Adverse reactions with 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; 'ecstasy').
U D McCann, S O Slate, George A. Ricaurte
Drug safety August 1996 DOI: 10.2165/00002018-199615020-00003 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | MDMA |
| Key findings | The text indicates that MDMA damages serotonin neurons in animals, including nonhuman primates, but whether it causes such damage in humans remains unknown, with some evidence suggesting it may. It notes that most recreational users do not develop acute complications, yet reports of adverse psychiatric and nonpsychiatric consequences have increased alongside the drug's popularity, and effects might emerge only with age or stress. |
Abstract
3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; 'ecstasy') is an increasingly popular recreational drug in the US, Western Europe and Australia. In animals, including nonhuman primates, MDMA is known to damage brain serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) neurons. It is not known whether MDMA damages serotonin neurons in the human brain but there is some indication that it may. Although the large majority of individuals who have used MDMA recreationally do not develop acute complications, as the popularity of MDMA has increased, so have reports of adverse nonpsychiatric and psychiatric consequences associated with use of the drug. Further, since manifestations of MDMA-induced serotonin injury might only become apparent with age, or under periods of stress, it is possible that some individuals with no apparent abnormalities might develop complications over time.