Sleep apnea in young abstinent recreational MDMA (“ecstasy”) consumers
Una D. Mccann, Francis P. Sgambati, Alan R. Schwartz, George A. Ricaurte
Neurology July 4, 2011 DOI: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000399703.50264.5d (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 133 |
| Population | Medically healthy recreational MDMA users and control subjects |
| Measures | Apnea hypopnea indices |
| Topics | MDMA |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key findings | Recreational MDMA users who were drug-free for at least 2 weeks had significantly increased rates of obstructive sleep apnea and hypopnea compared with controls, with an odds ratio of 8.5 for sleep apnea during non-REM sleep, greater than that for obesity. Severity of OSA was significantly related to lifetime MDMA exposure. |
Abstract
Background: Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, "ecstasy") is a popular recreational drug of abuse and a selective brain serotonin neurotoxin.Functional consequences of MDMA neurotoxicity have defied ready characterization.Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common form of sleep-disordered breathing in which brain serotonin dysfunction may play a role.The present study sought to determine whether abstinent recreational MDMA users have an increased prevalence of OSA.Methods: We studied 71 medically healthy recreational MDMA users and 62 control subjects using all-night sleep polysomnography in a controlled inpatient research setting.Rates of apneas, hypopneas, and apnea hypopnea indices were compared in the 2 groups, controlling for body mass index, age, race, and gender.Results: Recreational MDMA users who had been drug free for at least 2 weeks had significantly increased rates of obstructive sleep apnea and hypopnea compared with controls.The odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for sleep apnea (mild, moderate, and severe combined) in MDMA users during non-REM sleep was 8.5 (2.4 -30.4), which was greater than that associated with obesity [6.9 (1.7-28.2)].Severity of OSA was significantly related to lifetime MDMA exposure.Conclusions: These findings suggest that prior recreational methylenedioxymethamphetamine use increases the risk for obstructive sleep apnea and lend support to the notion that brain serotonin neuronal dysfunction plays a role in the pathophysiology of sleep apnea.
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 |