Research chemicalStimulantResearch chemicalPiperazine

mCPP (meta-Chlorophenylpiperazine)

Also known as mCPP · meta-Chlorophenylpiperazine · 3-Chlorophenylpiperazine

Written by enwyReviewed 5 Aug 20262 sources0 comments

mCPP (meta-chlorophenylpiperazine) is a serotonergic piperazine and a metabolite of the antidepressant trazodone. It is widely studied as a pharmacological probe of serotonin function and is notably anxiogenic, commonly provoking anxiety, migraine and nausea rather than euphoria.

01 Overview

mCPP is unusual among these compounds in that it is comparatively well characterised in humans, having been used for decades as a research probe of serotonin receptor function and as a metabolite of trazodone and several other antidepressants. It has appeared on recreational markets, sometimes misrepresented as MDMA.

Its subjective profile is generally poor: it reliably induces anxiety, migraine-type headache, nausea and dysphoria in controlled studies, which is why it is used to probe panic and anxiety mechanisms. It is not a rewarding stimulant.

02 Mechanism

Acts as a non-selective serotonin receptor agonist and releaser, with prominent activity at 5-HT2C receptors thought to underlie its anxiogenic effects.

03 Dosing

Tier	Dose	Route	Notes
Light	20–40 mg	Oral	Doses used as serotonergic probe; not recreationally desirable.
Common	40–60 mg	Oral	Higher doses reliably provoke anxiety and migraine.

04 Effects

Effect	Magnitude	Evidence
Serotonergic activationProduces measurable neuroendocrine and subjective serotonergic effects used in research.		Clinical
Mild perceptual changesSome users report subtle altered perception, generally overshadowed by discomfort.		Anecdotal

05 Side effects

Effect	Severity	Frequency	Evidence
NauseaNausea and gastrointestinal discomfort are common.	Mild	Common	Clinical
Anxiety and panicReliably anxiogenic; used experimentally to provoke anxiety and panic responses.	Moderate	Very common	Clinical
Migraine and headacheFrequently triggers migraine-type headache in susceptible individuals.	Moderate	Very common	Clinical

06 Legal status

Class C (Misuse of Drugs Act)

Controlled as a piperazine derivative. · as of Jan 2026

United States

Not federally scheduled

Not federally controlled; occurs as a metabolite of licensed medicines. · as of Jan 2026

07 References

mCPP as a serotonergic probe and anxiogenic agentPubMed

Piperazine derivatives drug profileEUDA (European Union Drugs Agency)

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.