Thozalinone (chemical code name CL-39808) is a synthetic psychostimulant that has been investigated as an antidepressant and potential weight‑loss medication in some European research programs.[CIT-1] It is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is not available as a prescription medication in the United States as of 2026.(Source)

Thozalinone appears to increase the release of two key neurotransmitters in the brain: dopamine and norepinephrine.(Source) These chemicals play major roles in mood, motivation, attention, and the body’s stress response.

Dopamine is involved in reward, pleasure, and movement. Higher dopamine levels in certain brain regions can temporarily elevate mood and energy.(Source) Norepinephrine helps regulate alertness, focus, and the “fight‑or‑flight” response, and can increase heart rate and blood pressure.(Source) When dopamine and norepinephrine are released together, the overall effect can resemble that of other stimulants, such as amphetamine‑based medications used to treat ADHD.(Source)

Thozalinone was first developed in the 1960s and 1970s as a potential antidepressant, and early animal and small human studies suggested stimulant and mood‑elevating effects.(Source) However, compared with modern antidepressants like SSRIs and SNRIs, thozalinone has been studied far less, and there is limited high‑quality, long‑term clinical data in humans.(Source)

Because thozalinone acts on dopamine and norepinephrine—systems that are also involved in addiction and reward—there is a theoretical risk that it could be misused, especially at higher‑than‑therapeutic doses or outside medical supervision.(Source) At the same time, the true abuse potential in real‑world settings is not well defined due to the lack of large, modern clinical trials.