Phenylethylamine side effects, benefits, love and chocolate
phenylethylamine hcl side effects, August 28, 2011
Phenylethylamine
Phenylethylamine is an amine, consisting a benzene ring and an aminoethyl group.  
Phenylethylamine is a liquid at room temperature and it is soluble in water and alcohol. It is found
in cocoa beans and chocolate. It is believed that phenylethylamine offers many benefits such as
weight management, nervous system stimulation and digestion aid.

Phenylethylamine HCl (Phenylethylamine hydrochloride)
It is not a stable compound, it changes to a carbonate, upon exposure to air. When taken orally,
phenethylamine is rapidly metabolized. Its half-life is only 5-10 minutes. [A2] Phenthylamine is a
strong base, while gastric fluid is acidic, degradation may occur. A stable solid form of
Phenylethylamine HCl available in market.

Phenylethylamine is known as an endogenous neuroamine, as the body's natural amphetamine.
[A1] Phenylethylamine is metabolized by MAO-A, MAO-B, aldehyde dehydrogenase, and
dopamine-beta-hydroxylase. MAO inhibitors can substantially increase the concentration of
phenylethylamine in the brain. [A2]

Phenylethylamine chocolate / phenylethylamine love
In the early 1980s, Michael Liebowitz, author of the popular 1983 book The Chemistry of Love,
remarked to reporters that "chocolate is loaded with phenylethylamine." However, the half-life of
phenylethylamine is too short, and it is rapidly metabolized by MAO-B, preventing a significant rise
of phenylethylamine level in the brain. [A2] Thus, euphoric results (if any) from eating chocolate
may not related to phenylethylamine.

Phenylethylamine benefits - depression
A deficit in phenylethylamine can be responsible for depression [3]. Studies show
phenylethylamine can relieve depression, even in those that were unresponsive to standard
treatments. [1,2]

A benefit in the use of phenylethylamine is that it improves mood without producing a tolerance
often associated with amphetamines [2]. The mechanism of its effect probably is related to the
stimulation of dopamine release [4].

Phenylethylamine benefits - weight loss
The improved mood is related as well as to potentially reduce appetite. [5] Further,
phenylethylamine may also stimulate lipolysis through its ability to stimulate catecholamine release
and delay reuptake [6]. Phenylethylamine may have contributed to the greater reliance on fat as
an energy source. Consequently, phenylethylamine is used as an appetite suppressant, included
in weight loss supplements, e.g. Fastin.

Phenylethylamine benefits - motor activity
The administration of beta Phenylethylamine induces stereotypye and increased motor activity in
animals. [A2] No sure how this benefit us, more energy? More studies are needed to clarify this
point.

Phenylethylamine side effects
Phenylethylamine side effects have been suggested over the internet-heartburn, nausea,
constipation and mild headaches. Less common but serious phenylethylamine side effects include
insomnia, confusion, dizziness, intense headache, tightness or sharp pain in the chest.

According to scientific reports, phenylethylamine possibly plays a role in the etiology of several
neuropsychiatric disorders. Depressed patients and Pakinsonian patients show decreased
phenylethylamine urinary excretion. While, chronic paranoid schizophrenic patients show
increased phenylethylamine urinary excretion. [A1] In animals, drugs that relieve or produce
depression and Parkinson result altered brain phenylethylamine levels, respectively. Further,
phenylethylamine has also been postulated to play a role in the etiology of migraine headache
and aggression. [A1] Seriously, phenylethylamine side effect may include psychiatric or neural
disorders!

The phenylethylamine side effects induced have stimulated controversy among the medical
community. Because phenylethylamine is a naturally occurring compound, it remains as an
uncontrolled substance, and included in weight loss supplements. However, users must consult
with their medical doctors before taking phenyletnylamine HCl, because of its serious side effects.

Reference:

1 Grimsby J, Toth M, Chen K, Kumazawa T, Klaidman L, Adams JD, Karoum F, Gal J, Shih JC. Increased stress
response and β-phenylethylamine in MAOB-deficient mice. Nat Genetics. 1997;17:206–210. doi: 10.1038/ng1097-
206. 2 Sabelli H, Fink P, Fawcett J, Tom C. Sustained antidepressant effect of PEA replacement. J
Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci. 1996;8:168–171. 3 Sabelli H, Borison RL, Diamond BI, Havdala HS,
Narasimhachari N. Phenylethylamine and brain function. Biochem Pharmacol. 1978;27:1707–1711. doi: 10.1016
/0006-2952(78)90543-9. 4 Nakamura M, Ishii A, Nakahara D. Characterization of β-phenylethylamine-induced
monamine release in rat nucleus accumbens: a microdialysis study. Eur J Pharmacol. 1998;349:163–169. doi:
10.1016/S0014-2999(98)00191-5. 5 Dourish CT, Boulton AA. The effects of acute and chronic administration of
beta-phenylethylamine on food intake and body weight in rats. Prog Neuropschopharmacol. 1981;5:411–414. doi:
10.1016/0364-7722(81)90093-X. 6 Paterson IA, Juorio AV, Boulton AA. 2-phenylethylamine: a modulator of
catecholamine transmission in the mammalian central nervous system? J Neurochem. 1990;55:1827–1837. doi:
10.1111/j.1471-4159.1990.tb05764.[A1] Wolf ME, Mosnaim AD. Phenylethylamine in neuropsychiatric disorders.
Gen Pharmacol. 1983;14(4):385-90. [A2] Wikipedia, August 28, 2011
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