Full recovery after severe serotonin syndrome, severe rhabdomyolysis, multi-organ failure and disseminated intravascular coagulopathy from MDMA.
O Davies, B Batajoo-Shrestha, J Sosa-Popoteur, M Olibrice
Heart & Lung 2014 DOI: 10.1016/j.hrtlng.2013.11.009 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case study Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | A young Asian-American male who ingested MDMA |
| Interventions | MDMA supportive care including ventilatory support hemodialysis |
| Duration | Full recovery within 3 weeks |
| Topics | MDMA Serotonin |
| Keywords | Hyperthermia Toxicity |
| Key findings | A young Asian-American man survived severe serotonin syndrome with one of the highest recorded temperatures in a survivor (108.9 °F / 42.7 °C), along with rhabdomyolysis (CK 130,350 U/L) and multiple organ failure, after receiving aggressive supportive care including ventilation and hemodialysis, with full recovery in three weeks. The authors argue that aggressive supportive care is important for prognosis in extreme serotonin syndrome. |
Abstract
3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), popularly known as "ecstasy" is a synthetic, psychoactive drug used recreationally for its euphoric and "energy increasing" effects. MDMA has been linked to several severe adverse effects including the development of serotonin syndrome and sudden death. Individuals of Asian descent have been shown to have a predisposition for these severe adverse effects. We present a case of a young Asian-American male who following MDMA ingestion presented with severe rhabdomyolysis (CK 130,350 U/L), multiple organ failure and severe serotonin syndrome with one of the highest recorded temperatures '108.9 °F (42.7 °C)' in a survivor of severe serotonin syndrome. The patient initially received supportive care including ventilatory support; he eventually needed hemodialysis, but went on to make a full recovery within 3 weeks. This case shows and emphasizes the importance of 'aggressive' supportive care on patient prognosis particularly for patients on the extreme end of the serotonin syndrome.
Comparable studies
Other case reports and case series on MDMA, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| 'Eve' and 'Ecstasy'. A report of five deaths associated with the use of MDEA and MDMA Individuals whose deaths were associated with MDMA or MDEA use | 1987 | Case series | n = 5 |
| Pathology of deaths associated with "ecstasy" and "eve" misuse. Young white men aged 20 to 25 who died after using ring-substituted amphetamines (MDMA... | 1996 | Case series | n = 7 |
| 'Eve' and 'Ecstasy' Individuals who died after using MDMA or MDEA | 1987 | Case series | n = 5 |
| A Method of Conducting Therapeutic Sessions with MDMA Clients with clear therapeutic purpose, excluding those with serious functional... | 1998 | Case study | n = 2 |
| Diversity of Psychopathology Associated with use of 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (‘Ecstasy’) Psychiatric patients presenting between 1990 and 1992 whose symptoms developed in the... | 1994 | Case series | n = 13 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 7
- Psychedelics in Psychiatry: Neuroplastic, Immunomodulatory, and Neurotransmitter Mechanisms Pharmacological Reviews December 16, 2020
- MDMA interactions with pharmaceuticals and drugs of abuse Expert Opinion on Drug Metabolism & Toxicology March 31, 2020
- Use of the CytoSorb adsorption device in MDMA intoxication: a first-in-man application and in vitro study Intensive Care Medicine Experimental June 21, 2020
- Key interindividual determinants in MDMA pharmacodynamics Expert Opinion on Drug Metabolism & Toxicology January 5, 2018
- Pharmacologic Similarities and Differences Among Hallucinogens The Journal of Clinical Pharmacology August 1, 2021
and 2 more in the library