Sympathomimetic toxicity in a case of analytically confirmed recreational use of naphyrone (naphthylpyrovalerone)

Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2011 Aug;49(7):691-3. doi: 10.3109/15563650.2011.592838. Epub 2011 Jul 8.

Abstract

Context: Naphyrone (naphthylpyrovalerone) is a cathinone derivative and recreational drug related to mephedrone.

Case: We report a 31-year-old man who ingested a dose of naphyrone (100 mg), which produced acute sympathomimetic toxicity with restlessness, insomnia, anxiety, and hallucinations lasting for 2 days. Naphyrone was detected in the patient's plasma by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry at concentrations of 0.03 and 0.02 mg/L, 40 and 60 h after drug intake, respectively.

Discussion: Based on the present case report and user web-reports, as well as on the chemical structure and pharmacological characteristics, naphyrone produces stimulant-like psychotropic effects and sympathomimetic toxicity.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anxiety / chemically induced
  • Hallucinations / chemically induced
  • Humans
  • Illicit Drugs / poisoning*
  • Male
  • Pentanones / poisoning*
  • Psychomotor Agitation / etiology
  • Psychotropic Drugs / poisoning*
  • Pyrrolidines / poisoning*
  • Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / chemically induced
  • Substance Abuse Detection*
  • Substance-Related Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Substance-Related Disorders / physiopathology
  • Sympathetic Nervous System / drug effects*
  • Sympathetic Nervous System / physiopathology

Substances

  • 1-naphthalen-2-yl-2-pyrrolidin-1-ylpentan-1-one
  • Illicit Drugs
  • Pentanones
  • Psychotropic Drugs
  • Pyrrolidines