought to be a stimulant and entactogen drug although to date, no authoritative source can say even whether or not it is psychoactive. Chemically, it is of the phenethylamine and amphetamine classes. It is an analogue of MDA where the 3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl ring system has been replaced with a benzofuran ring. 6-APB is also the unsaturated benzofuran derivative of 6-APDB. There is currently no toxicology data available.

Pharmacological Action

6-APB has not been properly assayed in terms of pharmacological action, but based on its chemical similarity to other amphetamines, it likely acts as a releasing agent of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. Its effects on monoamine release have not been validated but it may act as an agonist of the 5-HT2A and 5-HT2B receptors, the former likely explaining its purported psychedelic effects.

Trip reports and links

Trip Reports

Probably a paragraph giving links to cool TRs here and on other sites. Don't re-write or copy/paste the whole trip report.

Links

• Wikipedia 6-APB page (written by a Bluelighter).
• Erowid 6-APB Vault