A psychoactive stimulant, Methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) ppears as a pure white to light-brown, significantly hydrophilic crumbly powder with a slight odour. It appears to darken slightly in colour and take on a potato-tuber-like odor if exposed to air for any significant length of time. In some of the first batches that appeared on the research chemical market, an impurity was identified and said to consist of pyrrolidine, which could account for its earthy odour when left uncapped. It has also been observed to rapidly degrade and lose potency when in solution.
It is comparable to methamphetamine in effect.