α-PVP is a synthetic stimulant of the cathinone and pyrrolidinophenone classes, chemically related to prolintane and pyrovalerone. Originally patented by Boehringer Ingelheim in the 1960s but never marketed, it emerged as a recreational substance in the early 2010s. Known colloquially as flakka, α-PVP acts as a norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor, producing powerful but short-lived effects comparable to methamphetamine and cocaine. It has been linked to numerous hospitalizations and deaths, with very limited toxicity data available.
Also known as: O-2387, Flocka, Flakka, Gravel, Alpha-pyrrolidinopentiophenone, Α‑pyrrolidinovalerophenone
Classification
Chemical: Cathinone
Psychoactive: Stimulant
Tag: Habit-Forming
Tag: Pyrrolidine
Tag: Pyrrolidinophenone
Tag: Research-Chemical
Tag: Synthetic cathinone
Tag: substituted pyrrolidine
Effects
Spontaneous Tactile Sensations
Stimulation
Difficulty Urinating
Vasoconstriction
Increased Heart Rate
Increased Perspiration
Euphoria
Thought Acceleration
Analysis Enhancement
Immersion Enhancement
Time Distortion
Ego Inflation
Disinhibition
Vibrating Vision
Dehydration
Tactile Enhancement
Appetite Suppression
Visual Acuity Suppression
Routes of Administration
Oral
Dosage
Heavy: 25-50 mg
Light: 3 – 10 mg
Common: 10 – 20 mg
Strong: 20 – 30 mg
Threshold: <5 mg
Duration
Onset: 0.08-0.5 h
Comeup: 0.25-1 h
Peak: 1-2.5 h
Offset: 1-5 h
After Effects: 4-12 h
Total Duration: 2-5 h
Smoked
Dosage
Heavy: 25 mg
Light: 2 – 5 mg
Common: 5 – 15 mg
Strong: 15 – 25 mg
Threshold: 2 mg
Duration
Onset: 0.01-0.02 h
Comeup: 0.01-0.02 h
Peak: 0.05-0.1 h
Offset: 0.25-0.5 h
After Effects: 1-3 h
Insufflated
Dosage
Heavy: >25 mg
Light: 1 – 5 mg
Common: 5 – 10 mg
Strong: 10 – 20 mg
Threshold: <3 mg
Duration
Onset: 0.02-0.08 h
Comeup: 0.08-0.25 h
Peak: 0.33-0.75 h
Offset: 0.5-1.5 h
After Effects: 2-24 h
Total Duration: 2-4 h
Vaporized
Dosage
Threshold: 2 mg
Light: 2-5 mg
Common: 5-15 mg
Strong: 15-25 mg
Heavy: 25 mg
Duration
Onset: 0.01-0.02 h
Comeup: 0.02-0.05 h
Peak: 0.05-0.1 h
Offset: 0.25-0.5 h
After Effects: 1-3 h
Harm Reduction
Check interactions before mixing substances, pay attention to dose spacing and hydration, and treat all dosage guidance as approximate rather than guaranteed safe.
Sources
Substance data is aggregated from the following public harm-reduction and reference sources.
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A-PVP - DrugsPRO substance guide
A-PVP: α-PVP is a synthetic stimulant of the cathinone and pyrrolidinophenone classes, chemically related to prolintane and pyrovalerone. Originally patented by Boehringer Ingelheim in the 1960s but never marketed, it emerged as a recreational substance in the early 2010s. Known colloquially as flak
