Duloxetine Inhibits Effects of MDMA (“Ecstasy") In Vitro and in Humans in a Randomized Placebo-Controlled Laboratory Study
Cédric M. Hysek, Linda D. Simmler, V.g. Nicola, Nerina Vischer, Massimiliano Donzelli, Stephan Krähenbühl, Eric Grouzmann, Jörg Huwyler, Marius C. Hoener, Matthias E. Liechti
PLoS One May 4, 2012 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0036476 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Placebo-controlled Double-blind Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 16 |
| Population | Healthy subjects |
| Interventions | Duloxetine MDMA |
| Duration | Four-session, crossover design |
| Topics | MDMA |
| Keywords | Duloxetine Placebo Pharmacology In vitro Hallucinogen Randomized controlled trial |
| Citations | 158 |
| Registration | NCT00990067 |
| Key findings | Duloxetine inhibited MDMA's effects on blood pressure, heart rate, norepinephrine levels, and subjective drug effects, despite increasing plasma MDMA levels. |
Abstract
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 by MDMA or by its metabolite 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine from transmitter-loaded human cells expressing the 5-HT or NE transporter. In humans, duloxetine inhibited the effects of MDMA including elevations in circulating NE, increases in blood pressure and heart rate, and the subjective drug effects. Duloxetine inhibited the pharmacodynamic response to MDMA despite an increase in duloxetine-associated elevations in plasma MDMA levels. The findings confirm the important role of MDMA-induced 5-HT and NE release in the psychotropic effects of MDMA. Duloxetine may be useful in the treatment of psychostimulant dependence. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT00990067.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on MDMA, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 109
- Acute Effects of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide in Healthy Subjects Biological Psychiatry November 29, 2014
- Receptor interaction profiles of novel psychoactive tryptamines compared with classic hallucinogens. European Neuropsychopharmacology May 20, 2016
- MDMA enhances emotional empathy and prosocial behavior Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience October 4, 2013
- Distinct acute effects of LSD, MDMA, and d-amphetamine in healthy subjects Neuropsychopharmacology November 16, 2019
- Receptor interaction profiles of novel N-2-methoxybenzyl (NBOMe) derivatives of 2,5-dimethoxy-substituted phenethylamines (2C drugs). Neuropharmacology December 1, 2015
and 104 more in the library
Cites 18
- Amphetamine-type central nervous system stimulants release norepinephrine more potently than they release dopamine and serotonin Synapse 2000
- Psychometric Evaluation of the Altered States of Consciousness Rating Scale (OAV) PLoS One August 31, 2010
- The Standardized Psychometric Assessment of Altered States of Consciousness (ASCs) in Humans Pharmacopsychiatry July 1, 1998
- The molecular mechanism of "ecstasy" [3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA)]: serotonin transporters are targets for MDMA-induced serotonin release. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences March 1, 1992
- Comparison of the monoamine transporters from human and mouse in their sensitivities to psychostimulant drugs BMC Pharmacology March 3, 2006
and 13 more in the library