Comparison
MDMA vs Mephedrone.
Side-by-side comparison of MDMA and Mephedrone — dosage, effects, duration, legal status, and key harm reduction considerations.
- CategoryMDMAempathogenMephedronestimulant
- Chemical classMDMAsubstituted-amphetamineMephedronecathinone
- Common doseMDMA75–125 mgMephedrone150–225 mg
- Peak durationMDMA90–150 minMephedrone60–120 min
- Primary positivesMDMAEuphoria, Emotional warmth and openness, Increased empathyMephedroneEmpathogenic warmth, MDMA-like at lower doses, Stimulating euphoria, Talkativeness and social ease
- Primary negativesMDMAJaw clenching (bruxism), Dehydration or, conversely, hyponatremia from overhydration, Hyperthermia in warm environmentsMephedroneHard cravings and binge pattern within a session, Vasoconstriction (cold extremities, blue fingers), Nasal damage from repeated insufflation
- Legal (DE)MDMAillegalMephedroneprohibited
- Legal (NL)MDMAillegal-toleratedMephedroneschedule-2
- Legal (US)MDMAschedule-1Mephedroneschedule-1
- Legal (UK)MDMAclass-aMephedroneclass-b
| MDMA | Mephedrone | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | empathogen | stimulant |
| Chemical class | substituted-amphetamine | cathinone |
| Common dose | 75–125 mg | 150–225 mg |
| Peak duration | 90–150 min | 60–120 min |
| Primary positives | Euphoria, Emotional warmth and openness, Increased empathy | Empathogenic warmth, MDMA-like at lower doses, Stimulating euphoria, Talkativeness and social ease |
| Primary negatives | Jaw clenching (bruxism), Dehydration or, conversely, hyponatremia from overhydration, Hyperthermia in warm environments | Hard cravings and binge pattern within a session, Vasoconstriction (cold extremities, blue fingers), Nasal damage from repeated insufflation |
| Legal (DE) | illegal | prohibited |
| Legal (NL) | illegal-tolerated | schedule-2 |
| Legal (US) | schedule-1 | schedule-1 |
| Legal (UK) | class-a | class-b |
Key harm-reduction difference
MDMA and Mephedrone differ most in their risk profiles and durations. Always research each independently before any session. If you are choosing between them based on safety alone, consult the full profiles and the interaction checker for any combinations you may be planning.
Related pages
FAQ.
- Is MDMA stronger than Mephedrone?
- "Stronger" depends on the metric. Compare dose ranges, subjective intensity, and duration side by side above. Always factor in individual tolerance.
- Can I combine MDMA and Mephedrone?
- Check the interaction checker for this specific pair. Many combinations carry serious risk even at low doses.
- Which lasts longer, MDMA or Mephedrone?
- Duration varies by route. See the comparison table above for peak and total duration by the most common route.
- MDMA vs Mephedrone: which is safer?
- Neither substance is "safe" in absolute terms. Harm is a function of dose, setting, purity, and individual factors. The comparison above covers the key risk differences.
- Are MDMA and Mephedrone in the same drug class?
- See the category and chemical class rows above. Substances in different classes often have very different risk profiles even if subjective effects overlap.
- Is MDMA legal where Mephedrone is?
- Legal status is substance- and jurisdiction-specific. See the legal status section for key countries.
- Where can I get harm reduction info for MDMA and Mephedrone?
- Each substance has a full profile on this site with dosage, interactions, testing, and legal information. Follow the links at the bottom of this page.
- How do I test whether my substance is MDMA or Mephedrone?
- Reagent testing can distinguish most substances. Check the reagent guide tool for expected color reactions for both.