Eutylone

1-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-2-(ethylamino)butan-1-one

Overview

Eutylone belongs to Entactogens/Empathogens / Cathinones.

Key safety note: Eutylone carries the sympathomimetic and serotonergic risks of an MDMA-like cathinone: raised heart rate and blood pressure, hyperthermia, agitation and anxiety, serotonin toxicity (especially combined with other serotonergic drugs) and hyponatraemia.[2][3]
Effects
Subjective effects vary. What a substance feels like depends on dose, individual physiology, mindset, and setting. The points below describe commonly reported effects, not guaranteed, uniform, or desirable outcomes.
  • A stimulant-leaning cathinone: strong stimulation and alertness with only mild entactogenic warmth: generally described as less euphoric and less empathogenic than MDMA.
  • Long-lasting, with pronounced and persistent insomnia a hallmark complaint.
  • A harsh comedown, anxiety and a strong urge to redose are commonly reported: especially by people who took it believing it was MDMA.
  • Common sympathomimetic effects: raised heart rate and body temperature, jaw tension, appetite loss and next-day fatigue.
Dosing & duration
Harm-reduction note: These are commonly cited reference ranges, not a recommendation or a “safe” dose. Potency, purity, body chemistry, tolerance, and drug combinations vary widely. Start low, go slow, wait for full effects before redosing, and never assume an unknown product matches these figures. Missing data is not evidence of safety.

Not reported

Dose ranges

Duration

Chemical & Physical Properties
FormulaC13H17NO3
Molar mass235.28 g/mol
StateSolid (usually the hydrochloride salt)
Melting pointNot reported
Boiling pointNot reported
DensityNot reported
Vapor pressureNot reported
pKaNot reported
LogP2.3 (predicted, XLogP3)
SolubilityNot reported
Refractive indexNot reported
Identifiers & Synonyms
CAS802855-66-9
CAS (enantiomer)
PubChem CID57360686
InChIKeyYERSNXHEOIYEGX-UHFFFAOYSA-N
InChIInChI=1S/C13H17NO3/c1-3-10(14-4-2)13(15)9-5-6-11-12(7-9)17-8-16-11/h5-7,10,14H,3-4,8H2,1-2H3
SMILESCCC(C(=O)C1=CC2=C(C=C1)OCO2)NCC

Synonyms

  • Eutylone
  • βk-EBDB
  • N-Ethylbutylone
  • β-keto-1,3-benzodioxolyl-N-ethylbutanamine
Pharmacodynamics & Biochemistry

Eutylone (βk-EBDB, N-ethylbutylone) is a substituted cathinone stimulant–entactogen: the N-ethyl homologue of butylone and a member of the methylenedioxy ('methylone-type') cathinone family. It interacts with the monoamine transporters with dopamine-transporter–preferring potency (uptake IC50 ≈120 nM at DAT, ≈690 nM at SERT, ≈1,280 nM at NET), raising extracellular dopamine, serotonin and noradrenaline. Its marked dopamine preference gives it a more stimulant and less empathogenic character than MDMA or its N-methyl homologue butylone: users typically report weaker euphoria and emotional warmth but strong, long-lasting stimulation and pronounced insomnia. Harm-reduction significance: from 2019–2020 eutylone spread worldwide (after bans on the related ephylone) and was frequently mis-sold as, or used to cut, MDMA: by 2021 it was the most common cathinone identified by the US DEA. Because it feels 'weaker' and less euphoric than the MDMA a buyer expects, redosing is common, which drives stimulant toxicity and days-long insomnia.

Biological targets

  • DAT
  • SERT
  • NET
Pharmacokinetics
BioavailabilityOral
TmaxNot well characterised
Half-lifeNot established in humans (effects reported as long-lasting)
VdNot reported
Protein bindingNot reported
MetabolismHepatic (N-deethylation, β-ketone reduction, demethylenation/O-methylation)
ExcretionRenal (presumed, hydroxy metabolites as conjugates)
Toxicology & Safety
Harm-reduction note: Toxicity and risk depend on dose, route, purity, combinations, setting, and individual health factors. Missing harms should never be interpreted as evidence of safety.

Not reported

Eutylone carries the sympathomimetic and serotonergic risks of an MDMA-like cathinone: raised heart rate and blood pressure, hyperthermia, agitation and anxiety, serotonin toxicity (especially combined with other serotonergic drugs) and hyponatraemia. Its most distinctive hazard is practical: it is frequently sold AS MDMA, but is more stimulant, less euphoric and much longer-lasting, with severe insomnia that can persist for days, so people redose expecting 'weak ecstasy', compounding cardiovascular strain and sleeplessness. It featured heavily in the 2019–2021 wave of cathinone-related hospitalisations and deaths. It has never been studied in controlled human trials and its safety margin is unknown. Missing data must never be read as evidence of safety.[2][3]

Legal Status
Legal note: Legal status can change over time and may vary by country, region, formulation, analogue status, prescription context, and enforcement practice. Always confirm with current official sources before relying on this section.
Interactions & Contraindications

Drug interactions

MAOIs Serotonin toxicity, potentially life-threatening.[2]
SSRIs, SNRIs, Other serotonergic drugs Serotonin-toxicity risk, other releasers included.[2]
Stimulants (amphetamines, cocaine) Additive cardiovascular strain and insomnia.[2]
Excess plain water (without electrolytes) Excess plain water without electrolytes carries a hyponatraemia risk, as with MDMA.[2]

Contraindications

Cardiovascular disease, hypertension or arrhythmia uncontrolled hypertension.[2]
Concurrent MAOI, SSRI/SNRI or other serotonergic medication concurrent MAOIs or serotonergic medication.[2]
Personal or family history of psychosis, schizophrenia or bipolar disorder
Pregnancy or breastfeeding
Usage & Context
  • Developed in the 1960s. First reported to the EMCDDA in 2014.
  • Became widespread internationally in 2019–2020 following bans on the related compound ephylone, and was widely mis-sold as MDMA. In 2021 it was the most common cathinone identified by the US DEA.
Sources & Evidence

Further Information