Acute Psychological Effects of 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, “Ecstasy”) are Attenuated by the Serotonin Uptake Inhibitor Citalopram
Matthias E. Liechti, Christine Baumann, Alex Gamma, Franz X. Vollenweider
Neuropsychopharmacology May 1, 2000 DOI: 10.1016/s0893-133x(99)00148-7 (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 human volunteers |
| Interventions | MDMA Citalopram |
| Dose | MDMA 1.5 mg/kg po; citalopram 40 mg iv |
| Topics | MDMA Serotonin |
| Keywords | 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine Citalopram Psychological effects |
| Key findings | Citalopram pretreatment markedly reduced most psychological effects of MDMA, indicating that MDMA's effects are mediated via the 5-HT uptake site to increase serotonin release. |
Abstract
3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, “Ecstasy”) is a recreational drug that has been shown to release serotonin (5-HT) and dopamine (DA) in animals. The effect of MDMA on 5-HT release can be blocked by 5-HT uptake inhibitors such as citalopram, suggesting that MDMA interacts with the 5-HT uptake site. It is unknown whether this mechanism is also responsible for the psychological effects of MDMA in humans. We investigated the effect of citalopram pretreatment (40 mg iv) on the psychological effects of MDMA (1.5 mg/kg po) in a double-blind placebo-controlled psychometric study in 16 healthy human volunteers. MDMA produced an emotional state with heightened mood, increased self-confidence and extroversion, moderate derealization, and an intensification of sensory perception. Most of these effects were markedly reduced by citalopram. This finding suggests that the psychological effects of MDMA are mediated via action at the 5-HT uptake site to increase 5-HT release through the carrier, as expected from animal studies.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on MDMA, most cited first.
Citations in the library
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- Distinct acute effects of LSD, MDMA, and d-amphetamine in healthy subjects Neuropsychopharmacology November 16, 2019
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Cites 25
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