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4-FMC
4-Fluoromethcathinone
Flephedrone, drone, 4F-MCAT
4-FMC is a synthetic stimulant of the substituted cathinone class.citation needed First appearing on the designer drug market in 2008, it was primarily marketed as a replacement for mephedrone. It is reported to produce typical cathinone stimulant effects alongside mild empathogenic properties. As a research chemical, it has limited formal study regarding its safety profile and long-term health effects.
Dosage & Duration
Dosage
Doses are population estimates that vary widely between individuals.
Threshold~25 mg
Light25-40 mg
Moderate40-100 mg
Strong100-150 mg
Heavy150+ mg
Duration
After Effects1-4 hours
Subjective Effects
Legacy content. A statistically backed ontology from Mindstate Design Labs is coming soon.
The experience is that of a typical substituted cathinone stimulant, dominated by euphoria, increased energy and alertness, and a strong drive toward socialization and talking. Mood elevation and increased libido accompany the stimulation, though the emotional tone can become unstable, with moodiness and aggressiveness reported. At heavier use, perceptual disturbances in the form of visual and auditory hallucinations can occur.
Physical
The body load is that of a physical stimulant: increased energy, decreased need for sleep, appetite suppression, sweating, itchiness, and teeth grinding. Disturbed sleep patterns commonly follow use, and weight loss can occur with repeated use.
Stimulation
Physical stimulation is the core of the experience.
Uncomfortable
Cognitive
The headspace is energetic and socially disinhibited, characterized by mood lift, increased sociability, and excessive talking. This can shift into a more negative emotional register, with irritability, moodiness, and aggressiveness reported.
Emotional
The emotional character is predominantly euphoric and mood-lifting, but can turn volatile.
Visual
Visual effects are limited to hallucinations reported at heavy doses; the substance is not otherwise notably visual.
Auditory
Pharmacology
Pharmacology not written up yet
Interactions
Interactions not written up yet
An unlisted combination is an unknown one, not a safe one. Check a dedicated combination chart before mixing.
Tolerance
Tolerance not written up yet
Harm Potential
Addiction & Dependence
Psychological
Classified as habit-forming, suggesting potential for psychological dependence, though detailed characterization is lacking due to the substance's limited research history.
Psychosis Risk
Visual and auditory hallucinations have been reported among the substance's effects, though the frequency and clinical significance of these perceptual disturbances remain poorly characterized.citation needed
History & Culture
Flephedrone first appeared on the recreational drug market in 2008, where it was sold online as a designer drug.citation needed It was marketed primarily as a replacement for mephedrone, which was gaining popularity during the same period. The substance represents one of the earlier synthetic cathinones to emerge in the designer drug marketplace, and its appearance prompted rapid regulatory responses across multiple jurisdictions, with Denmark becoming one of the first countries to prohibit it by the end of 2008.
Legality
By Country
Illegal13
United StatesIllegalSchedule I, 21 CFR 1308.11(d)(65)27
4-FMC (flephedrone) is listed as a Schedule I controlled substance in the federal controlled-substances regulations. The current eCFR entry names it as 4-fluoro-N-methylcathinone and assigns it controlled substance code 1238.
By state
All 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and five territories were reviewed against the federal baseline. 13 jurisdictions had source-backed mirror treatment; 42 remain research gaps. 1 divergent jurisdiction findings were independently upheld.
CaliforniaRestrictedCalifornia Health and Safety Code § 11375.5(c)30
California subjects 4-FMC's cathinone structure to its synthetic-stimulant-compound provision. The provision reaches a substance or analog structurally derived from 2-amino-1-phenyl-1-propanone with phenyl-ring, 3-position, or nitrogen substitutions. Possession and supply offenses under this provision carry the consequences specified in Health and Safety Code § 11375.5 rather than California Schedule I treatment.
AustriaIllegal (analog/blanket ban)4-FMC (4-fluoromethcathinone) is an amino-phenyl-ethanone derivative: its methyl and para-fluoro substitutions are chemical structures expressly contemplated by the NPSV definition. The NPSV treats every substance covered by Anlage II as a new psychoactive substance. Under the NPSG, commercial production, import, export, supply, or procurement for psychoactive human use is punishable; the statute separately excludes substances already governed by the Suchtmittelgesetz.
BrazilIllegalPortaria SVS/MS nº 344/1998 lists 4-FMC by name in Lista F2 of its Anexo I, the psychotropic sub-list of the list of substances of proscribed use in Brazil, entered as 4-FLUOROMETCATINONA with the synonyms flefedrona and 4-FMC and the chemical name 1-(4-fluorofenil)-2-(metilamino)propan-1-ona. ANVISA added that entry by RDC nº 159 of 2 June 2017, which came into force on the date of its publication.3 The annex as updated through RDC nº 1.036 of 9 July 2026 still carries it. Article 4 of the Portaria prohibits the production, manufacture, import, export, trade, and use of proscribed substances, save for bodies and institutions authorized by the health authority strictly for medical and scientific research. Lei nº 11.343/2006 treats the substances on the Portaria SVS/MS nº 344/1998 lists as drugs and prohibits drugs throughout the national territory except under legal or regulatory authorization. Acquiring, keeping, storing, transporting, or carrying 4-FMC for personal consumption without authorization attracts a warning, community service, or attendance at an educational programme, the last two for up to five months. Importing, exporting, producing, selling, offering for sale, storing, transporting, or supplying it without authorization is punishable by five to fifteen years of imprisonment and 500 to 1,500 day-fines.
ChinaIllegalMeasures for the Regulation of Non-medicinal Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, supplementary controlled-substances list1
Listed as a controlled substance since October 2015 under national drug control regulations.
DenmarkIllegalBekendtgørelse om euforiserende stoffer, BEK nr 405 (Retsinformation)13
The current official regulation names Flephedron/4-fluormethcathinon directly; its date is 26 March 2026 (published 28 March 2026).
IrelandIllegalMisuse of Drugs Act 1977, Schedule 1A(a)23
4-FMC is specifically listed as 1-(4-Fluorophenyl)-2-methylaminopropan-1-one in Schedule 1A(a) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977. The Act defines a controlled drug as a substance specified in its Schedule, and possession of a controlled drug is prohibited subject to stated exceptions.
JapanIllegalPharmaceutical and Medical Device Act2
Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare current designated-drug list names 1-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-(methylamino)propan-1-one and its salts, the chemical entry corresponding to 4-FMC. As a designated drug under the Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Act, it is subject to the Act's designated-drug prohibitions; the designation does not establish that it is scheduled as a narcotic.
LithuaniaIllegalLithuanian Order No. 5 and Control Law VIII-60226
A generic structural rule covers 4-FMC, rather than an exact-name entry.
NorwayIllegalForskrift om narkotika (narkotikaforskriften), vedlegg I7
4-FMC is expressly listed as "4-fluormetkatinon" in Vedlegg I to Norway’s Narkotikaforskriften. The regulation classifies the listed substance as a narcotic, so it is prohibited except where lawful authorization applies under Norway’s narcotics rules.
PolandIllegalRegulation of the Minister of Health of 17 August 2018 on the list of psychotropic substances, narcotic drugs and new psychoactive substances (consolidated text, Dz. U. 2024 poz. 1139)8
Prohibited since April 2010 under national controlled substances legislation.
SwedenIllegalFörordning (1992:1554) om kontroll av narkotika, bilaga 19
Flefedron is expressly listed in Bilaga 1 as 1-(4-fluorfenyl)-2-(metylamino)propan-1-on. Under section 2, substances in that annex are deemed narcotics under Narkotikastrafflagen (1968:64).
UkraineIllegalCabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 770 of 6 May 2000, Table II, List No. 224
Resolution No. 770 places 4-фторметкатинон (Flephedrone; 4-FMC), chemically 1-(4-фторфеніл)-2-(метиламіно)пропан-1-он, in Table II, List No. 2. That list covers especially dangerous psychotropic substances whose circulation is prohibited.
United KingdomIllegal (analog/blanket ban)Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, Schedule 2, Part II, paragraph 1(aa) (as inserted by the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (Amendment) Order 2010)2829
4-FMC (4-fluoromethcathinone) falls within the Class B cathinone generic definition because it is structurally derived from 2-amino-1-phenyl-1-propanone with a halide substituent in the phenyl ring and an N-methyl substitution. The definition controls qualifying compounds under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971; the Act also controls their stereoisomeric forms, salts and preparations.
Controlled / restricted3
AustraliaRestrictedTherapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 202625
The national scheduling entry applies; state and territory implementation can differ, and the Schedule 9 entry has its stated exceptions.
FinlandRestrictedNarcotics Act (Huumausainelaki) 373/2008, sections 3(3), 5(2), 23b and 48; Government Decree 1130/2014 on psychoactive substances banned from the consumer market, current consolidated annex dated 25 June 2026 and amended by Decree 650/2026 effective 10 July 2026; current Government Decree 543/2008 on substances regarded as narcotics; Criminal Code (Rikoslaki) 39/1889, chapter 44 section 5a, added by Act 1128/2014.1415161718192021
Finland expressly places 4-FMC in the consumer-market-banned psychoactive-substance annex, a category distinct from the narcotics schedules. The current 543/2008 text contains no express narcotics-schedule name listing; the absence of an express listing does not resolve every fact-dependent legal theory outside that listing. Under Narcotics Act section 5(2), manufacture, import, storage, offering for sale and transfer are prohibited, subject to the narrowly described research, industrial and low-misuse-risk preparation exceptions in section 23b. Criminal Code chapter 44 section 5a supplies the direct penalty (fine or imprisonment up to one year) for intentional or grossly negligent violations, unless a more serious offence applies; it does not state a blanket possession-or-use prohibition for this distinct category. Section 47's fine concerns specified notification, recordkeeping and related duties, not the direct section 5 conduct prohibition. No product-specific authorization, medicinal status, or case-specific charging is specified.
GermanyRestrictedBetäubungsmittelgesetz (BtMG), Anlage II zu § 1 Abs. 122
Flephedron is expressly listed in Anlage II as "Flephedron (4-Fluormethcathinon, 4-FMC)" with the chemical name 1-(4-Fluorphenyl)-2-(methylamino)propan-1-on. Anlage II covers trafficable but non-prescribable narcotics, so 4-FMC is not prescription-eligible under this listing.
References
Source Pages
Citations
Further Reading
Banks et al. (2015) - Abuse-Related Neurochemical Effects of Para-Substituted Methcathinone Analogs- Eshleman et al. (2013-2017) - In vitro transporter assays of synthetic cathinones
Simmler et al. (2013) - Pharmacological characterization of designer cathinones- Strano-Rossi et al. (2014) - Immunoassay screening and LC-HRMS analysis of cathinones
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