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Levomethamphetamine
Nasal decongestant and optical isomer of methamphetamine / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Levomethamphetamine, also known as l-desoxyephedrine[note 1] and sold under the brand name Vicks Vapor Inhaler among others, is a sympathomimetic, decongestant, and stimulant medication which is used to treat nasal congestion.[2] It is available over-the-counter at low doses as a decongestant in the United States and is taken by inhalation for this use.[2]
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Clinical data | |
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Trade names | Vicks Inhaler; Vicks Vapor Inhaler; Pervitin |
Other names | Levmetamfetamine; L-Methamphetamine; R-(-)-Methamphetamine; Levodesoxyephedrine; L-Desoxyephedrine |
Routes of administration | Medical: Inhalation (nasal) Recreational: Oral, intravenous, insufflation, inhalation, suppository |
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Bioavailability | Oral: ~100%[2][3] |
Metabolism | Liver |
Metabolites | Levoamphetamine[2][4][3] |
Elimination half-life | 10–15 hours[2][4][3] |
Excretion | Urine (41–49% unchanged, 2–3% as levoamphetamine)[2][4][3] |
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ECHA InfoCard | 100.046.974 ![]() |
Chemical and physical data | |
Formula | C10H15N |
Molar mass | 149.237 g·mol−1 |
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Chirality | Levorotatory enantiomer |
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Levomethamphetamine act as a selective releasing agent of norepinephrine.[5][6][4] It also induces the release of dopamine to a far lesser extent.[5][7][4] Levomethamphetamine is an amphetamine and is the levorotatory enantiomer of the better-known methamphetamine.[2] The effects of levomethamphetamine are distinct from those of racemic methamphetamine and dextromethamphetamine and it does not have the same misuse potential as these substances.[2][8][9][4][10]
Methamphetamine was first discovered in 1919[11][12] and was introduced for medical use in oral form in 1938 under the brand name Pervitin.[13] Decongestant inhalers containing enantiopure levomethamphetamine were introduced in 1958 under the brand name Vicks Inhaler.[13]