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Memory and mood during MDMA intoxication, with and without memantine pretreatment.

E B De Sousa Fernandes Perna, E L Theunissen, K P C Kuypers, P Heckman, Rafael de la Torre, M Farré, J G Ramaekers

Neuropharmacology December 2014 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2014.03.008 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Double-blind, placebo-controlled, within-subject experimental study Peer reviewed
Sample size 15
Population Healthy human subjects (not further specified)
Interventions Memantine MDMA
Dose Memantine 20 mg; MDMA 75 mg
Duration Memantine or placebo pretreatment (T1) preceded MDMA or placebo (T2) by 120 minutes; memory assessed 90 minutes after T2
Measures Visual Verbal Learning Task, Prospective Memory Task, Sternberg Memory Task, Abstract Visual Pattern Learning Task, Profile of Mood State
Topics MDMA
Keywords Acute Cognition Memantine Mood
Key findings MDMA (75 mg) significantly impaired performance on visual verbal learning and abstract visual pattern learning tasks and increased both positive mood (vigour, arousal, elation) and anxiety. Pretreatment with memantine (20 mg) did not prevent these memory impairments or alter the mood effects; memantine alone had no effect on memory or mood.

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that single doses of MDMA can affect mood and impair memory in humans. The neuropharmacological mechanisms involved in MDMA-induced memory impairment are not clear. Memantine, an NMDA and alpha 7 nicotinic acetylcholine (ACh) receptor antagonist, was able to reverse MDMA-induced memory impairment in rats. This study investigated whether treatment with memantine can prevent MDMA-induced memory impairment in humans. 15 subjects participated in a double-blind, placebo controlled, within-subject design. Subjects received both pre-treatment (placebo/memantine 20 mg) (T1) and treatment (placebo/MDMA 75 mg) (T2) on separate test days. T1 preceded T2 by 120 min. Memory function was assessed 90 min after T2 by means of a Visual Verbal Learning Task, a Prospective Memory Task, the Sternberg Memory Task and the Abstract Visual Pattern Learning Task. Profile of Mood State and psychomotor performance were also assessed to control whether MDMA and memantine interactions would selectively pertain to memory or transfer to other domains as well. MDMA significantly impaired performance in the visual verbal learning task and abstract visual pattern learning task. Pre-treatment with memantine did not prevent MDMA-induced memory impairment in these two tasks. Both positive (vigour, arousal, elation) and negative mood effects (anxiety) were increased by MDMA. The responses were not altered by pretreatment with memantine which had no effect on memory or mood when given alone. These preliminary results suggest that memantine does not reverse MDMA-induced memory impairment and mood in humans. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled 'CNS Stimulants'.

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3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted psychotherapy for post-traumatic stress disorder in military veterans, firefighters, and police officers: a randomised, double-blind, dose-response, phase 2 clinical trial. Military veterans and first responders aged 18 or older with chronic PTSD lasting 6... 2018 Randomized, double-blind, dose-response, phase 2 clinical trial n = 26
A randomized, controlled pilot study of MDMA (±3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine)-assisted psychotherapy for treatment of resistant, chronic Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Patients with treatment-resistant PTSD 2012 Randomized controlled trial n = 12
MDMA-assisted therapy for moderate to severe PTSD: a randomized, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial. Adults with moderate to severe post-traumatic stress disorder 2023 Randomized controlled trial n = 104

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