4‐Fluoroamphetamine (4‐FA) intoxication results in exaggerated blood pressure effects compared to MDMA and amphetamine: A retrospective analysis

Abstract Objective 4‐Fluoroamphetamine (4‐FA) is an amphetamine‐type stimulant, with effects comparable to amphetamine and 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). Severe 4‐FA‐related complications, such as cardiomyopathy, myocardial infarction, and cerebral hemorrhage, have been described. The aim...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Femke M. J. Gresnigt, Anouk Snik, Eric J. F. Franssen, Joost W. Vanhommerig, Dylan W. deLange, Robert K. Riezebos
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2022-10-01
Series:Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians Open
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/emp2.12813
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850045208338628608
author Femke M. J. Gresnigt
Anouk Snik
Eric J. F. Franssen
Joost W. Vanhommerig
Dylan W. deLange
Robert K. Riezebos
author_facet Femke M. J. Gresnigt
Anouk Snik
Eric J. F. Franssen
Joost W. Vanhommerig
Dylan W. deLange
Robert K. Riezebos
author_sort Femke M. J. Gresnigt
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Objective 4‐Fluoroamphetamine (4‐FA) is an amphetamine‐type stimulant, with effects comparable to amphetamine and 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). Severe 4‐FA‐related complications, such as cardiomyopathy, myocardial infarction, and cerebral hemorrhage, have been described. The aim of this study was to explore the cardiovascular symptoms and complications in 4‐FA and compare them to MDMA and amphetamine in intoxicated patients who presented to the emergency department (ED). Methods Between November 2015 and March 2020, all self‐reported 4‐FA, MDMA, and amphetamine‐intoxicated adult patients that presented at the ED of an inner‐city hospital in Amsterdam, were retrospectively analyzed for cardiovascular symptoms, vital parameters, cardiovascular complications, interventions, admission rate, and Poisoning Severity Score (PSS). Results A total of 582 patients were included, of which 31 (5.3%) with 4‐FA intoxication (10/31 mono‐intoxications, 32.3%), 406 (69.8%) with MDMA (59/406 mono‐intoxications, 14.5%), 100 (17.2%) with amphetamine (10/100 mono‐intoxications, 10.0%), and 45 (7.7%) with a cross intoxication of these drugs. 4‐FA mono‐intoxicated patients experienced more headache (n = 8; 80.0%) compared to MDMA (n = 2; 3.3%; P < 0.001) and amphetamine mono‐intoxicated patients (n = 0; 0.0%; P < 0.001) and their systolic blood pressure was higher (164 mm Hg ± 31 vs 139 mm Hg ± 19; P = 0.031 vs 135 mm Hg ± 22; P = 0.033, respectively). Severe 4‐FA‐related cardiovascular complications included Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (n = 1; 3.2%), subarachnoid hemorrhage (n = 1; 3.2%), and hypertensive urgency (n = 2; 6.5%). Conclusions 4‐FA intoxication‐related ED symptoms resemble MDMA and amphetamine complications, although patients presented more often with headache and hypertension. Severe 4‐FA‐related cardiovascular complications occurred in 40% of mono‐intoxications.
format Article
id doaj-art-ac993029344e427da3ff0c3a9559da9f
institution DOAJ
issn 2688-1152
language English
publishDate 2022-10-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians Open
spelling doaj-art-ac993029344e427da3ff0c3a9559da9f2025-08-20T02:54:46ZengElsevierJournal of the American College of Emergency Physicians Open2688-11522022-10-0135n/an/a10.1002/emp2.128134‐Fluoroamphetamine (4‐FA) intoxication results in exaggerated blood pressure effects compared to MDMA and amphetamine: A retrospective analysisFemke M. J. Gresnigt0Anouk Snik1Eric J. F. Franssen2Joost W. Vanhommerig3Dylan W. deLange4Robert K. Riezebos5Department of Emergency Medicine Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis Hospital AC Amsterdam the NetherlandsDepartment of Emergency Medicine Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis Hospital AC Amsterdam the NetherlandsDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis Hospital AC Amsterdam the NetherlandsDepartment of Research and Epidemiology Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis Hospital AC Amsterdam the NetherlandsDutch Poison Information Center UMC Utrecht, University Utrecht Utrecht the NetherlandsHeart Center, OLVG Hospital AC Amsterdam the NetherlandsAbstract Objective 4‐Fluoroamphetamine (4‐FA) is an amphetamine‐type stimulant, with effects comparable to amphetamine and 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). Severe 4‐FA‐related complications, such as cardiomyopathy, myocardial infarction, and cerebral hemorrhage, have been described. The aim of this study was to explore the cardiovascular symptoms and complications in 4‐FA and compare them to MDMA and amphetamine in intoxicated patients who presented to the emergency department (ED). Methods Between November 2015 and March 2020, all self‐reported 4‐FA, MDMA, and amphetamine‐intoxicated adult patients that presented at the ED of an inner‐city hospital in Amsterdam, were retrospectively analyzed for cardiovascular symptoms, vital parameters, cardiovascular complications, interventions, admission rate, and Poisoning Severity Score (PSS). Results A total of 582 patients were included, of which 31 (5.3%) with 4‐FA intoxication (10/31 mono‐intoxications, 32.3%), 406 (69.8%) with MDMA (59/406 mono‐intoxications, 14.5%), 100 (17.2%) with amphetamine (10/100 mono‐intoxications, 10.0%), and 45 (7.7%) with a cross intoxication of these drugs. 4‐FA mono‐intoxicated patients experienced more headache (n = 8; 80.0%) compared to MDMA (n = 2; 3.3%; P < 0.001) and amphetamine mono‐intoxicated patients (n = 0; 0.0%; P < 0.001) and their systolic blood pressure was higher (164 mm Hg ± 31 vs 139 mm Hg ± 19; P = 0.031 vs 135 mm Hg ± 22; P = 0.033, respectively). Severe 4‐FA‐related cardiovascular complications included Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (n = 1; 3.2%), subarachnoid hemorrhage (n = 1; 3.2%), and hypertensive urgency (n = 2; 6.5%). Conclusions 4‐FA intoxication‐related ED symptoms resemble MDMA and amphetamine complications, although patients presented more often with headache and hypertension. Severe 4‐FA‐related cardiovascular complications occurred in 40% of mono‐intoxications.https://doi.org/10.1002/emp2.12813amphetaminecardiovascular complicationsemergency department4‐fluoramphetamine4‐FA3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine
spellingShingle Femke M. J. Gresnigt
Anouk Snik
Eric J. F. Franssen
Joost W. Vanhommerig
Dylan W. deLange
Robert K. Riezebos
4‐Fluoroamphetamine (4‐FA) intoxication results in exaggerated blood pressure effects compared to MDMA and amphetamine: A retrospective analysis
Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians Open
amphetamine
cardiovascular complications
emergency department
4‐fluoramphetamine
4‐FA
3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine
title 4‐Fluoroamphetamine (4‐FA) intoxication results in exaggerated blood pressure effects compared to MDMA and amphetamine: A retrospective analysis
title_full 4‐Fluoroamphetamine (4‐FA) intoxication results in exaggerated blood pressure effects compared to MDMA and amphetamine: A retrospective analysis
title_fullStr 4‐Fluoroamphetamine (4‐FA) intoxication results in exaggerated blood pressure effects compared to MDMA and amphetamine: A retrospective analysis
title_full_unstemmed 4‐Fluoroamphetamine (4‐FA) intoxication results in exaggerated blood pressure effects compared to MDMA and amphetamine: A retrospective analysis
title_short 4‐Fluoroamphetamine (4‐FA) intoxication results in exaggerated blood pressure effects compared to MDMA and amphetamine: A retrospective analysis
title_sort 4 fluoroamphetamine 4 fa intoxication results in exaggerated blood pressure effects compared to mdma and amphetamine a retrospective analysis
topic amphetamine
cardiovascular complications
emergency department
4‐fluoramphetamine
4‐FA
3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine
url https://doi.org/10.1002/emp2.12813
work_keys_str_mv AT femkemjgresnigt 4fluoroamphetamine4faintoxicationresultsinexaggeratedbloodpressureeffectscomparedtomdmaandamphetaminearetrospectiveanalysis
AT anouksnik 4fluoroamphetamine4faintoxicationresultsinexaggeratedbloodpressureeffectscomparedtomdmaandamphetaminearetrospectiveanalysis
AT ericjffranssen 4fluoroamphetamine4faintoxicationresultsinexaggeratedbloodpressureeffectscomparedtomdmaandamphetaminearetrospectiveanalysis
AT joostwvanhommerig 4fluoroamphetamine4faintoxicationresultsinexaggeratedbloodpressureeffectscomparedtomdmaandamphetaminearetrospectiveanalysis
AT dylanwdelange 4fluoroamphetamine4faintoxicationresultsinexaggeratedbloodpressureeffectscomparedtomdmaandamphetaminearetrospectiveanalysis
AT robertkriezebos 4fluoroamphetamine4faintoxicationresultsinexaggeratedbloodpressureeffectscomparedtomdmaandamphetaminearetrospectiveanalysis