Description

Buy Methylephedrine Cas 552-79-4

Methylephedrine, sold under the brand name Metheph among others, is a sympathomimetic medication described as an antiasthmatic agent and used to treat coughing and nasal congestion.^[3][4][1] It is reported to be used in various over-the-counter cough and cold preparations throughout the world, including Japan.^[1] The drug is an ephedrine-like sympathomimetic and activates α- and β-adrenergic receptors.^[5] Chemically, it is a substituted amphetamine and is closely related to ephedrine.^[3][4] Methylephedrine was discovered by 1927.^[6] It is mostly no longer marketed as a prescription drug.^[4] The drug is also found naturally as an alkaloid in Ephedra species including Ephedra sinica, Ephedra vulgaris, and Ephedra distachya.^[3][6] Rarely, heart failure and stroke in association with use of methylephedrine have been reported.^[7][8][9] Methylephedrine shows reinforcing effects, a measure of addiction and misuse potential, in monkeys.^[10] Methylephedrine is a sympathomimetic and ephedrine-like agent.^[5][1] Ephedrine and related agents act as norepinephrine releasing agents and hence as indirectly acting sympathomimetics.^[1] In relation to this, methylephedrine stimulates α- and β-adrenergic receptors.^[5][1] The drug has bronchodilator and nasal decongestant effects.^[5] The occupancy of the dopamine transporter (DAT) by racemic methylephedrine has been studied.^[11] Methylephedrine is metabolized into ephedrine and norephedrine.^[1][2] It is excreted in urine 33 to 40% unchanged, 15% as methylephedrine N-oxide, and 8% as ephedrine after 24 hours.^[1][2] Methylephedrine, also known as (1R,2S)-β-hydroxy-N,N-dimethyl-α-methyl-β-phenethylamine and as (1R,2S)-β-hydroxy-N,N-dimethylamphetamine, is a substituted phenethylamine and amphetamine derivative.^[3][4] It is the N-methylated derivative of ephedrine ((1R,2S)-β-hydroxy-N-methylamphetamine).^[3][4] A closely related compound and stereoisomer of methylephedrine is N-methylpseudoephedrine.^[3] Another related analogue is dimethylamphetamine (N,N-dimethylamphetamine), which is said to be a prodrug of methamphetamine and/or amphetamine.^[12] Other analogues include etafedrine (N-ethylephedrine) and cinnamedrine (N-cinnamylephedrine).^[3] The experimental log P of methylephedrine is 2.47 and its predicted log P ranges from 1.7 to 1.74.^[13][1][14] In organic chemistry, N-methylephedrine is used as a resolving agent and as a precursor to chiral supporting electrolytes, phase-transfer catalysts, and reducing agents.^[15] Methylephedrine was discovered via isolation from Ephedra by 1927.^[6] Methylephedrine is the generic name of the drug and its BANTooltip British Approved Name.^[3][4][16] In the case of the hydrochloride salt, its generic name is methylephedrine hydrochloride and this is its BANMTooltip British Approved Name.^[3][4][16] Brand names of methylephedrine include Metheph, Methy-F, and Tybraine, among others.^[3][4][16] Similarly to ephedrine, methylephedrine may have misuse potential.^[1][17] The drug shows reinforcing effects in monkeys.^[10] It is one of the four constituents of BRON, a Japanese over-the-counter cough medicine with reports of misuse.^[1][17] However, addiction liability of BRON was attributed primarily to the codeine component.^[17] A case report of addiction to methylephedrine exists.^[9] Methylephedrine is on the World Anti-Doping Agency's prohibited list.^[5]