Depigmentation and cataract formation by the piperazine derivative mt-45 L80.-

In recent years, the range of unclassified new psychoactive substances (NPS) offered on the Internet as "legal highs" has been expanded considerably.

MT-45 (IC-6), a piperazine derivative has become known as an Internet drug. MT-45 is an opioid analgesic piperazine derivative originally developed as an analgesic.

However, the substance was not approved as a drug because of considerable toxic side effects. In the meantime, illegally produced MT-45 is offered on the Internet as a "legal higs" party drug and taken at parties because of its "morphine-like" psychoactive effect.

Chemically, MT-45 is a 1-substituted 4-(1,2-diphenylethyl)piperazine.

Acute dermatological side effects include depigmented "white" eyelashes, a diffuse effluvium, an unspecific, mostly follicular itchy dermatitis, and a streaky loss of pigment in the finger and toe nails (Meese's ligaments). Cataracts were observed in late complications.

Concerning the cutaneous side effects of MT-45, analogies can be drawn with the side effects of the piperazine derivative (4-[(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)methyl]-N-{4-methyl-3-[(4-pyridin-3-ylpyrimidin-2-yl) amino] phenyl}benzamide-imidinib). In the case of imatinib the pronounced inhibition of melanogenesis by inhibition of tyrosinase activity is known (Wang Y et al. 2014). In animal experiments cataracts could also be induced in imatinib (Zhou YP et al. 2011).