Eutylone is a synthetic stimulant that is sold online as a designer drug and has powerful effects similar to illegal amphetamines. In recent years, eutylone abuse has become more widespread, especially in North America and European countries. Eutylone use has been linked to a number of risks, including cardiac arrest, seizures, psychosis, addiction, and fatal overdose. [1][2][3]
- Eutylone is a synthetically created stimulant that produces effects similar to illicit drugs like MDMA and methamphetamines.
- Eutylone became more widely abused between 2017 and 2021, leading to the drug becoming more closely regulated and restricted.
- Eutylone can have several serious adverse effects, including cardiac problems, addiction, and overdose, especially when it is combined with other substances.
Understanding Eutylone (bk-EBDB or N-Ethylbutylone)
Eutylone is a research chemical or ‘designer drug’ that mimics the effects of illicit stimulants like methamphetamines, cocaine, and MDMA. Normally sold as a powder that is snorted or ingested orally, eutylone causes users to experience a dramatic elevation in their mood and energy levels. Eutylone is classified as a synthetic cathinone, which is a chemically modified form of cathinone, a natural stimulant derived from the khat plant. [3][4]
There are hundreds of drugs in the category of synthetic cathinones, making them some of the most common types of designer drugs sold online. Synthetic cathinones, which are also called bath salts, have powerful effects and a high addictive potential. Because most designer drugs are unregulated, consumers are at increased risk for contamination, improper dosages, and accidental exposure via counterfeit pills. According to official reports, eutylone is often sold as counterfeit MDMA and has been tied to a growing number of overdoses. [1][2]
How it works
Eutylone has become more popular in the past ten years and is commonly abused for its euphoric and stimulating effects. Synthetic cathinones like eutylone are some of the most widely used designer drugs, and produce effects similar to cocaine, methamphetamines, and MDMA. [2][4]
Like other drugs in this class, eutylone works on dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine transporters in the brain to produce increased energy, elevated mood, and pleasurable feelings. [2] Its effect on dopamine levels is believed to be largely responsible for its addictive potential, as well as its euphoric effects.
Eutylone is an analog of cathinone methylone, which is a drug that is similar to the drug MDMA, which is commonly called “Molly” or ecstasy. Some users describe eutylone as more addictive than other stimulants, leading to compulsive use, frequent redosing, and intense cravings. More research is needed to fully understand the effects, risks, and addictive potential of eutylone. [3][4]
Eutylone effects and what users experience
Eutylone is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant that works to boost the activity of the nervous system by increasing levels of certain chemicals like dopamine and norepinephrine. This results in users experiencing elevated mood and energy levels, and also produces the euphoric effect that causes users to feel high. [2]
Eutylone is often sold as counterfeit MDMA, and has similar empathogenic effects as this drug, including feeling more emotionally open and connected to other people. Users who take this drug often describe feeling more sociable, happy, and talkative. Many also report having an increased interest in sex, as well as enhanced feelings of pleasure from sexual activity. [1][3]
Here is a summary of the desired effects of eutylone: [1][3][4]
- Increased energy
- Enhanced mood
- Euphoria
- Feeling more social and talkative
- Feeling more open and connected to people
- Increased confidence
- Higher libido
- Enhanced sexual pleasure
- Heightened sensory stimulation
Duration of effects
The onset and duration of eutylone’s effects depend on a number of factors, including the dose taken, method of administration, and whether the drug is taken alone or in combination with other substances. Eutylone typically takes about 30 minutes to an hour for the effects to onset, or less time when the drug is snorted or injected versus taken orally. [4]
The effects of eutylone are often considered more long-lasting than other synthetic cathinone stimulants, which typically wear off in a couple of hours. The effects of eutylone can last for up to 8 hours, with peak effect reported between 2-4 hours of consumption. [3][4]
Many users report that even after the peak effects have faded, there are lingering stimulating effects like insomnia, anxiety, restlessness, or a fast heart rate. These effects can last up to 24 hours after the dose was taken, and may be strongest in people who have consumed high doses.
There are no formal studies on eutylone to establish what dose is safe; the drug is not well understood. A lack of regulatory oversight further complicates this problem, leading to potential inconsistencies in the purity, quality, and dose. Most of the time, users report consuming doses between 50-200 mg. Reported adverse effects seem to become much more likely to occur at doses nearing and exceeding 200mg. [1][4]
Side effects and risks
In addition to the desired effects of eutylone, many users also report unwanted effects after taking the drug. These effects can vary based on individual factors like tolerance, the dosage taken, and any other substances used in combination. Serious adverse effects are more likely to occur at high doses or when eutylone is combined with alcohol or other drugs.
Here are some of the side effects and risks associated with eutylone use: [1][2][3][4]
- Rapid heart rate (tachycardia)
- High blood pressure
- Dilated pupils
- Feeling overheated or sweaty
- Jaw clenching and teeth grinding
- Anxiety and paranoia
- Feeling shaky or having tremors
- Feeling nauseous or sick
- Restlessness and insomnia
- Reduced appetite
Some people who use eutylone, particularly at high doses or in combination with other drugs, experience severe adverse effects. Serious side effects of eutylone include: [3][4]
- Seizures
- Psychosis
- Confusion
- Hyperthermia
- Chest pain
- Cardiac arrest
- Kidney failure
- Overdose
- Death
Is eutylone addictive?
Eutylone is believed to be highly addictive, although there is no formal research to support these claims. [1][3] Users have reported that the drug is addictive and leads to strong cravings and problematic and compulsive use. Addiction can be caused by physical dependence, psychological dependence, or a combination of both, which can make it harder for people to control and moderate their use of a substance. [5]
Eutylone works on dopamine transporters to increase the supply of dopamine in the brain, which is what causes the euphoric effects. Dopamine is also called the brain’s pleasure chemical, and is known to play a key role in the formation of addictions, with highly dopaminergic drugs being considered more addictive in nature. Because stimulant drugs cause large surges of dopamine, they are believed to be some of the most addictive drugs.
Some of the signs of eutylone addiction include: [5]
- Using a substance more or more often than intended.
- Significant time spent obtaining, using, or recovering from the effects of a drug.
- Repeated unsuccessful efforts to cut back, stop, or moderate use.
- Strong urges or cravings to use.
- Continued use despite negative physical or mental health effects.
- Continued use despite problems in important relationships related to use.
- Failure to fulfill major obligations at school, work, or home because of use.
- Using a substance in situations where it is risky or potentially harmful.
- Needing to use more because of developing a tolerance to a drug.
- Physical or psychological withdrawal when cutting back or stopping.
Eutylone withdrawal symptoms
When someone has developed a physical or psychological dependence on a drug, they often experience withdrawal symptoms when they suddenly cut back or stop using. Depending on the type of substance, the withdrawals may be more physical or psychological in nature. Often, withdrawal symptoms intensify when a person has been abusing high doses of a drug, or using it frequently for a long period of time. [5]
There isn’t any research on eutylone withdrawals, but there are some characteristic symptoms of stimulant withdrawal that a person may experience. The timeline of withdrawals can depend on a lot of factors, but often begins within a day of stopping, lasts about a week, and becomes milder over time. [6]
Some people experience physical withdrawals when stopping a stimulant like eutylone. Most of the time, these will resolve within about a week. Common physical stimulant withdrawal symptoms include: [6]
- Headaches
- Tremors or tics
- Shaking
- Sweating
- Rapid heartbeat
- Muscle aches
- GI upset
- Physical exhaustion
The psychological symptoms of withdrawal can persist for longer than the physical withdrawals, although they also tend to improve over time. Common psychological symptoms of stimulant withdrawals include: [5][6]
- Feeling fatigued or drained
- Sleeping more or less than usual
- Increased appetite
- Brain fog or trouble concentrating
- Lowered motivation
- Feeling irritable, moody, or unstable
- Depressed mood
- Strong drug cravings
- Feeling emotionally flat or blunted
- Paranoia, anxiety, or panic attacks
Eutylone overdose
Eutylone has been implicated in a growing number of overdoses and poisonings, some of which have resulted in death. In the most severe and fatal instances, eutylone was not the only substance detected. Other drugs like fentanyl are sometimes combined with eutylone, which greatly increases the risk of overdose. [1]
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Is eutylone legal?
Eutylone is a designer drug that is often sold by online retailers as a research chemical or ‘bath salts’ in order to skirt regulatory oversight. By marketing a drug as ‘not for human consumption’, a legal loophole can be created that makes it legal for synthetic drugs like eutylone to be purchased online in some countries. [2][4]
Because of the risks associated with the widespread use of this drug, the United Nations scheduled it as an internationally controlled substance in 2022. The specific laws and regulations determining access vary by country. In the United States, eutylone is now a Schedule 1 controlled substance, meaning it is illegal to sell, purchase, or possess. [1][2]
Treatment options and harm reduction
Buying drugs like eutylone online is never safe, since there are no regulatory or quality assurance guidelines to ensure what you are receiving is safe. There have been multiple reports of counterfeit pills or toxic contaminants in designer drugs people purchase online. Eutylone is often sold as a counterfeit version of MDMA to unsuspecting buyers. [1]
If you are in need of treatment for problem use or addiction, the best first step to take is to schedule an assessment with a licensed mental health or substance abuse clinician. In this assessment, they can verify your diagnosis and provide an individualized recommendation for treatment. With treatment, many people struggling with addictions are able to achieve lasting sobriety.
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