Chemicals and Drugs

Designer Drugs

Drugs designed and synthesized, often for illegal street use, by modification of existing drug structures (e.g., amphetamines). Of special interest are MPTP (a reverse ester of meperidine), MDA (3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine), and MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine). Many drugs act on the aminergic system, the physiologically active biogenic amines.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

Drugs designed and synthesized, often for illegal street use, by modification of existing drug structures (e.g., amphetamines). Of special interest are MPTP (a reverse ester of meperidine), MDA (3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine), and MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine). Many drugs act on the aminergic system, the physiologically active biogenic amines.

MeSH Record

Classification

Broader headings

Related Concepts

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See Also

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Synonyms

7 entry terms
  • Customized Drug
  • Customized Drugs
  • Designer Drug
  • Drug, Customized
  • Drug, Designer
  • Drugs, Customized
  • Drugs, Designer

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

18 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings administration & dosage, adverse effects, analysis, chemical synthesis, chemistry, classification, economics, history, isolation & purification, metabolism, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, poisoning, radiation effects, standards, supply & distribution, therapeutic use, toxicity.

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Indexing Annotation

coordinate with specific drug or chemical; do not confuse with DRUG DESIGN

MeSH Record

History Note

1989

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Chemistry, Pharmaceutical (1984-1988)
  • Street Drugs (1985-1988)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Number

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Designer Drugs. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D015198. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D015198
  2. Designer Drugs. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Designer_drug
  3. Designer Drugs. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1200715