The synthetic psychostimulant MDMA (±3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, ecstasy) acts as an indirect serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine agonist and as a mechanism-based inhibitor of the cytochrome P-450 2D6 (CYP2D6). It has been suggested that women are more sensitive to MDMA effects than men but no clinical experimental studies have satisfactorily evaluated the factors contributing to...
RATIONALE: Animal and humans studies suggest that the two main constituents of cannabis sativa, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) have quite different acute effects. However, to date the two compounds have largely been studied separately. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and compare the acute pharmacological effects of both THC and CBD in the same human volunteers. METHODS: A...
A 3-year longitudinal prospective study was conducted to compare the incidence of substance use disorders (SUD) and non-substance use disorders (NSUD) among ecstasy users and two control groups: one of cannabis users and the other of non-drug users. The 5-HTTLPR polymorphism related to NSUD was also studied. A total of 94 subjects were included: 37 ecstasy users, 23 cannabis users and 34...
There is important preclinical evidence of long lasting neurotoxic and selective effects of ecstasy MDMA on serotonin systems in non-human primates. In humans long-term recreational use of ecstasy has been mainly associated with learning and memory impairments. The aim of the present study was to investigate the neuropsychological profile associated with ecstasy use within recreational polydrug...
OBJECTIVES: Despite the increasing concern about gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) toxicity, there are few studies examining the clinical pharmacology of GHB and its abuse potential. To evaluate GHB-induced subjective and physiological effects, its relative abuse liability and its impact on psychomotor performance in club drug users. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve healthy male recreational users...
ABSTRACT Aims Cell‐mediated immune function and the occurrence of mild infectious diseases was investigated. Participants Polydrug consumers of 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and cannabis ( n = 37) compared to cannabis users only ( n = 23) and control group ( n = 34). Design A longitudinal prospective study with three cross‐sectional evaluations at time 0 and at 6 months and 1 year...
Despite gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) therapeutic uses and the increasing concern about its toxicity, few studies have addressed GHB dose-related effects under controlled administration and their relationship with its pharmacokinetics. The study design was double-blind, randomized, crossover, and controlled. As a pilot pharmacology phase I study, increasing doses of GHB were given. Single oral...