Pharmacology of MDMA in Humans
Rafael de la Torre, Magı́ Farré, Pere N. Roset, Cándido Hernández López, Manuel Mas, Jordi Ortuño, E. Menoyo, Nieves Pizarro, Jordi Segura, Jordi Camı́
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences September 1, 2000 DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2000.tb05199.x (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Healthy volunteers |
| Intervention | MDMA |
| Dose | 50 to 150 mg |
| Topics | MDMA |
| Keywords | Mydriasis Heart rate Blood pressure Drug Pharmacology Endocrinology Anesthesia |
| Citations | 178 |
| Key findings | MDMA at recreational doses produces dose-dependent increases in blood pressure, heart rate, pupil diameter, and hormonal measures, with peak effects at 1-2 hours and a biphasic temperature response. |
Abstract
Abstract MDMA given at recreational doses (range tested 50 to 150 mg) to healthy volunteers, produced mydriasis and marked increases in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, and pupillary diameter. MDMA induced changes on oral temperature. The time course of this observation was biphasic, as a slight decrease at 1 h and a slight increase at 2 and 4 h were observed. MDMA induced a slight dose‐dependent impairment on psychomotor performance. MDMA produced a marked rise in plasma cortisol and prolactin concentrations. The elimination half‐life of MDMA was about 8‐9 h. Drug concentrations increased, and a parallel increase in physiologic and hormonal measures was observed. Both peak concentrations and peak effects were obtained between 1 and 2 h and decreased to baseline values 4‐6 h after drug administration.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on MDMA, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subjective Reports of the Effects of MDMA in a Clinical Setting Individuals who took MDMA in a clinical setting | 1986 | Observational study | |
| Memory impairment in abstinent MDMA ("Ecstasy") users Abstinent MDMA users | 1998 | Observational cohort | |
| Impaired cognitive performance in drug free users of recreational ecstasy (MDMA) Otherwise healthy young people | 2000 | Observational | |
| The Psychological and Physiological Effects of MDMA on Normal Volunteers Older, more educated, drug-experienced individuals | 1986 | Observational cohort | |
| Cognitive performance in recreational users of MDMA or 'ecstasy': evidence for memory deficits Young people who were regular or novice MDMA users, or non-users | 1998 | Observational cohort | n = 30 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 79
- Human Pharmacology of MDMA Therapeutic Drug Monitoring March 19, 2004
- Human Pharmacology of Ayahuasca: Subjective and Cardiovascular Effects, Monoamine Metabolite Excretion, and Pharmacokinetics Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics June 18, 2003
- MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for treatment of PTSD: study design and rationale for phase 3 trials based on pooled analysis of six phase 2 randomized controlled trials. Psychopharmacology September 1, 2019
- MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD: Are memory reconsolidation and fear extinction underlying mechanisms? Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry June 8, 2018
- A review of acute effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine in healthy volunteers Journal of Psychopharmacology March 1, 2006
and 74 more in the library
Cites 7
- Cardiovascular and neuroendocrine effects and pharmacokinetics of 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine in humans. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics July 1, 1999
- Human Pharmacology of 3,4-Methylenedioxymeth-amphetamine ("Ecstasy"): Psychomotor Performance and Subjective Effects Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology August 1, 2000
- Psychopathological, neuroendocrine and autonomic effects of 3,4-methylenedioxyethylamphetamine (MDE), psilocybin and d -methamphetamine in healthy volunteers Psychopharmacology February 18, 1999
- The Complications of 'Ecstasy' (MDMA) JAMA March 18, 1988
- Non‐linear pharmacokinetics of MDMA (‘ecstasy’) in humans British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology February 1, 2000
and 2 more in the library