MDMA (Ecstasy)

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MDMA (Ecstasy)

Synonyms	The most common synonyms are: Adam, B-bombs, Beans, Clarity, Crystal, Decadence, Disco biscuit, E, Essence, Euphoria, Eve, Go, Hug drug, Iboga, Love drug, Methylenedioxymethamphetamine, M&M, Molly, Morning shot, Party pills, Pollutants, Rolls, Scooby snacks, Speed for lovers, Sweeties, Wheels, X, XTC.
Classification	CNS disruptor (stimulant and hallucinogenic effect): Agent that causes users to see, hear or feel things that do not exist, while stimulating mental functions and increasing the brain's overall alertness.
Visual description	Capsules Tablets (come in various colours and are often stamped with designs: happy face, yin/yang symbol, Playboy bunny, dove, etc.) Powder/fine crystals
Mechanism of action	Blocks the reuptake and promotes the release of serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline. The emotional and pro social effects of MDMA are likely caused by the release of large amounts of serotonin. Serotonin then triggers the release of the hormones ocytocin and vasopressin, which play an important role in love, trust, sexual arousal and other social experiences. This may explain the feeling of empathy and the increased need for intimacy associated with this drug.
Routes of administration	Ingested (the most common route), smoked, injected or snorted.

Effects sought out by the user

Desire to communicate with others
Distorted perception of time
Euphoria
Extraversion
Heightened sensuality and increased need for intimacy
Heightening and distortion of sensory and enjoyment perceptions

Intensification of emotions
Lowered inhibitions
Reduced fatigue
Self-confidence
Spontaneity

Common toxic effects

When under the influence of this drug, the user feels neither fatigue nor thirst and becomes unresponsive to the alarm bells sent by the body.

Anxiety and insomnia
Back ache, muscle pain and tension
Confusion
Defensive attitude
Dehydration
Depressive state (when coming down from the high)
Dilated pupils
Disorientation
Dry mouth
Exhaustion
Flushing and excessive sweating
Headache
Impulsivity
Increased heart rate

Irrational behaviour
Jaw tension
Loss of appetite
Loss of motivation
Mental fatigue
Motor tics, gait disturbance
Nystagmus (involuntary, jerky eye movements) and blurred vision
Obsessive behaviour
Sexual dysfunction: erectile dysfunction; may prevent women from reaching orgasm
Tachycardia (increased heart rate)
Teeth grinding
Trismus (masticatory muscle spasm)
Urinary retention or urgent need to urinate

Overdose effects

Abnormal increase in body temperature
Agitation
Angina pectoris
Cardiac arrest
Cardiac arrhythmias
Convulsions
Death
Hemorrhage
High blood pressure

Kidney damage
Liver damage
Muscle damage
Panic
Psychosis
Severe depression
Stroke
Thrombosis

Effects associated with chronic use

Anxiety and persistent fear
Hallucination flashbacks
Kidney and liver disorders
Loss of appetite or decreased appetite and weight loss

Major depressive disorder and suicidal thoughts
Memory deficits and altered cognitive functions
Outbursts of rage
Sleep disorder

Toxic effects likely to occur in users who are particularly sensitive or as a result of abuse or prolonged used:

Corneal erosion
Feelings of unreality
Hypertonicity and incontinence

Nausea and vomiting
Panic attacks, suicidal thoughts
Paranoid disorder

Tolerance (need to increase the dose to feel the same effect)

Tolerance to MDMA appears to develop quickly. That said, with repeated use, it becomes difficult, if not impossible for users to experience the same effects they did when they first started.

Addiction

Although some users become dependent, very few cases of MDMA-specific dependence have been reported in the literature. Since most users take this drug only occasionally, dependence is not very prominent.

Withdrawal

Withdrawal symptoms are caused by a depletion of serotonin and may include depression and anxiety. Other symptoms associated with withdrawal are insomnia, panic attacks, agitation, psychosis and paranoid delusions. During withdrawal, users may also experience fatigue, sadness, bad moods and nightmares.

Onset and duration of action
Route of administration	Onset of action	Peak	Duration ofaction
Ingested	about 20 to 70 minutes	about 2 hours	about 4 to 6 hours

Intoxication management

No antidote available.
Treatment is mainly symptomatic.

Many different street drugs are sold under the same name. Furthermore, nothing guarantees the quantity, purity or even the content of a street drug in spite of the fact that it may, in some cases, look like medication.

If you need help or want to learn more:

Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction

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