Review Erowid at GreatNonprofits.org
Help us be a "Top Rated Nonprofit" again this year and spread
honest info (good or bad) about psychedelics & other psychoactive drugs.
("Share Your Story" link. Needs quick login creation but no verification of contact info)
An Overview of 3 Entactogenic RCs
5-Methylethylone, Methylone & 4-Fluoroamphetamine
Citation:   mindexplorer. "An Overview of 3 Entactogenic RCs: An Experience with 5-Methylethylone, Methylone & 4-Fluoroamphetamine (exp99083)". Erowid.org. Apr 29, 2020. erowid.org/exp/99083

 
DOSE:
120 - 180 mg oral MDMA
  250 mg oral Methylone
  40 - 120 mg oral 4-Fluoroamphetamine
BODY WEIGHT: 135 lb
MDMA is my preferred psychoactive of choice. She has changed my life for the better, and will always have a sweet spot in my heart, but I wanted to see what else is out there. I would like to share my experiences by giving an overview of three entactogens/MDMA analogs:

5-methyl-ethylone (5-ME)
methylone (MDMC)
4-fluoroamphetamine (4-FA)

**Disclaimer**

Everyone is unique and reacts to these substances in unique ways. This is just my personal account. This guide is meant for experienced users.

First, I would like to give a brief overview of MDMA as a reference:

MDMA

Times used: >10
Optimum dose: 120-180 mg oral
Duration: 2-4 hours

Subjective Overview:

I feel a sense of serene calm and bliss, as if everything is perfect in this moment. MDMA opens me up, physically and emotionally. I can express myself, in the form of language/dance in an effortless way. I see everything in a positive light, and I can articulate deeply profound ideas. I develop strong bonds with my peers. This is my favorite substance.

The Good:
Amazing body load “the magic?”
Serene calm
Euphoria
Empathetic awareness
Openness

The Bad:
It’s illegal, so there are risks involved
It should only be used rarely
Potential for a hangover

Conclusion:
Zen. The ideal state of being.


5-methyl-ethylone

Times used: 4-5
Optimum dose: 250-350 mg oral
Duration: 1.5-2 hours

Subjective Overview:

Openness, serene, calm. The empathetic awareness is equivalent to MDMA, and the bodyload rivals that of MDMA. However, I have to begin with a fairly hefty dose to notice this effect. It lacks mental stimulation, but there is a visual component which is hard to describe. It has a 30-45 minute window indistinguishable from MDMA in my opinion (albeit less mental stimulation), and it hits much faster than MDMA. But this isn’t the perfect substitute.

It’s like a tease, leaving me wanting more. I never feel satisfied with the experience once it’s said and done. Re-dosing or mixing with other substances seems very risky due to how high of an initial dose is necessary. Dosing below the ‘threshold’ will not produce effects that are that spectacular. Also, I find the afterglow unpleasant. 4-8 hours after the experience is over, I feel as if my heart/kidneys are still struggling to process some cathinone metabolites. This analog would be perfect if I could prolong the high, and prevent some of the metabolites from forming.

The Good:
Amazing body load “the magic?”
Serene calm
Empathetic awareness
Openness

The Bad:
Unknown safety profile (potentially toxic)
Extremely short duration of desired effect (30-45 minutes of a really good space)
Lack of satisfaction when the experience is over

Conclusion:
It’s like sticking ‘just the tip’ into molly’s beautiful vagina.


Methylone

Times used: 7-8
Optimum dose: 250 mg oral
Duration: 2-4 hours

Subjective Overview:

The high is very ‘stoning’, but it’s also a stimulant. Beautiful conversations can flow easily between individuals, or deep introspective thought can occur. It has the love, but it doesn’t have the overall-well-being found in MDMA or 5-ME. It has the mental components of MDMA, with a little more stimulation, but it lacks the physical openness/bodyload. The desired effects last 1-2 hours, with a 15 minute peak during the come-up ‘on the level of MDMA’. I personally love the afterglow, which lasts 24 hours. I am just left in a great mood when the experience is over.

The Good:
Empathetic awareness
Euphoria
Mental Openness (language flows, introspection)
Amazing afterglow for 24 hours

The Bad:
Shorter euphoric high than MDMA
Less physical openness “no magic?”
Potentially illegal and debatable toxicity profile

Conclusion:
It’s good for hanging out with friends on a chill night, but it won’t replace MDMA.


4-fluoroamphetamine

Times used: >10
Optimum dose: 40-120 mg oral
Duration: 4-8 hours

Subjective Overview:

4-FA is unique enough from MDMA that it should be considered its own experience. If I were to describe it, it’s like a 50/50 mix between an amphetamine (Adderall) and MDMA. It has a much longer duration than MDMA, and I am usually left satisfied with my experience. I can use it to study or for recreation. It rides the fine line between stimulant/entactogen. Within a day I usually feel back to normal, unlike MDMA which takes a few days for me to re-adjust. This is not MDMA, but it’s good in its own ways.

The good:
Euphoria
Stimulation
Some openness (body and mind)
Some empathy
Perfect duration (feel satisfied)

The bad:
Dehydration (strain on gums)
Bruxism (more-so than MDMA)
Chemical relatives are extremely toxic (4-CA, 4-MA)

Conclusion:

4-FA wins the prize as the best MDMA analog, not because it’s the most similar to MDMA, but because it can hold its own. If I'm looking for that good feel, but save MDMA for special occasions, 4-FA is a good substitute that will leave me satisfied (I don’t expect it to be MDMA). Many of 4-FA’s close cousins are proven to be extremely toxic, so the safety of this compound is highly debated. Subjectively, it feels less dangerous than any RC I have experimented with. The jury is still out.

Combinations (this is where it gets fun):

Best entactogen combination, hands down, is MDMA/methylone. I personally find it superior to the MDMA experience alone. It has everything that MDMA has plus more. The two compounds synergize indistinguishably with one another, and the methylone afterglow just prolongs the MDMA high. Pure bliss, satisfaction, love, openness, and serenity. I take 80-120 mg MDMA with 180-240 mg of MDMC at the same time, and feel comfortable with that level of stimulation.

I would not mix 5-ME with anything until the peak has subsided. The 5-ME experience alone is intense enough for it to stand its own ground (if I use it at high doses). I have mixed 5-ME with MDMA and 4-FA on separate occasions. 5-ME doesn’t add to the MDMA experience, and mixing with 4-FA feels toxic. Adding methylone to 5-ME just seems like a bad idea, based on the feel of those compounds (too many cathinones in one's system).

4-FA mixes really well with alcohol. For some reason alcohol seems to negate the dehydration induced by 4-FA, increase the euphoria, decrease the hangover, and increase the afterglow. Don’t ask me how this is possible; I consider alcohol a toxin; I am perplexed by this observation. I wouldn’t recommend mixing 4-FA with MDMA or the other analogs, due to the amphetamine-type properties. I had a terrible hangover for days after I mixed 4-FA with 5-ME, and the experience wasn’t as good as I expected (lower doses of 5-ME don’t seem to have ‘the magic’).

Parting Commentary:

Every MDMA analog is unique, and experimenting with them has been a very interesting and rewarding experience for me. I have developed strong relationships with some of my closest friends, and learned much about myself in the process.

There is a delicate balance between the benefits/harms associated with using entactogens. LESS IS MORE. All of these substances take a physical toll on the body, and drinking plenty of water while using the proper supplements during/before/after appears to mitigate some of the toxic effects, in my opinion. The most important supplements I take are natural vitamin C and a variety of antioxidants. ‘Chasing the euphoria’ will never lead to satisfaction. I try not to make a habit of using these substances on a regular basis.

5-methyl-ethylone is a rare substance, and many within the online community do not believe it exists. I have obtained this compound from two independent sources, with the same effects and texture. The appearance is off-white, tan, crystal shards.

I may not get the same amount of euphoric stimulation from entactogens as I once did, but every experience has been beautiful, unique, and medicinal in its own way. The sense of serene, calm, empathetic openness remains just as strong within me today, as it always has. I value love/serenity/openness, over the euphoric high, and these substances will remain beneficial indefinitely, if used in moderation.

From a spiritual standpoint, the entactogens appear to open the ‘heart chakra’. I have found great benefit through combining them with meditation.

Conclusions:

5-ME has the closest feel to MDMA, but is very short-lived and doesn’t satisfy me. Methylone is an interesting and introspective one, and when mixed with MDMA, provides the supreme entactogenic experience. 4-FA is the best analog in its own right, but none of these analogs measure up to overall beauty of pharm-grade MDMA.

Thanks for reading. I hope this review was helpful, and have a wonderful day you beautiful people!

Exp Year: 2012ExpID: 99083
Gender: Male 
Age at time of experience: 23
Published: Apr 29, 2020Views: 1,519
[ View PDF (to print) ] [ View LaTeX (for geeks) ] [ Swap Dark/Light ]
Methylone (255), 4-Fluoroamphetamine (276) : Combinations (3), Retrospective / Summary (11), Small Group (2-9) (17)

COPYRIGHTS: All reports copyright Erowid.
No AI Training use allowed without written permission.
TERMS OF USE: By accessing this page, you agree not to download, analyze, distill, reuse, digest, or feed into any AI-type system the report data without first contacting Erowid Center and receiving written permission.

Experience Reports are the writings and opinions of the authors who submit them. Some of the activities described are dangerous and/or illegal and none are recommended by Erowid Center.


Experience Vaults Index Full List of Substances Search Submit Report User Settings About Main Psychoactive Vaults