The Poison Review

An article in yesterday’s Times (U.K.) asks the question: Is meow meow the new ecstasy?  Meow meow is one of the street names for mephedrone (4-methymethcathinone). Not much is known about the toxicology of this synthetic drug  since it is relatively new, having been in circulation for only two or three years.  Although banned in many countries, it is still unscheduled in the United States. Mephedrone is sold on the internet as a “plant fertilizer” or “research chemical” and labeled as “not for human consumption”.

A Pubmed search reveals only one article on mephedrone; unfortunately, that one article is in Swedish.  Anecdotal reports make it apparent that the drug has strong sympathomimetic properties, causing intense peripheral vasoconstriction (possibly a function of the metabolite 4-methyephedrine).  Many accounts describe anxiety, panic attacks, and paranoia as prominent side effects of mephedrone.  Heavy use is said to cause severe hallucinations — the Times story reports one user with hallucinations so extreme that he ripped off his own scrotum.  There have been reported fatalities, and the drug seems to be quite addictive.

Other street names for mephedrone include:

• drone

• bubble

• m-cat

• Michael

• Milton Keynes (combined with ketamine)

Thanks to DoseNation for linking to this story.