Α-Ethyltryptamine

α-Ethyltryptamine
INN: Etryptamine
Clinical data
Trade namesMonase
Other namesalpha-Ethyltryptamine; αET; AET; α-ET; Etryptamine; PAL-125; 3-(2-Aminobutyl)indole; 3-Indolylbutylamine; U-17312E; U17312E; Ro 3-1932; NSC-63963; NSC-88061, Etryptamine (USAN US)
Routes of
administration
Oral
Drug classEntactogen; Stimulant; Monoamine releasing agent; Serotonin receptor agonist; Monoamine oxidase inhibitor
ATC code
  • None
Legal status
Legal status
Pharmacokinetic data
MetabolismHydroxylation
Metabolites• 6-Hydroxy-αET (inactive)
Onset of action0.5–1.5 hours
Elimination half-life~8 hours
Duration of action6–8 hours (100–150 mg)
ExcretionUrine (majority)
Identifiers
  • 1-(1H-indol-3-yl)butan-2-amine
CAS Number
PubChem CID
PubChem SID
DrugBank
ChemSpider
UNII
KEGG
ChEBI
ChEMBL
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC12H16N2
Molar mass188.274 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)
Melting point222 to 223 °C (432 to 433 °F)
  • CCC(N)CC1=CNC2=CC=CC=C12
  • InChI=1S/C12H16N2/c1-2-10(13)7-9-8-14-12-6-4-3-5-11(9)12/h3-6,8,10,14H,2,7,13H2,1H3 Y
  • Key:ZXUMUPVQYAFTLF-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y
  (verify)

α-Ethyltryptamine (αET, AET), also known as etryptamine, is an entactogen and stimulant drug of the tryptamine family. It was originally developed and marketed as an antidepressant under the brand name Monase by Upjohn in the 1960s before being withdrawn due to toxicity.

Side effects of αET include facial flushing, headache, gastrointestinal distress, insomnia, irritability, appetite loss, and sedation, among others. A rare side effect of αET is agranulocytosis. αET acts as a releasing agent of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine, as a weak serotonin receptor agonist, and as a weak monoamine oxidase inhibitor. It may also produce serotonergic neurotoxicity. αET is a substituted tryptamine and is closely related to α-methyltryptamine (αMT) and other α-alkylated tryptamines.

αET was first described in 1947. It was used as an antidepressant for about a year around 1961. The drug started being used recreationally in the 1980s and several deaths have been reported. αET is a controlled substance in various countries, including the United States and United Kingdom. There has been renewed interest in αET, for instance as an alternative to MDMA, with the development of psychedelics and entactogens as medicines in the 2020s.