What does Methoxetamine look like?

MXE is a white powder. Before it was banned, it was mostly sold online, where it was called a research chemical and the average cost per gram was between £18 and £25.

Why do people take Methoxetamine?

Users have reported that they had used MXE because they couldn’t get ketamine or because they thought it wouldn’t hurt their bladder, which ketamine does. However, there is no evidence to support this and it is possible that MXE will turn out to be as toxic as ketamine in this regard.

How do people take Methoxetamine?

Reportedly, because of its strength, only small pinches (or ‘bumps’) of MXE are snorted – and not full lines. The average dose appears to be between 20 – 100mg.

Some people prefer to dissolve it in water or place it under their tongue, where it’s dissolved and taken into the blood stream. But it can also be swallowed (‘bombed’) or injected.

Injecting is a particularly risky route for overdose. And by injecting and sharing injecting equipment, including needles and syringes, users run the risk of catching or spreading a virus, such as HIV or hepatitis C. There is also the risk that veins may be damaged and that something nasty will develop, such as an abscess or a clot.

What are the effects of Methoxetamine?

Although there is little known about MXE we do know that it is chemically related to ‘dissociative anaesthetics’ like ketamine and PCP. So it’s reasonable to assume that it shares some of the same effects and risks. This is backed up by reports from people that have used MXE and doctors who have treated people who have taken MXE.

It normally takes 10 – 15 minutes for the effects of MXE to be felt, but sometimes it can take 60 – 90 minutes. This can lead to some people thinking that they haven’t taken enough, so they take more and end up taking too much and having a bad time.

The effects of MXE tend to be similar to ketamine effects, but are more intense and longer lasting and include:

• MXE can make people feel very chilled out, relaxed and euphoric. Some users have said that they feel ‘enlightened’ when taking MXE. Others have reported being agitated.
• MXE can produce a feeling of ‘floating away’, as if the mind and body are separated (called a ‘dissociative state’). You could feel completely detached from your body and surroundings, putting yourself in danger of accidentally being hurt or being hurt by others.
• Other dissociative effects can develop, even a severe form of dissociation, catatonia, when someone is awake but doesn’t respond to or interact with anything.
• MXE can cause hallucinations.
• MXE can also cause involuntary eye movement, loss of balance and poor coordination, unsteadiness on your feet and slurred speech. These effects are not seen when people use ketamine.

What are the risks of methoxetamine?

There have been no confirmed deaths from MXE and nobody knows the long term risks of using MXE, and how similar the risks are to ketamine. But we do have a better idea of some of the short term risks:

• Hallucinations
• Dissociative effects can develop, which make you feel like your mind and body are separated, and even a severe form of dissociation, catatonia, when someone is awake but doesn’t respond to or interact with anything.
• Being in a dissociative state at the same time as hallucinating, make it more likely that you will take risks that you normally wouldn’t. So you could end up hurting yourself or being hurt by others.
• Because of its strength it’s reportedly easier to take too much and overdose on MXE. Compared to many other powder drugs, you only need to take a small amount of MXE to have a substantial effect.
• MXE is marketed as a replacement for ketamine, but without ketamine’s harmful effect on the bladder. However, there is no evidence to support this. It is possible that MXE will turn out to be as toxic as ketamine in this regard.
• It appears that MXE can make the heart beat faster than it should (called tachycardia) and increases blood pressure. Both of which might lead to range of problems including heart attacks or strokes.
• MXE can also cause involuntary eye movement, loss of balance and poor coordination, unsteadiness on your feet and slurred speech. These effects are not seen when people use ketamine.
• Injecting MXE can damage the veins and can cause serious problems such as abscesses (swollen areas of tissue that are full of pus) and blood clots. Sharing injecting equipment, including needles and syringes, risks infection with hepatitis C and B viruses and HIV.

Methoxetamine and alcohol

Because they are chemically related it is likely that mixing MXE with alcohol will have a similar effect to mixing ketamine with alcohol. Mixing ketamine with alcohol can dangerously affect the way you breathe and how your heart works, and can lead to unconsciousness, which can be even more dangerous if vomit is inhaled. If high doses are taken, it can cause death.

What is Methoxetamine cut with?

There is virtually no evidence about this yet, but early tests have found MXE that was cut with benzocaine and caffeine. It’s possible that what you think is MXE is a different drug instead, with different effects and risks. One sample that was tested contained mephedrone, a class B drug.

Can you get addicted to Methoxetamine?

There’s no direct evidence on whether you can become physically or psychologically dependent on MXE, but we do know that you can become dependent on ketamine. Because they are chemically related, it’s reasonable to assume that you may be able to become dependent on MXE.

Methoxetamine and the law

• From 26th February 2013 MXE has become a Class B drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act. This means it is now illegal to have, sell or supply MXE, including giving it away to friends.
• Possession of products containing MXE can get you up to five years in jail and/or an unlimited fine.
• Supplying someone else, including your friends, can get you fourteen years in jail and/or an unlimited fine.

Did you know?

Like drinking and driving, driving when high is illegal – and you may still be unfit to drive the day after using MXE. You can get a heavy fine, be disqualified from driving or even go to prison.