NRG-1, NRG-3, naphyrone

Pharmacology

Naphyrone is a stimulant drug also known as naphthylpyrovalerone and marketed under the brand name NRG-1, naphyrone produces its pharmacological effects through interactions with the neurotransmitters dopamine (involved in the regulation of reward-driven behaviour), serotonin (involved in the regulation of appetite, mood, learning, memory and sleep) and norepinephrine (the stress hormone also known as noradrenaline). 

Neurotransmitters work by transmitting signals (in the form of electrical impulses) from nerve cells (neurons) to target cells which produce characteristic effects, across small gaps called synapses.  After a neurotransmitter has produced an impulse, it is usually reabsorbed by a neurotransmitter transporter since neurotransmitters themselves are too large to cross cell membranes. This reuptake regulates neurotransmitter levels within synapses and controls how long a signal produced by neurotransmitters last.

Naphyrone is thought to act as a triple reuptake inhibitor of dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine and its action is facilitated by the dopamine transporter (DAT), the serotonin transporter (SERT) and the norepinephrine transporter (NET).

Currently, there is no reliable safety and toxicity information available for naphyrone. It is potentially a potent drug with very doses being reported as effective.

Additionally, it is very common for drugs being sold as ‘NRG-1’ to contain a mixture of naphyrone and other drugs.