PMMA
PMMA can cause serious side effects even at moderate doses, such as hyperthermia and serotonin syndrome, which can easily result in death or hospitalization.
As a result, it is strongly discouraged to use this substance. Please see this section for more details.
| Summary sheet: PMMA |
| PMMA | |||||||||||||||||
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| Chemical Nomenclature | |||||||||||||||||
| Common names | PMA, 4-MMA | ||||||||||||||||
| Substitutive name | para-Methoxymethamphetamine | ||||||||||||||||
| Systematic name | 1-(4-Methoxyphenyl)-N-methylpropan-2-amine | ||||||||||||||||
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| Psychoactive class | Entactogen | ||||||||||||||||
| Chemical class | Amphetamine | ||||||||||||||||
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para-Methoxymethamphetamine (also known as 4-MMA and commonly as PMMA) is a highly dangerous and toxic synthetic substance of the amphetamine class that is closely related to PMA. Like PMA, it is known for producing extremely dangerous, life-threatening side effects. At lower dosages, its effects are somewhat different from PMA, with reduced tendency to cause severe hyperthermia while producing more entactogenic effects that can be mistaken for MDMA (although at higher dosages it does have the same risk as PMA). Its history of use is unknown, but it has appeared more frequently in the 2000s and 2010s. It is generally less potent than PMA.
PMMA, along with other drugs like PMA and PMEA have very little recreational value and are considered as one of the most dangerous and toxic substances known. It is strongly recommended that these two substancesshould be completely avoided.
Contents
Chemistry
PMMA (para-Methoxymethamphetamine or 4-MMA) is a molecule of the substituted amphetamine class. Molecules of the amphetamine class contain a phenethylamine core featuring a phenyl ring bound to an amino (NH2) group through an ethyl chain with an additional methyl substitution at Rα. It contains a methoxy (OCH3) functional group bound to the R4 carbon of the phenyl ring, as well as a methyl substitution at RN. PMMA is the N-methylated version of PMA and the 4-Methoxy analog of Methamphetamine.
Pharmacology
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This pharmacology section is incomplete. You can help by adding to it. |
PMMA, like PMA most likely acts as a selective serotonin releasing agent (SSRA) with weak effects on dopamine and norepinephrine transporters. However, relative to MDMA, it is considerably less effective as a releaser of serotonin with properties more akin to a reuptake inhibitor in comparison. It evokes robust hyperthermia while producing only modest hyperactivity and serotonergic neurotoxicity, substantially lower than that caused by MDMA. Anecdotal reports suggest it is not particularly euphoric at all, perhaps even dysphoric in contrast. PMMA has also been shown to act as a potent, reversible inhibitor of the enzyme MAO-A with no significant effects on MAO-B, and the combination of this property and serotonin release is likely responsible for its high lethality potential. It is likely metabolized to PMA, just like methamphetamine is metabolized to amphetamine in the body.
It appears that PMMA elevates body temperatures dramatically; the cause of this property is suspected to be related to its ability to inhibit MAO-A and at the same time releasing large amounts of serotonin, effectively causing serotonin syndrome. It appears that PMMA activates the hypothalamus much more strongly than MDMA and other drugs like ephedrine, thereby causing rapid increases in body temperature (which is the major cause of death in PMMA mortalities).[citation needed]
Subjective effects
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This subjective effects section is a stub. As such, it is still in progress and may contain incomplete or wrong information. You can help by expanding or correcting it. |
The effects listed below are based on the subjective effect index, which is based on anecdotal reports and the personal experiences of PsychonautWiki contributors. As a result, they should be treated with a healthy amount of skepticism. It is worth noting that these effects will rarely (if ever) occur all at once but heavier doses will increase the chances of inducing a full range of effects. Likewise, adverse effects become much more likely on higher doses and may include serious injury or death.
Physical effects 
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- Stimulation - In terms of its effects on the user's physical energy levels, PMMA is commonly regarded as moderately stimulating and energetic exclusively at lower dosages.
- Abnormal heartbeat - Accelerated and abnormal heartbeats are extremely common with PMMA.
- Appetite suppression
- Dehydration
- Dizziness - This effect is significantly more common with PMMA than it is with methamphetamine or MDMA
- Increased bodily temperature - The most common cause of death from PMMA is due to severe hyperthermia.
- Increased blood pressure
- Increased heart rate
- Increased perspiration
- Nausea and Vomiting - This is common at any dose.
- Pupil dilation
- Rapid breathing - People commonly report "not being able to breathe".
- Seizures - This is significantly more common with PMMA than with almost any other substance.
- Teeth grinding
- Temporary erectile dysfunction
- Vasoconstriction
- Vibrating vision - This effect is generally more frequent than with MDMA.
Cognitive effects 
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- Anxiety or Anxiety suppression - This depends greatly on the dosage, as higher dosages are almost guaranteed to bring anxiety, due to all the adverse effects.
- Empathy, love and sociability enhancement - This effect is only present at lower doses and its much less pronounced than with MDMA.
- Cognitive euphoria or Cognitive dysphoria - This depends greatly on the dosage, as higher dosages are almost guaranteed to bring dysphoria, due to all the adverse effects.
- Dream suppression
- Time distortion
- Wakefulness
Visual effects 
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At moderate to high dosages, PMMA is capable of producing typically mild or moderate visual distortions, which are usually more common and pronounced than with MDMA, but significantly less when compared with most psychedelics, such as 2C-B or LSD.
Suppressions
Distortions
Experience reports
There are currently no anecdotal reports which describe the effects of this compound within our experience index. Additional experience reports can be found here:
Toxicity and harm potential
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This toxicity and harm potential section is a stub. As such, it may contain incomplete or even dangerously wrong information. You can help by expanding or correcting it. |
PMMA and its relative PMA can be considered extremely toxic when compared to other substances such as Methamphetamine or MDMA. Ingestion of PMMA has been associated with severe tachycardia (abnormally high heart rate), seizures, dehydration, hyperthermia, and death. PMMA has a relatively slow onset, causing many users to redose which causes excess toxicity.
It is strongly recommended that one use harm reduction practices if choosing to use this substance.
Legality
- Austria: PMMA is illegal to possess, produce and sell under the SMG (Suchtmittelgesetz Österreich).[citation needed]
- Canada: PMMA is a Schedule I substance.
- Brazil - Possession, production and sale is illegal as it is listed on Portaria SVS/MS nº 344.[1]
- Germany: PMMA is controlled under BtMG Anlage I, making it illegal to manufacture, import, possess, sell, or transfer it without a license.[2]
- United States: PMMA is unscheduled, but can be considered an analog of PMA under the Federal Analog Act.
- United Kingdom: PMMA is a Class A drug.
- Switzerland: PMMA is illegal in Switzerland.[3]