Methoxypiperamide

Methoxypiperamide

Methoxypiperamide (also known as MXP) is a psychoactive drug of the dissociative class. It is a NMDA receptor antagonist. MXP was made illegal in the UK in 2016 under the Psychoactive Substances Act.

History

Methoxypiperamide was first synthesized in the 1970s as part of a series of piperazine derivatives. However, it did not enter the recreational drug market until the 2010s, following the banning of similar substances.

Pharmacology

Methoxypiperamide acts primarily as an NMDA receptor antagonist. NMDA receptors allow for electrical signals to pass between neurons in the brain and spinal column; for the signals to pass, the receptor must be open. Dissociatives close the NMDA receptors by blocking them. This disconnection of neurons leads to loss of feeling, difficulty moving, and eventually this substance can cause a user to fully dissociate from their body and surroundings, known as a dissociative hallucination.

Effects

The effects of MXP can be broken down into several components which progressively intensify proportional to dosage. These include analgesia, disorientation, hallucination, and euphoria. At higher doses, users can experience a pronounced dissociation from reality, or a "hole" experience, where the user feels as if they are floating in a disconnected reality.

Legal Status

Methoxypiperamide was made illegal in the UK in 2016 under the Psychoactive Substances Act. It is also illegal in several other countries, including Sweden and Japan.

See Also

• Dissociative
• NMDA receptor antagonist
• Psychoactive drug
• Piperazine