Acute toxicity associated with the recreational use of the novel dissociative psychoactive substance methoxphenidine.
Katharina E Hofer, Colette Degrandi, Daniel M Müller, Ursina Zürrer-Härdi, Schirin Wahl, Christine Rauber-Lüthy, Alessandro Ceschi
Clinical toxicology (Philadelphia, Pa.) December 1, 2014 DOI: 10.3109/15563650.2014.974264 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractMethoxphenidine, a novel dissociative designer drug of the diarylethylamine class with structural features similar to phencyclidine (PCP), produced PCP-like adverse effects in a 53-year-old man found on the street in a somnolent and confusional state. Observed signs included tachycardia (112 bpm), hypertension (220/125 mmHg), echolalia, confusion, agitation, opisthotonus, nystagmus, and amnesia. Temperature and oxygen saturation were normal. Laboratory findings showed elevated creatine kinase (max 865 U/L), alanine aminotransferase (72 U/L), and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (123 U/L). Methoxphenidine was confirmed in plasma and urine via liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. The patient recovered with symptomatic treatment.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | A 53-year-old man with analytically confirmed oral methoxphenidine toxicity |
| Topics | Ketamine |
| Keywords | 2-meo-diphenidine Designer drug Diarylethylamine Drug of abuse |
| Key finding | Methoxphenidine produces effects similar to those of arylcyclohexylamines such as PCP, as evidenced by a case of acute toxicity with PCP-like signs and symptoms. |
Abstract
Methoxphenidine is a novel dissociative designer drug of the diarylethylamine class which shares structural features with phencyclidine (PCP), and is not at present subject to restrictive regulations. There is very limited information about the acute toxicity profile of methoxphenidine and the only sources are anonymous internet sites and a 1989 patent of the Searle Company. We report a case of analytically confirmed oral methoxphenidine toxicity. A 53-year-old man was found on the street in a somnolent and confusional state. Observed signs and symptoms such as tachycardia (112 bpm), hypertension (220/125 mmHg), echolalia, confusion, agitation, opisthotonus, nystagmus and amnesia were consistent with phencyclidine-induced adverse effects. Temperature (99.1°F (37.3°C)) and peripheral oxygen saturation while breathing room air (99%) were normal. Laboratory analysis revealed an increase of creatine kinase (max 865 U/L), alanine aminotransferase (72 U/L) and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (123 U/L). Methoxphenidine was identified by a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry toxicological screening method using turbulent flow online extraction in plasma and urine samples collected on admission. The clinical course was favourable and signs and symptoms resolved with symptomatic treatment. Based on this case report and users' web reports, and compatible with the chemical structure, methoxphenidine produces effects similar to those of the arylcyclohexylamines, as PCP.