The cardiovascular and cardiac actions of ecstasy and its metabolites.
Sylvia K Shenouda, F Carvalho, Kurt J Varner
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology August 2010 DOI: 10.2174/138920110791591526 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | MDMA |
| Topics | MDMA |
| Key findings | The authors argue that despite MDMA's reputation as safe, the literature documents neurotoxicity and cardiac toxicity, including rhythm disturbances, infarction, and sudden death. They state that most available data indicate oxidative stress plays an important role in MDMA's cardiotoxic actions, and suggest that redox-active metabolites of MDMA may be especially important in MDMA-induced toxicity. |
Abstract
The recreational use of 3, 4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine (ecstasy or MDMA) has increased dramatically over the past thirty years due to its ability to increase stamina and produce feelings of emotional closeness and wellbeing. In spite of the popular perception that MDMA is a safe drug, there is a large literature documenting that the drug can produce significant neurotoxicity, especially in serotonergic and catecholaminergic systems. There are also experimental and clinical data which document that MDMA can alter cardiovascular function and produce cardiac toxicity, including rhythm disturbances, infarction and sudden death. This manuscript will review the literature documenting the cardiovascular responses elicited by MDMA in humans and experimental animals and will examine the underlying mechanisms mediating these responses. We will also review the available clinical, autopsy and experimental data linking MDMA with cardiac toxicity. Most available data indicate that oxidative stress plays an important role in the cardiotoxic actions of MDMA. Moreover, new data indicates that redox active metabolites of MDMA may play especially important roles in MDMA induced toxicity.
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 9
- 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA): current perspectives Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation November 1, 2013
- Pro‐oxidant effects of Ecstasy and its metabolites in mouse brain synaptosomes British Journal of Pharmacology April 21, 2011
- Effects of 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and its main metabolites on cardiovascular function in conscious rats British Journal of Pharmacology October 12, 2013
- Ecstasy (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine): cardiovascular effects and mechanisms. European Journal of Pharmacology May 7, 2021
- Effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine administration on retinal physiology in the rat. PLoS One June 14, 2016
and 4 more in the library