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ETH-CAT (N-ethylcathinone, ethcathinone) is a synthetic cathinone and the N-ethyl homologue of cathinone, closely related to methcathinone. As a beta-keto analogue of an amphetamine, it belongs to the class of psychomotor stimulants that act on the plasma-membrane transporters for dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin; ring-unsubstituted and short-chain cathinones of this type generally function as transporter substrates that evoke monoamine release, producing amphetamine-like stimulation and euphoria. It is typically regarded as somewhat less potent than methcathinone while sharing the cardiovascular and neuropsychiatric risk profile of the cathinone class, including tachycardia, hypertension, and, with heavy use, agitation and psychosis. Compound-specific pharmacological data are limited, and much of the characterisation derives from forensic identification and from studies of structurally related mephedrone-type analogues.
- Amphetamine-like stimulation
- Increased sociability and energy
- Appetite suppression
- Amphetamine-like monoamine-releasing cathinone stimulant
- Raised heart rate and blood pressure
- Insomnia and anxiety
- Compulsive redosing
Mechanism
As a cathinone it is presumed to act mainly as a releasing agent at the and transporters, raising levels of both catecholamines, with limited involvement. The larger N-ethyl group tends to reduce potency relative to the N-methyl compound methcathinone, so it is described here conservatively.
receptor fingerprint
Releaser
transporterReleaser
Safetyrisks and cautions, not medical advice
Expect typical stimulant effects and risks: raised heart rate and blood pressure, anxiety, insomnia, appetite loss, and a tendency to redose compulsively as the short effect wears off. Human data are limited, so unknown toxicity is itself a concern. It is dangerous to mix with other stimulants or MAOIs. Not medical advice.
Subjective profileweighing the evidence above
There is no argument for this one. An amphetamine-like cathinone with limited human data, compulsive redosing built into its short duration, and nothing it does that better-characterised stimulants do not do more predictably. Mixing it with other stimulants or an MAOI is dangerous.
Resources
This entry is here for reference.
Research
- 2011first citedThe analysis of substituted cathinones. Part 2: an investigation into the phenylacetone based i…
- 2019most recentStructure-activity relationships of bath salt components: substituted cathinones and benzofuran…
- 1.Structure-Activity Relationships of Synthetic Cathinones
- 2.Structure-activity relationships of bath salt components: substituted cathinones and benzofurans at biogenic amine transporters
- 3.The analysis of substituted cathinones. Part 2: an investigation into the phenylacetone based isomers of 4-methylmethcathinone and N-ethylcathinone.
- 4.Neuropharmacology of Synthetic Cathinones.
- 5.Pharmacological profile of mephedrone analogs and related new psychoactive substances.
- 6.Psychoactive "bath salts": not so soothing.
6 listed here; entry last updated August 2026
Reviews
My notesprivate to this device
FAQ
Is ETH-CAT stronger than methcathinone?
Generally it is considered somewhat weaker, because the larger N-ethyl group tends to reduce potency compared with the N-methyl version.
What does it feel like?
Users report a fairly plain amphetamine-like stimulation with energy and sociability rather than strong entactogenic warmth.
Is it well studied?
No, it is an obscure research chemical with little human safety data, so its long-term risks are poorly understood.
Limitations of the evidence
- Limited safety data
Adverse effects
- Raised heart rate and blood pressure
- Insomnia and anxiety
- Compulsive redosing