Metabolism CAS Number 33817-09-3 CAS ID 537-46-2 | Excretion Renal PubChem CID 36604 | |
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Routes ofadministration Medical: Inhalation (nasal)Recreational: Oral, intravenous, insufflation, inhalation, suppository Legal status CA: Schedule IDE: Anlage II (Prohibited)UK: Class AUS: Schedule II and for specific formulations OTCUN: Psychotropic Schedule II | ||
How to pronounce levomethamphetamine
Levomethamphetamine is the levorotary (L-enantiomer) form of methamphetamine. Levomethamphetamine is a sympathomimetic vasoconstrictor which is the active ingredient in some over-the-counter (OTC) nasal decongestant inhalers in the United States.
Contents
- How to pronounce levomethamphetamine
- Pharmacology
- Selegiline
- Side effects
- Non medicinal usage
- Detection in body fluids
- References
Pharmacology
Levomethamphetamine crosses the blood-brain-barrier and acts as a TAAR1 agonist, functioning as a selective norepinephrine releasing agent (with few or no effects on the release of dopamine), so it affects the central nervous system, although its effects are qualitatively distinct relative to those of dextromethamphetamine. It does not possess the potential for euphoria or addiction that dextromethamphetamine possesses. Among its physiological effects are the vasoconstriction that makes it useful for nasal decongestion. The elimination half-life of levomethamphetamine is between 13.3 and 15 hours, whereas dextromethamphetamine has a half-life of about 10.5 hours.
Selegiline
Levomethamphetamine is the chemical precursor of the antiparkinson's drug selegiline. Selegiline, a selective monoamine oxidase B (MAOB) inhibitor at low doses, is also metabolized into levomethamphetamine and levoamphetamine. This has caused users to test positive for amphetamines.
Selegiline itself has neuroprotective and neuro-rescuing effects, but concern over the resulting levomethamphetamine's neurotoxicity led to development of alternative MAOB inhibitors such as rasagiline, that do not produce toxic metabolites.
Side effects
When the nasal decongestant is taken in excess, levomethamphetamine has potential side effects resembling those of other sympathomimetic drugs; these effects include hypertension (elevated blood pressure), tachycardia (rapid heart rate), nausea, stomach cramps, dizziness, headache, sweating, muscle tension, and tremors. Central side effects may include anxiety, insomnia, and anorexia (loss of appetite).
Non-medicinal usage
In a study of psychoactive effects of levomethamphetamine, the intravenous administration of 0.5 mg/kg (but not 0.25 mg/kg) in recreational methamphetamine users produced scores of "drug liking" similar to racemic methamphetamine, but the effects were shorter lived. The study did not test the oral administration of levomethamphetamine. Currently there are no studies demonstrating "drug liking" scores of oral levomethamphetamine that are similar to racemic methamphetamine or dextromethamphetamine in either recreational users or medicinal users.
Detection in body fluids
Levomethamphetamine can register on urine drug screens as either methamphetamine, amphetamine, or both, depending on the subject's metabolism and dosage. L-methamphetamine metabolizes completely into L-amphetamine after a period of time.