4-Chloroamphetamine (4-CA)

para-Chloroamphetamine (PCA), is an amphetamine derivative and monoamine releaser similar to MDMA, but with substantially higher neurotoxicity, thought to be due to the unrestrained release of both serotonin and dopamine by a metabolite. It is used as a neurotoxin by neurobiologists to selectively kill serotonergic neurons for research purposes, in the same way that 6-hydroxydopamine is used to kill dopaminergic neurons. This compound does have a history of being used daily as an antidepressant in humans with no mentionable side effects that are particularly worrysome. However, the effects of the compound on experimental animals appear less encouraging. It has nevertheless been detected as an apparent designer drug, along with the related 3-chloroamphetamine, which is even more potent as a releaser of dopamine and serotonin but slightly less neurotoxic.