Overview:
MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine), or ecstasy, is an entactogen that has gained popularity over the past 20 years because of its ability to produce strong feelings of comfort, empathy, and connection to others.
MDMA inhibits the reuptake of serotonin and it reverses the action of the transporter so that it actually begins pumping serotonin into the synapse from inside the cell. This usually causes the serotonin storage vesicles to be emptied after only a few hours with a standard recreational dose.
In addition, MDMA has a partial affinity for blocking the reuptake of dopamine and a smaller affinity still for blocking that of norepinephrine as well as other neurotransmitters in smaller quantities. The former two neurotransmitters, amongst others which may also be released in small amounts, are responsible for increased energy and contribute to the "speedy" feeling of the drug experience, whereas serotonin contributes primarily to feelings of well-being, euphoria, and decreased hostility.
The empathic action of MDMA is yet to be understood well, but one theory is that oxytocin, a hormone and neurotransmitter crucial to social bonding, is released in large quantities when MDMA is taken.
It most frequently comes in tablet form, although it is occasionally sold in capsules or as powder. It is most frequently used orally and rarely snorted. MDMA use is closely tied to the underground rave scene throughout the world, but has also been widely used by therapists as an adjunct to psychotherapy. more...
Side Effects and Adverse Reactions:
Common adverse side effects of MDMA ingestion include rise in blood pressure and heart rate, nystagmus (eye-wiggling), trismus (jaw tension), bruxia (teeth grinding), sweating, agitation, a post-peak crash, muscle tension, headaches, nausea & vomiting, dry-mouth, liver problems, water retention, fatigue, confusion, mood swings, black outs, etc (Erowid, 2008). Prevent adverse ecstasy effects that further damage one's health by learning the appropriate treatment available.
According to Liechti et al. (2001), "Adverse effects were more frequently reported by women compared to men and mainly included jaw clenching or increased tension in maxillary muscles, dry mouth, and lack or loss of appetite. Sweating and nausea were more frequent in men. At the onset of the MDMA effect some subjects reported nausea, hot flushes, paresthesia, and dizziness. Tremor and increased restlessness were observed in about one-third of the subjects. Side effects were generally considered mild and were similar to those reported in previous controlled studies (Vollenweider et al. 1998a) or by Ecstasy users (Peroutka et al. 1988; Solowij et al. 1992). There were no complications requiring medical intervention."
Many users describe an MDMA back-end, or period of feeling depressed and drained after use. Curran & Travill (1997) concluded that, "Weekend use of MDMA may lead to depressed mood mid-week." They continued to explain that "...the results of this study imply that MDMA use at the weekend is associated with subsequent low mood mid-week and with impaired attentional function. It is not clear to what extent this may reflect a temporary serotonergic depletion, a more serious serotonergic neurotoxicity or a psychological consequence of the acute `high’ mood induced by weekend MDMA use." Nutrients that may help with the MDMA back-end (to be taken the week after use) are listed in the table below:
| Nutrient |
Therapeutic Dose |
Method of Action |
|
L-Tyrosine
|
500mg three times daily
|
Increases Dopamine , Norepinephrine, Epinephrine |
|
5-HTP
|
100mg daily
|
Increases Serotonin |
Long Term Damage:
A meta analysis performed by Kalechstein et al. (2007) reviewed all of the major research currently available that studied the connection between MDMA use and loss of attention/concentration, verbal and nonverbal learning and memory, psychomotor speed, an executive systems functioning. They concluded that, in all 33 studies reviewed, MDMA was associated with neurocognitive deficits in each domain. Small to medium effects sizes were generally observed. They also discussed the possibility that MDMA damage may be healed by a period of abstinence and/or a tryptophan-rich diet. Some of the foods that are high in tryptophan are listed in the table below:
|
Tryptophan food sources
|
Tryptophan content (gram/100 grams food)
|
| flax seed, raw |
0.297
|
| cowpea, catjang, mature seeds, raw |
0.294
|
| Salami, Italian, pork |
0.253
|
| lentils, raw |
0.251
|
| Turkey, all classes, meat only, raw |
0.25
|
| Peanuts, all types, raw |
0.25
|
| Turkey, fryer-roasters, meat and skin, raw |
0.247
|
| Chicken, broilers or fryers, thigh, meat only, raw |
0.23
|
| Chicken, broilers or fryers, wing, meat and skin, raw |
0.195
|
| Turkey, breast meat, raw |
0.194
|
| Nuts, almonds |
0.192
|
| Egg, yolk, raw, fresh |
0.177
|
| Nuts, walnuts, english |
0.17
|
| Egg, whole, raw, fresh |
0.167
|
| Beef, round, top round, separable lean and fat, trimmed to 1/8" fat, select, raw |
0.146
|
| Beef, top sirloin, separable lean only, trimmed to 1/8" fat, choice, raw |
0.144
|
| Turkey, sausage, fresh, raw |
0.130
|
| Egg, white, raw, fresh |
0.125
|
| Milk, whole, 3.25% milk fat |
0.075
|
Leibovitz (1993) believes that users can block phenethylamine (MDMA) damage caused by free radicals by taking the supplements in the table below (to be taken a few hours before the experience):
| Nutrient |
Preventive Dose |
Therapeutic Dose |
Form |
|
b-Carotene
|
5 mg
|
15 mg
|
Consider supplements of other carotenoids (e.g., lycopene) as they become available |
|
Bioflavonoids
|
2 grams
|
6 grams
|
Mixed bioflavonoids from a variety of sources |
|
Coenzyme Q10
|
100 mg
|
300 mg
|
Only one form available |
|
L-Ascorbic acid
|
2-4 grams
|
6-12 grams
|
Free acid or calcium, magnesium salt |
|
L-Carnitine
|
1 gram
|
3 grams
|
L-carnitine HCl or, if possible, less hygroscopic salts (e.g., L-carnitine magnesium citrate) |
|
N-Acetylcysteine (NAC)
|
2 grams
|
6 grams
|
Only one form available; do not use L- cysteine |
|
Selenium
|
250 mcg
|
500 mcg
|
Form not critical -- inorganic (e.g., selenite) as effective, and less expensive, than organic forms (e.g., selenomethionine) |
|
Vitamin E
|
1,000 IU
|
3,000 IU
|
Available data indicate that form is not critical |
* From Phenethylamines, Free Radicals, and Antioxidants by Brian Leibovitz, Ph.D.
More Info on Preventing and Treating MDMA Neurotoxicity:
Alpha-lipoic acid prevents 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA)-induced neurotoxicity
Effect of ascorbate and cysteine on the 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine-induced depletion of brain serotonin
Ascorbic acid prevents 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-induced hydroxyl radical formation and the behavioral and neurochemical consequences of the depletion of brain 5-HT
Neurotoxicity of MDMA (ecstasy): the limitations of scaling from animals to humans
The mechanisms involved in the long-lasting neuroprotective effect of fluoxetine against MDMA ('ecstasy')-induced degeneration of 5-HT nerve endings in rat brain
MDMA (ecstasy) inhibition of MAO type A and type B: comparisons with fenfluramine and fluoxetine (Prozac)
Videos:
MDMA - The Experience & How to Ease the Back-End
MDMA Damage
Overdoses from MDMA-like Drug in Australia
History of MDMA
Telepathy During an MDMA and LSD Trip
>>>More Videos about MDMA (you can upload your own and view others)
Check Your Ecstasy Pills (for harm reduction):
Pill Reports
Ecstasy Data
Drug Interactions (for harm reduction):
MDMA & SSRIs: Info on Drug Interactions
Illicit drugs and pharmaceutical drug interactions
Ecstasy: Pharmacodynamic and Pharmacokinetic Interactions
Fatal interaction between ritonavir and MDMA
Ethanol–ecstasy (MDMA) interactions in rats: Preserved attenuation of hyperthermia and potentiation of hyperactivity by ethanol despite prior ethanol treatment
Interactions between recreational drugs and antiretroviral agents
‘Candyflipping': Synergistic discriminative effect of LSD and MDMA
Research:
Merck's official history of MDMA
Does MDMA Cause Brain Damage?
MDMA Neurochemistry Slideshow (DanceSafe)
3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) abuse may cause oxidative stress and potential free radical damage
Free Radicals in the Physiological Control of Cell Function
Exaggerating MDMA's Risks to Justify A Prohibitionist Policy
Is There a Case for MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy in the UK?
Mood and Cognitive Effects of MDMA: Weekend High Followed by Mid-week Low
A general screening and confirmation approach to the analysis of designer tryptamines and phenethylamines in blood and urine
MDMA use and neurocognition: a meta-analytic review
3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) administration to rats decreases brain tissue serotonin but not serotonin transporter protein and glial fibrillary acidic protein
Different glial response to methamphetamine- and methylenedioxymethamphetamine-induced neurotoxicity
Acute and long-term effects of MDMA on cerebral dopamine biochemistry and function
Behavioral and neurochemical consequences of long-term intravenous self-administration of MDMA and its enantiomers by rhesus monkeys
Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in ecstasy (MDMA) users
3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine ('Ecstasy') promotes the translocation of protein kinase C (PKC): requirement of viable serotonin nerve terminals
Residual neuropsychological effects of illicit 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in individuals with minimal exposure to other drugs
Have Halpern et al. (2004) detected 'residual neuropsychological effects' of MDMA? Not likely
Mood disorders and serotonin transporter density in ecstasy users--the influence of long-term abstention, dose, and gender
A role for p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase in the regulation of the serotonin transporter: evidence for distinct cellular mechanisms involved in transporter surface expression
Self-reported psychopathological symptoms in recreational ecstasy (MDMA) users are mainly associated with regular cannabis use: further evidence from a combined cross-sectional/longitudinal investigation
Characterization of the translocation of protein kinase C (PKC) by 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA/ecstasy) in synaptosomes: evidence for a presynaptic localization involving the serotonin transporter (SERT)
Body temperature effect on methylenedioxymethamphetamine-induced acute decrease in tryptophan hydroxylase activity
Temperature and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine alter human serotonin transporter-mediated dopamine uptake
A study of the neurotoxic effect of MDMA ('ecstasy') on 5-HT neurones in the brains of mothers and neonates following administration of the drug during pregnancy
E-books:
The NeuroSoup Trip Guide - The free e-book version of The Neurosoup Trip Guide is now available online. It contains chapters on Choosing the Right Hallucinogen; Set, Setting, and Preparation for a Trip; Tips for Tripsitters; Aspects of the Entheogenic Experience; Working with Difficult Experiences; Integration; and References and Recommended Reading.
More Info:
Ecstasy Anti-Proliferation Act
Use Statistics
Buy Legal Entheogens