4-CA
Encyclopedic
Encyclopedic
Typical encyclopedia coverage. Cross-reference for important decisions.
- 1 source
- partial dose data
- duration data present
- 18 combo interactions documented
- classified Research-chemical
- 1 source
- partial dose data
- duration data present
- 18 combo interactions documented
- classified Research-chemical
Aliases: Pca, P-cmp, 4-cmp
Summary
4-CA is primarily a laboratory neurotoxin used to selectively destroy serotonergic neurons in research. It was briefly investigated as an appetite suppressant and antidepressant in the 1960s-1970s but medical development ceased due to severe neurotoxicity findings. Reports from Belgium (2018) confirmed sporadic adulteration of ecstasy pills with 4-CA, posing acute neurotoxicity risk to unwitting users.
Dose Information
| ROA | Light | Common | Strong | Heavy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oral | 2-8mg | - | - | 40+ mg (not recommended) |
Onset, Duration & After-effects
| ROA | Onset | Peak | Offset | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oral | 20-45 min | 1-2 hrs | 1-3 hrs | 2.33-5.75 hrs |
Effect Profile
Scores (1–10) curated from multiple sources:
- Effect keyword matching from PsychonautWiki catalog
- Weighted by importance: core (×3), major (×2), minor (×1)
Strong stimulation with moderate sensory enhancement, low euphoria
Strong anxiety/jitters and stimulation with low euphoria and focus
Add to PsychonautWiki Journal
The PsychonautWiki Journal logging app doesn't include every substance. To track 4-CA there, start adding an ingestion, search for the name, and choose to add it as a custom substance. Paste these values:
4-CA Source: SubstanceSearch (substancesearch.com) Oral dose (mg): threshold ~2 (extrapolated) · light 2-8 · heavy 40+ (not recommended) Oral duration: onset 20-45m · peak 1-2h · offset 1-3h · total 2.33-5.75h · after-effects 4-12h Note: ranges are harm-reduction guidance, not a prescription. Start low, go slow, and test your substances.
The app keeps custom substances simple, so the full dose ranges live in the description text above. Ranges are harm-reduction guidance, not a prescription.
Tolerance
Tolerance Decay
Acute tolerance: develops within a single session — the reset numbers above apply after sustained heavy use, not after one binge. Within-session tachyphylaxis usually resets largely overnight.
Data on genuine pharmacodynamic tolerance are sparse; decreases in subjective effect with short‑interval reuse may reflect neurotoxic depletion/dysfunction rather than reversible tolerance. Conservative spacing (≥4 weeks) is recommended in harm‑reduction communities, but even isolated exposures may carry persistent risk.
Cross-Tolerances
Effects
- Mild stimulation
- Stimulation
- Insomnia
- Muscle tension
- Headache
- Increased heart rate
- Teeth grinding
- Pupil dilation
- Sedation
- Hyperthermia
- Alertness enhancement
- Euphoria
- Wakefulness
- Anxiety
- Cognitive fatigue
- Depression
- Dysphoria
- Talkativeness
- Time distortion
- Thought acceleration
- Tactile enhancement
- Increased libido
- Increased music appreciation
- Tracers
- Color enhancement
- Pattern recognition enhancement
- Appetite suppression
- Light sensitivity
- Dehydration
- Disinhibition
Combinations
Cross-Check 4-CA with another substanceHelpful Links
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