MDMA is an illegal drug with stimulant effects. It can also cause hallucinations.
Street names include Molly, Ecstasy, X, Superman, and XTC, among many others.
The development of MDMA dates back to 1912 when it played a role in suppressing a person’s appetite. The drug gained popularity in the 1980s with young adults at large music festivals and all-night dance parties or raves.
A person
People frequently take Ecstasy with other illegal drugs, and pills that people sell as MDMA on the street can contain additives. These factors can contribute to serious and sometimes fatal health effects.
MDMA can also be addictive, and research suggests that long-term thinking problems may develop in some people who use it.
Here are some key points about MDMA.
- Some people perceive MDMA as a safe party drug, but its effects can be lethal.
- Tablets that people sell as pure Ecstasy can contain highly toxic additives.
- MDMA can interfere with the body’s ability to regulate temperature and can raise the heart rate to a dangerous level.
- A person can feel the adverse after-effects of Ecstasy for a week or more.
MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine) is an artificial drug that people legally used in the 1970s for psychotherapy treatment despite a lack of data to support its effectiveness.
The nickname “Molly” is short for “molecular.” It
The substance then began illegally circulating for recreational use.
In 1985, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) labeled MDMA a Schedule 1 substance. This category refers to a drug with high abuse potential and of no recognized medicinal use.
People mainly take MDMA by swallowing a capsule or tablet. They can also snort or smoke it as a powder.
A person taking the drug will feel the effect within 1 hour, and it can last up to 6 hours. Users commonly take a second dose as the first wears off.
MDMA has many of the same physical effects as other stimulants such as cocaine and amphetamines.
These include increased heart rate and blood pressure, decreased appetite, and increased energy.
MDMA works by increasing the production of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. These are the brain’s neurotransmitters, which influence mood, sleep, and appetite.
Serotonin also triggers the release of other hormones that can cause feelings of attraction and intimacy. As a result, people may become more affectionate than usual and feel a connection with strangers.
The effects last for an average of 3 hours, but people who take a moderate amount may experience withdrawal side effects for a week after.
These
- insomnia
- confusion, irritability, anxiety, and depression
- impulsiveness and aggression
- decreased interest in sex
- memory and attention problems
- reduced appetite
These effects may be due to MDMA alone or the combination of MDMA use with other drugs.
Other substances can be mixed with MDMA
Not all the effects are predictable because pure Ecstasy can contain other unwanted drugs or chemicals. As the drug is illegal, there is no government regulation over its production.
As a result, people using MDMA could also unwittingly be using:
- ephedrine
- ketamine
- caffeine
- cocaine
- methamphetamine
- artificial cathinones such as mephedrone, the psychoactive ingredient in another drug, known as “bath salts”
These harmful substances can be particularly dangerous when a person mixes them with MDMA. When people buy MDMA from dealers on the street, they do not know what they are taking.
Ingesting other substances, such as cannabis or cocaine, along with MDMA greatly increases the danger of adverse reactions.
Deaths have had links to some fatal batches of MDMA.
People use MDMA because it enhances feelings of alertness, euphoria, and physical and mental powers.
However, there are also some common adverse effects, some severe risks, and possible long-term damage.
Common adverse effects include:
- jaw clenching or teeth grinding
- restlessness, insomnia, irritability, and anxiety
- sweating, thirst, and nausea
- impulsiveness
- increased heart rate
More serious and potentially fatal conditions can arise under certain circumstances.
MDMA causes an increase in heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature.
These stimulant effects, in combination with prolonged physical activity, a hot environment, and other drugs, can result in unpredictable and serious physical complications.
Deaths from MDMA use mostly result from hyperthermia. This refers to a sudden increase in body temperature, cardiovascular collapse, or significant dehydration.
Warning signs that suggest a potentially fatal event after MDMA use include:
- excessive thirst and profuse sweating
- muscle cramping
- shaking chills
- little to no urine output
- blurred vision
- fainting
- seizures
These can lead to liver, kidney, or heart failure and even death.
These signs indicate an emergency. A person needs to seek immediate medical attention if they experience the above MDMA use.
MDMA causes a surge of serotonin, after which the body will experience a depletion of this “feel-good” neurotransmitter.
The brain can take days or weeks to replenish the serotonin. Side effects of moderate use can persist for a week after using it.
Some users continue to use the drug despite experiencing negative consequences. This suggests MDMA has the potential for addiction, although researchers
Animal studies show that MDMA in moderate to high doses can damage nerve cells in the brain.
Due to the altered sense of reality due to MDMA use, people who have taken it can make dangerous decisions without concern that these could lead to negative consequences.
The often-added impurities, in combination with the physical rigor of an all-night dance party experience, make taking any form of MDMA significantly dangerous. If a person has issues with MDMA, individuals can contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline.