Last Updated:

May 16th, 2025

Methylone Addiction | Symptoms, Effects and Causes

Many “legal highs” have plagued the UK in recent years, skirting around the edges of regulations and causing enormous harm to users and communities. These synthetic drugs are incredibly dangerous because they provide similar effects to better-known illicit drugs but are often untested and unpredictable. One of these drugs is called methylone, a substance so dangerous the UK government banned it entirely in 2010, naming it a Class B drug. Despite this, methylone is still available on British streets with users at risk of methylone addiction and massive harm to their health and futures.

mephedrone-party

What is methylone?

Methylone (3,4-methylenedioxymethcathinone) is a synthetic cathinone, part of a group of drugs with potent stimulant effects. It was first synthesised in the mid-1990s and has been sold and abused as a legal high in the UK for the last two decades or so. Methylone has similar effects on the brain to ecstasy, amphetamine and methamphetamine, producing a “high” that lasts for a few hours before more is needed to prevent a “crash”.

Along with its cousin mephedrone, methylone was widely available in the early 2000s online and in “head shops” (UK shops that sell drug paraphernalia and “legal highs”). It was marketed under various guises, such as “plant food” or “bath salts”, to circumvent UK drug laws, allowing methylone to be sold legally at first. However, in response to rising concerns about its safety and harmful methylone side effects, the drug became among the first legal high to be formally risk assessed and subsequently banned in Britain and many other countries around the world.

Methylone effects on the brain and body

Methylone works by ramping up the brain’s production of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine, which are neurotransmitters that make you feel happy and energised. It surges these chemicals to levels far beyond what they would ever reach naturally, leaving users feeling more alive, open and connected to those around them. This is why methylone is often used at parties, clubs, raves and other social events.

These effects on the brain are rapid, but they are also very short-lived and last only a few hours. The comedown from methylone can then be particularly severe with users experiencing profound sadness, fatigue and irritability as the drug’s effects wear off and neurotransmitters are depleted.

As well as these after-effects, some common side effects of methylone include:

  • Increased heart rate and blood pressure
  • Dangerously high body temperature (Hyperthermia)
  • Dehydration
  • Teeth grinding (Bruxism)
  • Visual and auditory hallucinations
  • Methylone addiction

What is a methylone addiction?

Addiction occurs when you can’t stop using methylone, even when you see it damaging your life. Methylone addiction often starts with curiosity or a bit of peer pressure. Maybe you try methylone at a party because it seems like it could be fun or because friends are doing it. You may feel excited or nervous at first but when the high hits, you feel energised, happy and able to party all night long.

The first step towards addiction then comes when you start using methylone more often, and it becomes something you do every weekend or even after tough days at work or school to feel better. At this point, methylone drug still makes you feel good, but you may notice that you’re looking forward to your next dose a bit too much.

This is when your methylone use can start to become a problem. You might take more than you planned, but the thought of not using scares you because you depend on the buzz to feel good or even just normal.

Pretty soon, you realise that you need methylone to get through your day and without it, you feel anxious, depressed or zapped of energy. This can leave you completely trapped, unable to quit even as methylone turns your world upside down.

The methylone addiction quiz

What many people don’t realise is how difficult it can be to recognise methylone addiction, either in themselves or other people. As you can see above, you don’t just wake up one day addicted; it happens over a few stages, which can be very subtle. To help you spot addiction signs and symptoms, ask yourself these questions:

  • How often do you use methylone? Have you found yourself using it more often over time?
  • Do you use more methylone now than when you first started?
  • Is using methylone a critical part of your day?
  • Has your methylone use affected how you get on at work, school or home?
  • Have your relationships with family and friends suffered because of your use of methylone?
  • Have you experienced any physical or mental health problems since you started using methylone? Do you continue to use methylone despite these issues?
  • Have you tried to cut down or stop using methylone but couldn’t?

man-in-depression

These questions can be tough to answer as they can shine a light on an issue that many people are unconsciously in denial about. If you answered “yes” to them, you should seriously consider seeking help for methylone addiction.

What causes a methylone addiction?

Some people think it is just a drug’s effects that make it addictive. In fact, that is only part of the picture, as you may actually have a higher or lower risk of methylone addiction than someone else who takes it. The reasons for this are complex and are still not yet fully understood, but some of the reasons include:

Genetic predisposition
Genetics can have a huge bearing on how susceptible someone is to addiction. This hereditary risk means that for some, the battle against dependency on substances like methylone can be uphill from the start.
Your environment
The environment you are in plays a big part too. Being around drug use at home or in your neighbourhood can make it seem normal and less risky, which might push you toward trying and using substances like methylone.
Peer pressure
The company you keep can also have a direct influence on your actions. This means if methylone use is common among your friends, the likelihood of joining in and potentially developing a habit increases.

The mental and physical dangers of methylone addiction

Methylone addiction comes with a huge number of physical and mental risks. Some of the most significant dangers include:

Methylone overdose
Overdosing on methylone is dangerous and potentially fatal, with symptoms including hyperthermia, unconsciousness, coma and excessive sweating leading to dehydration.
Heart risks
Methylone’s stimulant properties can boost your heart rate and blood pressure which can be very dangerous, especially if you have pre-existing heart conditions.
Sleep disruption
Regular methylone abuse can disrupt your natural sleep, leading to insomnia and other sleep-related issues that harm your overall health.
Psychotic symptoms
High doses or prolonged use of methylone can lead to hallucinations, paranoia and other psychotic symptoms.

How to help someone with a methylone addiction

Treatment for methylone addiction should always begin with a medically supervised legal high detox. This will keep you safe and help you avoid the distress and discomfort of quitting suddenly “cold turkey” on your own.

After detox, the next important phase is analysing and putting right the causes of your methylone addiction. This takes place in legal high rehab which is available in private centres and through your local NHS services. Inpatient private treatment is generally preferred because it offers an immersive recovery experience, far removed from the challenges of your regular life.

Where to get help for methylone addiction

Overcoming methylone addiction begins by asking for help and that’s where Addiction Helper steps in. We can help you find the right methylone treatment programme for you. Contact us now and let’s pave the way to your recovery together.

Reclaim Your Life Today

Our compassionate team are ready and available to take your call, and guide you towards lasting the lasting addiction recovery you deserve.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does methylone addiction lead to “digital fixation”?
No, a “digital fixation,” where someone can’t stop using their digital devices, isn’t a common symptom directly linked to methylone addiction. However, the heightened alertness and energy from methylone could make it more likely you spend a lot of time on digital devices, especially if you can’t sleep.
Can methylone cause extreme mood swings within hours?
Yes, methylone can cause rapid and extreme mood swings. This is because it significantly impacts brain chemicals like serotonin and dopamine, which regulate mood. As the drug’s effects wear off, these levels can drop suddenly, leading to intense mood changes in the first hours of the “comedown”.
Why do Methylone users experience “brain zaps” during withdrawal?
“Brain zaps” are disconcerting sensations people might feel in their head during withdrawal. They occur because methylone disrupts the brain’s chemical balance so when someone stops using the drug, their brain tries to adjust back to normal. This recalibration process can cause uncomfortable jolts like brain zaps as neurotransmitter activity becomes unstable.

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