This article reviews the role and clinical importance of specific neuroadaptations that may occur following use of cocaine, metamfetamine, and 3,4,methylenedioxymetamfetamine (MDMA). A literature search was performed using OVID MEDLINE and PubMed for all years to the present date, which identified 250 papers of which 154 were considered relevant. MECHANISMS OF ACTION OF COCAINE AND...
A 53-year-old prisoner died of multiorgan failure after a suicidal overdose with 3,4-methylenedeoxymethamphe-tamine (MDMA, `Ecstasy'). Twelve hours after ingestion of MDMA, the patient became severely hyperthermic (107.2°F) with evidence of rhabdomyolysis. He subsequently developed acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC) and acute renal failure....