Liquid ecstasy intoxication: clinical features of 505 consecutive emergency department patients.
Miguel Galicia, Santiago Nogué, Òscar Miró
Emergency Medicine Journal June 1, 2011 DOI: 10.1136/emj.2008.068403 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 505 |
| Population | Patients admitted to the emergency department of Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, for GHB poisoning or overdose between 2000 and 2007 |
| Topics | MDMA |
| Key findings | GHB intoxication with reduced consciousness was a frequent reason for emergency admission, especially among young people on weekend early mornings, and symptoms were more severe when GHB was combined with other substances. |
Abstract
To describe the epidemiological profile and clinical manifestations of liquid ecstasy (GHB) poisonings. All cases of GHB poisoning or overdose admitted to the Emergency Department (ED) of the Hospital Clinic (Barcelona) between 2000 and 2007 were recorded. A total of 505 patients (mean age 24.7 years, 68% men) were included. Most patients were brought to the hospital by ambulance (98%), during the weekend (89%) and during the early morning (75%). Symptoms began in a public place in 97%. Reduced consciousness was the most important clinical manifestation: 72% of patients had a Glasgow Coma Score of ≤ 12. 76% of patients had consumed other drugs: ethanol (64%), amphetamines and derivates (30%), cocaine (28%), ketamine (11%), cannabis (9%) and others (5%). Treatment was required in 26% of cases and an antidote was administered in 35 cases with no response. There were no deaths. The combined GHB group had a longer time to complete recovery of consciousness (71 ± 40 vs 59 ± 40 min, p < 0.001) and a higher percentage of patients with severely reduced consciousness at ED arrival (54% vs 37%, p = 0.01), need for treatment (29% vs 16%, p < 0.01) and need for mechanical ventilation (3% vs 0%, p < 0.05) compared with the pure GHB group. GHB intoxication leading to reduced consciousness is a frequent reason for ED admission, above all in young people and in the early morning at the weekend. Symptoms are more severe in patients who have taken GHB in combination with other substances of abuse.
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 2
- "Chemical Seduction": a narrative review of the complex impact of recreational drugs on sexual function. International journal of impotence research October 17, 2025
- "Addicted to Euphoria": The History, Clinical Presentation, and Management of Party Drug Misuse. International review of neurobiology 2015
Cites 2
- Disposition of Gamma-Hydroxybutyric Acid in Conventional and Nonconventional Biologic Fluids After Single Drug Administration: Issues in Methodology and Drug Monitoring Therapeutic Drug Monitoring February 1, 2007
- Use, function, and subjective experiences of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB). Drug and Alcohol Dependence January 1, 2008