Research chemicalCathinoneStimulantResearch chemical

4-CMC (Clephedrone)

Also known as Clephedrone · 4-chloromethcathinone · Para-chloromethcathinone

Written by enwyReviewed 4 Aug 20262 sources0 comments

4-CMC (4-chloromethcathinone, clephedrone) is a synthetic cathinone structurally related to mephedrone, with the para-methyl replaced by chlorine. It emerged as a mephedrone successor on the research-chemical market. Human pharmacology is essentially uncharacterised; knowledge comes from seizures, early-warning-system notifications and non-fatal and fatal intoxication reports.

01 Overview

4-CMC appeared through early-warning systems as one of many cathinones sold to replace scheduled predecessors. Users describe stimulant and mildly entactogenic effects broadly similar to mephedrone but generally reported as more stimulating and less euphoric. It is used orally and by insufflation.

There is no controlled human research. Available information is limited to forensic case reports, some involving polydrug fatalities, plus in-vitro transporter assays. Cardiovascular strain, compulsive redosing, severe comedown and unknown long-term neurotoxicity apply as class hazards; long-term effects are unconfirmed.

02 Mechanism

Acts on monoamine transporters as a releaser/reuptake inhibitor with relatively greater catecholaminergic than serotonergic activity in vitro, producing predominantly stimulant effects.

03 Dosing

Tier	Dose	Route	Notes
Common	50–100 mg	Insufflated	Faster onset; strong redosing compulsion reported.
Common	100–200 mg	Oral	Anecdotal; no clinical dosing data. Onset ~20-45 min.

04 Effects

Effect	Magnitude	Evidence
StimulationWakefulness, energy and increased sociability reported by users.		Anecdotal
Mild euphoriaReported as less euphoric and more purely stimulating than mephedrone.		Anecdotal
Compulsive redosingShort duration drives repeated dosing within a session.		Anecdotal

05 Side effects

Effect	Severity	Frequency	Evidence
Severe comedownLow mood, anxiety and craving after use.	Moderate	Common	Anecdotal
Long-term neurotoxicity (unknown)No human data; potential neurotoxicity is unestablished.	Moderate	Unknown	Unconfirmed
Cardiovascular strainTachycardia and hypertension reported in intoxication case reports.	Severe	Common	Observational

06 Legal status

Germany

NpSG-controlled

Covered by German new psychoactive substances legislation. · as of Jan 2026

United States

Possibly analogue-controlled

May fall under the Federal Analogue Act; not explicitly scheduled. · as of Jan 2026

07 References

EU Early Warning System notifications on synthetic cathinonesEUDA / EMCDDA

Synthetic cathinones: epidemiology, toxicology and pharmacologyPubMed review

08 Discussion0 comments

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This page is reference information, not medical advice. Doses and protocols are documented as they appear in the clinical literature and in practice — describing them is not a recommendation to use them. Countermeasures listed here are not a substitute for a physician. Legal status varies by jurisdiction and changes.