Home
    Disclaimer
    Butylone molecular structure

    Butylone Stats & Data

    B1 Βk-mbdb Bk-methyl-j bk-mbdb
    NPS DataHub
    MW257.72
    FormulaC12H16ClNO3
    CAS17762-90-2
    IUPAC1-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-2-(methylamino)butan-1-one;hydrochloride
    SMILES[Cl-].CCC(NC)C(=O)c1ccc2OCOc2c1.[H+]
    InChIKeyKCJFEZQEDOBEOT-UHFFFAOYSA-N
    Phenethylamines; Empathogens; Cathinones; 2020/1. Von 2-Phenethylamin abgeleitete Verbindungen; 2021/1. Von 2-Phenethylamin abgeleitete Verbindungen; 2022/1. Von 2-Phenethylamin abgeleitete Verbindungen
    Chemical Class Cathinone
    Psychoactive Class Stimulant / Entactogen
    Half-Life Unknown in humans; by analogy to methylone human studies, an elimination half‑life around 5–7 hours is plausible (no direct human PK for butylone).

    Receptor Profile

    Receptor Actions

    Inhibitors
    Serotonin-dopamine-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNDRI)
    Dopamine reuptake inhibitor
    Other
    Serotonin releasing agent (selective, SERT substrate)

    History & Culture

    Butylone was first synthesized in 1967 by Koeppe, Ludwig, and Zeile, who documented their work in a paper from that year. Following its initial synthesis, the compound remained an obscure product of academic chemistry for nearly four decades, receiving little attention outside of laboratory settings. The substance emerged on the designer drug market in 2005, when it began to be sold as a recreational product. Structurally, butylone bears the same relationship to methylone that MBDB bears to MDMA—both are beta-keto analogues of their respective parent compounds. Formal pharmacological research on butylone did not commence until 2009, when studies demonstrated that it undergoes metabolic processes similar to those of related cathinones such as methylone. As methylone's availability on the research chemical market declined, butylone became commonly sold alongside ethylone as a substitute or counterfeit for MDMA and methylone. These substances, along with other cathinones, have collectively come to be referred to as "Molly" in street terminology. Despite behavioral and pharmacological similarities to MDMA, butylone has a very short history of documented human use, and limited data exists regarding its full range of effects in humans.

    Effect Profile

    Curated + 31 Reports
    Empathogen 8.7

    Strong euphoria, stimulation, and sensory enhancement with moderate empathy

    Empathy / Social Openness×3
    77.7
    Euphoria / Mood Elevation×2
    1010
    Stimulation×1
    1010
    Sensory Enhancement×1
    1010
    Catalog Erowid
    Stimulant 7.8

    Strong euphoria, anxiety/jitters, focus, and stimulation

    Stimulation / Energy×3
    810
    Euphoria / Mood Lift×2
    109.7
    Focus / Productivity×2
    95.2
    Anxiety / Jitters×1
    1010
    Catalog Erowid

    Tolerance & Pharmacokinetics

    drugs.wiki
    Half-Life
    Unknown in humans; by analogy to methylone human studies, an elimination half‑life around 5–7 hours is plausible (no direct human PK for butylone).
    Addiction Potential
    Moderate psychological dependence risk; cathinones often promote redose compulsion due to relatively short-lived peaks and stimulant reinforcement. Use spacing (weeks) and strict dose limits to reduce habit formation.

    Tolerance Decay

    Full tolerance 12h Half tolerance 4d Baseline ~14d

    Evidence for tolerance kinetics in butylone is limited to user reports and extrapolation from other serotonergic cathinones. Acute tolerance develops within a session and across consecutive days; perceived effects drop markedly on day 2–3, with partial recovery over 1–2 weeks and closer to baseline by ~3–4 weeks. Cross‑tolerance is likely with MDMA/methylone due to overlapping transporter mechanisms. Data quality: anecdotal/theoretical.

    Cross-Tolerances

    MDMA
    50% ●○○
    Methylone
    60% ●○○
    Other substituted cathinones
    40% ●○○

    Experience Report Analysis

    Erowid
    31 Reports
    2005–2017 Date Range
    21 With Age Data
    24 Effects Detected

    Demographics

    Gender Distribution

    Age Distribution

    Reports Over Time

    Effect Analysis

    Erowid

    Effects aggregated from 31 experience reports (31 Erowid)

    31 Reports
    24 Effects Detected
    9 Positive
    10 Adverse
    5 Neutral

    Effect Sentiment Distribution

    Confidence Distribution

    Positive Effects 9

    Euphoria 64.5% 70%
    Stimulation 58.1% 70%
    Empathy 38.7% 70%
    Music Enhancement 35.5% 70%
    Tactile Enhancement 32.3% 70%
    Focus Enhancement 25.8% 70%
    Introspection 25.8% 70%
    Body High 16.1% 70%
    Color Enhancement 16.1% 70%

    Adverse Effects 10

    Anxiety 38.7% 70%
    Jaw Clenching 32.3% 70%
    Confusion 25.8% 70%
    Increased Heart Rate 19.4% 70%
    Nausea 19.4% 70%
    Appetite Suppression 12.9% 70%
    Memory Suppression 12.9% 70%
    Headache 12.9% 70%
    Pupil Dilation 9.7% 70%
    Sweating 9.7% 70%

    Dosage Distribution

    Dose distribution from experience reports

    Median: 150.0 mg IQR: 100.0–200.0 mg n=14

    Real-World Dose Distribution

    62K Doses

    From 46 individual dose entries

    Oral (n=27)

    Median: 130.0mg 25th: 100.0mg 75th: 167.5mg 90th: 208.0mg
    mg/kg median: 2.105 mg/kg 75th: 2.479

    Rectal (n=6)

    Median: 180.0mg 25th: 96.25mg 75th: 230.0mg 90th: 270.0mg
    mg/kg median: 2.699 mg/kg 75th: 3.449

    Form / Preparation

    Most common forms and preparations reported

    Body-Weight Dosing

    Dose relative to body weight from reports with weight data

    Median: 2.206 mg/kg IQR: 1.479–2.472 mg/kg n=14

    Redose Patterns

    Redosing behavior across 18 reports

    61.1% Redosed
    1.8 Avg Doses
    60m Median Interval

    Legal Status

    Country Status Notes
    Austria Illegal (NPSG) Prohibited under the Neue-Psychoaktive-Substanzen-Gesetz (New Psychoactive Substances Act). Possession, production, and sale are illegal.
    Brazil Controlled substance Controlled since September 7, 2018 under a blanket ban covering all cathinone analogues, appended to Portaria SVS/MS nº 344. Possession, use, and distribution are illegal.
    Canada Schedule I (CDSA) Listed as a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Manufacturing, possession, and distribution carry significant criminal penalties.
    China Controlled substance Designated a controlled substance as of October 2015 under national drug control legislation.
    Finland Controlled substance Scheduled under the government decree on psychoactive substances banned from the consumer market.
    France Stupéfiant Classified as a stupéfiant (recognized drug of abuse) under French drug legislation. Possession, purchase, sale, and manufacture are prohibited.
    Germany Anlage II BtMG Listed in Anlage II of the Betäubungsmittelgesetz (Narcotics Act) since July 26, 2012. Manufacturing, possession, import, export, purchase, sale, procurement, and dispensing without a license are prohibited.
    Israel Controlled substance Regulated as a controlled substance under national drug control legislation.
    Japan Controlled substance Designated a controlled substance under Japanese pharmaceutical and narcotics regulations.
    Norway Controlled substance Classified as a controlled substance under Norwegian drug control legislation.
    Poland Controlled substance Listed as a controlled substance under Polish narcotics legislation.
    Sweden Schedule I (Narcotic) Added to Schedule I (substances without accepted medical use) as of February 1, 2010. Listed by the Medical Products Agency in regulation LVFS 2022:48 under the designation Butylon.
    Switzerland Controlled (Verzeichnis D) Specifically named as a controlled substance in Verzeichnis D of the Swiss narcotics regulations.
    United Kingdom Class B Controlled as a Class B substance under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 through the cathinone catch-all clause, which covers synthetic cathinone derivatives.
    United States Schedule I Listed as a Schedule I controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act. Additionally, as a structural analogue of MDMA and methylone, it may be prosecuted under the Federal Analogue Act when intended for human consumption.

    Harm Reduction

    drugs.wiki

    Identity and class: Butylone is a substituted cathinone closely related to methylone; both act at monoamine transporters and can release serotonin, with butylone generally described as milder and more stimulating than MDMA. Pharmacology: In vitro work shows butylone inhibits DAT/NET/SERT and can induce 5‑HT release (MDMA‑like), supporting risks typical of serotonergic stimulants (e.g., hyperthermia, serotonin toxicity when combined inappropriately). Duration and dosing are highly variable between batches; begin with an allergy test and use a calibrated milligram scale. Avoid redosing early: peaks can be short and redose compulsion is common in cathinones, increasing cardiovascular strain, anxiety, and next‑day crash. Overheating and dehydration are key risks under hot/crowded conditions; take cooling breaks, avoid heavy exertion, sip 250–500 mL water per hour if dancing (less if sedentary), and avoid overhydration (alternate water with small electrolyte intake). Serotonin syndrome risk increases with MAOIs, DXM, tramadol, and other serotonergic combinations; seek urgent care if high fever, confusion, clonus, or severe agitation occurs. Insufflation causes pronounced nasal irritation and disproportionate side effects per user reports; oral administration is typically preferred for harm reduction. Adulteration/mis‑selling is common in stimulant markets and MDMA pills/powders may contain cathinones; use reagent/drug‑checking services where available before ingestion. People with cardiovascular disease, hypertension, seizure history, or on serotonergic or pro‑convulsant medications should avoid use. Space sessions by multiple weeks to limit tolerance and mood after‑effects; sleep, nutrition, and gentle recovery practices reduce comedown severity.

    References

    ← Back to Butylone