N-Ethylpentylone (β-keto-ethylbenzodioxolylpentanamine, βk-ethyl-K, βk-EBDP, ephylone) is a substituted cathinone and stimulant drug which was developed in the 1960s.^[2][3]

It has been reported as a novel designer drug in several countries including the United Kingdom,^[4] South Africa,^[5] New Zealand,^[6] the United States,^[7] and Australia.^[8] In 2018, N-ethylpentylone was the most common drug of the cathinone class to be identified in Drug Enforcement Administration seizures.^[9]

N-Ethylpentylone has been reported to cause lethal heart palpitations and hallucinations.^[10] It has been linked to a number of overdose deaths^[11][7] and mass-casualty incidents,^[12][13] and has increasingly been mis-sold as MDMA.^[14]

N-Ethylpentylone is primarily a mixed norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor and dopamine reuptake inhibitor. It binds to transporters with IC₅₀ values of 37 nM (dopamine transporter), 105 nM (norepinephrine transporter) and 383 nM (serotonin transporter).^[15] The methylenedioxy ring-substitution provides a higher potency at inhibiting serotonin reuptake than its analogue N-ethylpentedrone.^[16]

In vivo studies in mice demonstrated that acute intraperitoneal administration of N-ethylpentylone induced an increase in locomotor activity, anxiolytic effects but also an aggressive behaviour as well as social exploration deficits. Repeated exposure to N-ethylpentylone induced hyperthermia, anorexia and rewarding effects. During withdrawal after repeated administration, depression-like symptoms, hyperlocomotion, and a decrease of social exploration were observed.^[16][17]

• In the United States, N-ethylpentylone is a Schedule I controlled substance since June 2018.^[18]
• In Taiwan, N-ethylpentylone is a controlled substance under Taiwan's Controlled Drugs Act since Dec 2017.^[19]

• 5-Methylethylone
• Dipentylone
• Ethyl-K
• Eutylone
• Methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV)
• N-Ethylhexedrone
• N-Ethylhexylone
• N-Ethylheptylone
• Pentylone
• Isohexylone