Clinical toxicity following analytically confirmed use of the synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist MDMB-CHMICA. A report from the Identification Of Novel psychoActive substances (IONA) study.

BACKGROUND

Recreational use of Synthetic Cannabinoid Receptors Agonists (SCRAs) has become increasingly common in many countries and may cause severe toxic effects.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the clinical features of toxicity in seven men after analytically confirmed exposure to MDMB-CHMICA, a recently described indole-based SCRA.

METHODS

Clinical information and biological samples (blood, urine) were collected from patients with severe toxicity after suspected use of novel psychoactive substances. Samples were analyzed by data-independent liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).

METHODS

All seven cases were men who presented to hospitals in England between July and October 2015; six reported smoking "legal high" products. In all cases, MDMB-CHMICA was identified in blood samples taken on admission to hospital. Other substances were identified in four cases (methadone 1, methiopropamine 1, other SCRAs 2). Clinical features in all seven cases and in the three exposed to MDMB-CHIMICA alone included acidosis (7/7 and 3/3) which was respiratory (3/7 and 3/3), metabolic (3/7 and 0/3) or mixed (1/7, 0/3), reduced level of consciousness (6/7 and 3/3), mydriasis (5/7 and 3/3), tachycardia (5/7 and 2/3), bradycardia (2/7 and 1/3), tonic-clonic convulsions (2/7 and 1/3) and agitation (3/7 and 1/3). Recovery occurred within 24 h in all cases except one male also exposed to methiopropamine.

CONCLUSIONS

Analytically confirmed exposure to MDMB-CHMICA was associated with acidosis (often of respiratory origin), reduced level of consciousness, mydriasis, heart rate disturbances and convulsions.