MDMA toxicity: management of acute and life-threatening presentations.
Nicola Davies, William English, Johann Grundlingh
British journal of nursing June 14, 2018 DOI: 10.12968/bjon.2018.27.11.616 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | MDMA |
| Keywords | Cardiac arrest Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation Serotonin syndrome Toxicology |
| Key findings | Argues that MDMA toxicity is pathophysiologically complex and incompletely understood, and that its renewed popularity over the past three years has coincided with a rise in deaths. The article aims to inform readers about patient presentations, the mechanisms of life-threatening toxicity, current treatments, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as a possible future treatment. |
Abstract
Since the 1980s, methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) has been a popular recreational drug, used particularly among those who attend raves and nightclubs. Over the past 3 years, the popularity of this drug has once again increased and there has been an associated rise in deaths. The pathophysiology of MDMA toxicity is complex and much remains to be understood. This article aims to increase readers' knowledge of patient presentations, the pathophysiology behind life-threatening toxicity, current treatments and the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as a potential future treatment.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on MDMA, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Human Pharmacology of MDMA | 2004 | Review | |
| Human psychopharmacology of Ecstasy (MDMA): a review of 15 years of empirical research | 2001 | Review | |
| 3,4‐Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, “Ecstasy”): pharmacology and toxicology in animals and humans | 1994 | Review | |
| (±)3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (‘Ecstasy’)-Induced Serotonin Neurotoxicity: Studies in Animals | 2000 | Review | |
| Amphetamine toxicities | 2010 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 5
- Pharmacologic Similarities and Differences Among Hallucinogens The Journal of Clinical Pharmacology August 1, 2021
- Ecstasy, molly, MDMA: What health practitioners need to know about this common recreational drug. Disease-a-month : DM March 1, 2025
- Case of Cardiac Arrest Treated with Extra-Corporeal Life Support after MDMA Intoxication Case Reports in Critical Care January 26, 2020
- Ecstasy as a Potential Cause for Diffuse ST Elevation in a 27-Year-Old Healthy Male: A Case Report. Cureus June 1, 2025
- Time-Dependent Molecular Changes Following MDMA-Induced Nephrotoxicity. Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR 2024
Cites 9
- Human Pharmacology of MDMA Therapeutic Drug Monitoring March 19, 2004
- Pathology of deaths associated with "ecstasy" and "eve" misuse. Journal of Clinical Pathology February 1, 1996
- MDMA and temperature: a review of the thermal effects of 'Ecstasy' in humans. Drug and Alcohol Dependence February 1, 2012
- Dantrolene for the treatment of MDMA toxicity. CJEM September 2010
- The agony of ecstasy: MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) and the kidney. Clinical journal of the American Society of Nephrology : CJASN November 2008
and 4 more in the library