Sympathomimetic Amines

What are sympathomimetic amines?

Drugs that mimic endogenous neurotransmitters.

Examples of Sympathomimetic Amines

1. Methamphetamine
2. Amphetamine
3. Ephedrine/Pseudoephedrine
4. MDMA
5. MDA

What is the most frequently encountered clandestinely produced controlled substance?

Methamphetamine

T/F: • For each pound of meth manufactured, 10 lbs toxic waste is produced.

FALSE. 5-7lbs

Methamphetamine scheduling

Schedule II

Precursors of methamphetamine

Phenyl-2-2propanone (P2P), ephedrine or pseudoephedrine

Methamphetamine appearance

White, odorless powder or crystalline material

What are the three methods used to make meth?

1. Leuckhart method
2. Red Cook Method
3. Nazi Method

Common meth adulterants

1. Sugar
2. Caffeine
3. Ephedrine
4. Pseudoephedrine
5. PPA

Meth street names

Speed, go, meth, tick tick, crystal, rocket fuel

Uses of Methamphetamine

1. Treatment of ADD
2. Treatment of narcolepsy
3. Appetite suppressant

Effects of methamphetamine use

1. Excitability
2. Tremors
3. Anxiety
4. Agitation
5. Elevated pulse
6. Elevated BP
7. Paranoia
8. Dilated pupils

Withdrawal effects of methamphetamine

1. Tremors
2. Chills
3. Exhaustion
4. Delusions
5. Agitation
6. Paranoia

pKa of methamphetamine

9.9

Half-life of methamphetamine

6-15h (pH dependennt)

Enantiomers

• Isomers which are mirror images of each other
• Identical physical properties except for the direction of rotation of
polarized light

Which methamphetamine isomer is considered illicit?

d-methamphetamine

What is l-methamphetamine used for?

Dencongesant properties.

Diastereomers

• Stereoisomers which are not mirror images of one another
• Contain more than one chiral carbon
• Results from the inversion at only one of the chiral carbons
• Have similar, but not identical physical and chemical properties

T/F: d-ephedrine or l-pseudoephedrine will yield d-methamphetamine.

FALSE. l-ephedrine or d-pseudoephedrine will yield d-methamphetamine

What does analysis of methamphetamine by GC/MS require?

Methamphetamine enantiomers made diastereomers by reacting with optically active substance, then separation with optically active column.

What pH should urine be to increase elimination of methamphetamine?

Acidic

How long does a MDMA "trip" last?

4-5 hours

Metabolites of methamphetamine

Amphetamine -> norephedrine

Toxic effects of methamphetamine

1. Restlessness
2. Confusion
3. Anxiety
4. Hallucinations
5. Cardiac arrhythmias
6. Hypertension
7. Coma
8. Convulsions

Toxic dose of methamphetamine

>0.1mg/L (may differ based on tolerance)

What are the differences between meth and cocaine

1. Meth is synthetic and cocaine is plant-derived

2. Meth high lasts 8-12h while cocaine high lasts 25-30 minutes

3. 50% of meth eliminated in 12h vs 50% of cocaine eliminated in 1h