Molecular Psychiatry
November 5, 2025
Dino Luethi, Grant C. Glatfelter, Eline Pottie et al.
1 citation
Abstract Various ring-substituted α-methylphenethylamines (i.e., amphetamines) produce psychedelic-like effects that are primarily mediated by activity at 5-hydroxytryptamine 2A (5-HT 2A ) receptors. Small lipophilic substituents at the 4-position of the 2,5-dimethoxyamphetamine core structure can greatly enhance the clinical potency of such derivatives. Here, we studied the effects of various...
Nature
August 2022
Linda D. Simmler, Yue Li, Lotfi C Hadjas et al.
Ketamine is used clinically as an anaesthetic and a fast-acting antidepressant, and recreationally for its dissociative properties, raising concerns of addiction as a possible side effect. Addictive drugs such as cocaine increase the levels of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens. This facilitates synaptic plasticity in the mesolimbic system, which causes behavioural adaptations and eventually...
Handbook of experimental pharmacology
2018
Linda D. Simmler, Matthias E. Liechti
New psychoactive substances (NPS) with amphetamine-, aminoindan-, and benzofuran basic chemical structures have recently emerged for recreational drug use. Detailed information about their psychotropic effects and health risks is often limited. At the same time, it emerged that the pharmacological profiles of these NPS resemble those of amphetamine or 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)....
Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences
2017
Linda D. Simmler, Matthias E. Liechti
Pharmacological assays carried out in transfected cells have been very useful for describing the mechanism of action of cathinone new psychoactive substances (NPS). These in vitro characterizations provide fast and reliable information on psychoactive substances soon after they emerge for recreational use. Well-investigated comparator compounds, such as methamphetamine,...
Journal of Psychopharmacology
July 22, 2014
Yasmin Schmid, Cédric M. Hysek, Linda D. Simmler et al.
154 citations
Social cognition is important in everyday-life social interactions. The social cognitive effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ‘ecstasy’) and methylphenidate (both used for neuroenhancement and as party drugs) are largely unknown. We investigated the acute effects of MDMA (75 mg), methylphenidate (40 mg) and placebo using the Facial Emotion Recognition Task, Multifaceted Empathy...
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology
October 8, 2013
Cédric M. Hysek, Linda D. Simmler, Nathalie Schillinger et al.
125 citations
Methylphenidate and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, 'ecstasy') are widely misused psychoactive drugs. Methylphenidate increases brain dopamine and norepinephrine levels by blocking the presynaptic reuptake transporters. MDMA releases serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine through the same transporters. Pharmacodynamic interactions of methylphenidate and MDMA are likely. This study...
Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience
October 4, 2013
Cédric M. Hysek, Yasmin Schmid, Linda D. Simmler et al.
356 citations
3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, 'ecstasy') releases serotonin and norepinephrine. MDMA is reported to produce empathogenic and prosocial feelings. It is unknown whether MDMA in fact alters empathic concern and prosocial behavior. We investigated the acute effects of MDMA using the Multifaceted Empathy Test (MET), dynamic Face Emotion Recognition Task (FERT) and Social Value Orientation...
Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology
July 13, 2013
Cédric M. Hysek, Anja E. Fink, Linda D. Simmler et al.
57 citations
Preclinical studies implicate a role for α₁-noradrenergic receptors in the effects of psychostimulants, including 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, "ecstasy"). The present study evaluated the effects of the α₁-noradrenergic receptor antagonist doxazosin on the acute pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic response to MDMA in 16 healthy subjects. Doxazosin (8 mg/d) or placebo was administered...
PLoS One
May 4, 2012
Cédric M. Hysek, Linda D. Simmler, V.g. Nicola et al.
158 citations
UNLABELLED: This study assessed the effects of the serotonin (5-HT) and norepinephrine (NE) transporter inhibitor duloxetine on the effects of 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) in vitro and in 16 healthy subjects. The clinical study used a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, four-session, crossover design. In vitro, duloxetine blocked the release of both 5-HT and NE...
British Journal of Pharmacology
March 8, 2012
Cédric M. Hysek, Yasmin Schmid, Anna Rickli et al.
81 citations
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The use of ±3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ‘ecstasy’) is associated with cardiovascular complications and hyperthermia. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH We assessed the effects of the α 1 ‐ and β‐adrenoceptor antagonist carvedilol on the cardiostimulant, thermogenic and subjective responses to MDMA in 16 healthy subjects. Carvedilol (50 mg) or placebo was administered 1 h...
Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
February 2012
Cédric M. Hysek, Robin Brugger, Linda D. Simmler et al.
The mechanism of action of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; ecstasy) involves the carrier-mediated and potentially vesicular release of monoamines. We assessed the effects of the sympatholytic α₂-adrenergic receptor agonist clonidine (150 μg p.o.), which inhibits the neuronal vesicular release of norepinephrine, on the cardiovascular and psychotropic response to MDMA (125 mg p.o.) in 16...
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism
June 30, 2011
Linda D. Simmler, Cédric M. Hysek, Matthias E. Liechti
91 citations
Abstract Background: 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) misuse is associated with hyponatremia particularly in women. Hyponatremia is possibly due to inappropriate secretion of plasma arginine vasopressin (AVP). Objective: To assess whether MDMA increases plasma AVP and copeptin in healthy male and female subjects and whether effects depend on MDMA-induced release of serotonin...
Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics
June 15, 2011
Cédric M. Hysek, Linda D. Simmler, M. Ineichen et al.
153 citations
This study assessed the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic effects of the interaction between the selective norepinephrine (NE) transporter inhibitor reboxetine and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, "ecstasy") in 16 healthy subjects. The study used a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover design. Reboxetine reduced the effects of MDMA including elevations in plasma levels of NE,...
Ziming Li, Crystal Weber, Francesca Sellitti et al.
Abstract A single dose of psilocybin can induce long-lasting antidepressant effects. The neurobiological mechanisms underlying such sustained antidepressant effect remain insufficiently understood, particularly at the level of synaptic function and drug-target specificity. Here, we aimed to delineate single-dose psilocybin-induced excitatory synaptic plasticity. Synaptic plasticity was assessed...