Fenethylline

Fenethylline is a synthetic psychostimulant drug first synthesized in 1961 by Degussa AG in Germany. It is a codrug formed by covalently linking theophylline and amphetamine via an alkyl chain. Originally marketed under brand names such as Captagon for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), narcolepsy, and depression, it was considered to have milder side effects than amphetamine and was used as an alternative stimulant. In the body, fenethylline is metabolized into two active compounds—amphetamine and theophylline—which are responsible for its central nervous system stimulant effects. The pharmacological actions are thought to result from both direct activity at serotonin receptors and synergistic effects of its metabolites. Fenethylline was never approved for any specific medical indication in the United States; it became a Schedule I controlled substance there in 1981 due to concerns about abuse potential and was banned internationally by 1986[1][2][5][6]. Its mechanism involves both direct central nervous system (CNS) stimulation from parent compound activity at serotonin receptors and indirect stimulation via metabolism to amphetamine (a dopamine/norepinephrine releaser) and theophylline (a methylxanthine)[1][2][5]. The exact contribution of each pathway remains incompletely understood.

Brand names

CaptagonBiocaptonFitton

Other names

captagon(R,S)-1,3-dimethyl-7-[2-(1-phenylpropan-2-ylamino)ethyl]purine-2,6-dione