Journal of Psychopharmacology
November 1, 2006
Roland W. Freudenmann, Carlos Schönfeldt-lecuona, Manfred Spitzer et al.
4 citations
Depression in former ecstasy users may not respond to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) possibly due to damaged serotonergic synapses following long-term heavy ecstasy use. We report findings in a patient suffering from MDMA-induced depression which was refractory to several antidepressive medications including selective noradrenergic reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) and SSRI. An add-on...
Neurotoxicology and Teratology
October 21, 2006
Brian J. Piper
54 citations
The entactogen +/-3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or ecstasy) is a popular recreational drug among college, high school, and, occasionally, middle school students. Preclinical research examining the acute and long-term effects of MDMA has predominately been conducted in reproductively mature subjects but there has been increasing interest in adolescent and in utero exposure. This review...
Studia Mythologica Slavica
October 16, 2006
Suzana Marjanić
4 citations
I shall attempt to interpret witches' zoopsychonavigations in the worlds of Croatian legends as (possible) aspects of shamanistic techniques of ecstasy (and trance), in the framework of which I shall be trying to designate the concept of zoopsychonavigation as the border of permeation between shamanistic ecstatic experiences and the witches' experience of lethargy.In addition to the above...
Neuroscience
October 13, 2006
R D Crean, S A Davis, S N Von Huben et al.
Severe and malignant hyperthermia is a frequently reported factor in emergency department (ED) visits and fatalities in which use of amphetamine drugs, such as (+/-)3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), (+/-)3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) and (+)methamphetamine (METH), is confirmed. Individuals who use "ecstasy" are also often exposed, intentionally or otherwise, to several of these...
Chemical Research in Toxicology
October 2006
Nuno Milhazes, Teresa Cunha-Oliveira, Pedro Martins et al.
The toxicological and redox profiles of MDMA and its major metabolites (MDA, alpha-methyldopamine, N-methyl-alpha-methyldopamine, 6-hydroxy-alpha-methyldopamine, 3-methoxy-alpha-methyldopamine) were studied to establish a structure-toxicity relationship and determine their individual contribution to cell death induction by apoptosis and/or necrosis. The results of the comparative toxicity...
Psychopharmacology
October 2006
Jonathan P. Roiser, Robert D Rogers, Lynnette J Cook et al.
3, 4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or "ecstasy") is a popular drug of abuse known to result in depletions of the serotonin (5-HT) system. A number of studies have reported that ecstasy users differ from controls on a variety of measures of cognitive function. However, the literature is not consistent and many negative findings were also reported. One reason for such inconsistency might be...
Neuroscience
September 15, 2006
W W Blessing, A Zilm, Y Ootsuka
Clozapine, an atypical antipsychotic agent important for the treatment of schizophrenia, has marked inhibitory effects on sympathetic outflow to the thermoregulatory cutaneous circulation. In rabbits clozapine reverses ear pinna vasoconstriction induced either by administration of MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, ecstasy) or by exposing the animal to a cold environment. In rats, both...
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
September 1, 2006
Arthur Hastings
This research explored whether hypnotic suggestion could produce a subjective mindbody condition similar to that produced by the psychoactive drug methylenedioxy methamphetamine (MDMA, Ecstasy). Twelve participants received posthypnotic instructions to re-experience an MDMA-like state posthypnotically, similar to one in their prior experience, for one hour. Three separate self report measures...
Journal of Psychopharmacology
September 1, 2006
Harry Sumnall, Jon C. Cole, Lisa Jerome
117 citations
Previous investigations of the subjective effects of MDMA (material sold as ecstasy) have conducted interviews and surveys of various groups of ecstasy users within particular sub-populations. This study examined subjective drug effects reported by different sub-populations of ecstasy users and explored whether the function or purpose served by using ecstasy influenced the nature of the drug...
Addiction
August 8, 2006
J. G. Ramaekers, K. P. C. Kuypers, N. Samyn
90 citations
ABSTRACT Background 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is currently one of the most popular drugs of abuse in Europe. Its increasing use over the last decade has led to concern regarding possible adverse effects on driving. The aims of the present study were to investigate the acute effects of MDMA on actual driving performance during the intoxication and withdrawal phase. Methods...
Physiology & Behavior
August 1, 2006
María E. Reverón, Esther Y. Maier, Christine L. Duvauchelle
23 citations
Hyperthermia and hyperlocomotor activity are commonly reported acute effects of high dose, experimenter-delivered 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). The current investigation was performed to determine short- to long-term physiological and behavioral changes induced by moderate intake MDMA self-administration. In the present study, rats self-administered MDMA (approx. 2.0-7.0 mg/kg/day)...
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
August 1, 2006
Ilaria Tamburini, Fabio Blandini, Marco Gesi et al.
24 citations
Abstract: Several studies, carried out in chronic (+/−) 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) abusers, have shown memory loss and cognitive impairment, as well as persistent electroencephalographic changes. This suggests that, at least in humans, forebrain areas, including the limbic system, might be altered by MDMA. Consistently, recent experimental evidences suggest that, in rodents, MDMA,...
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
August 1, 2006
Jerrold S. Meyer, Matthew E. Brevard, Brian J. Piper et al.
40 citations
Abstract: We used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate the acute effects of a recreational dose (1 mg/kg p.o.) of 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) on regional brain activity in awake, restrained marmoset monkeys. In a second study, magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and postmortem measurements of serotonin transporter (SERT) binding and serotonin (5‐HT)...
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
August 1, 2006
Raquel Faria, Ana Magalhães, Pedro Monteiro et al.
29 citations
Abstract: Long‐term behavioral consequences of the neurotoxicity produced by 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in the adolescent rat are still mostly unknown. Here, adolescent male rats (postnatal day 45 PND [45]) were exposed to 10 mg/kg of MDMA, intraperitoneally, every 2 h for 6 h. Controls were given 0.9% saline in the same protocol. Ten days after exposure, the behavioral effects of...
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
August 1, 2006
Filippo Sean Giorgi, Gloria Lazzeri, Gianfranco Natale et al.
33 citations
Abstract: In the past decades, there was a massive increase in the abuse of methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in the Western countries. Seizure onset after MDMA is considered to be related mainly to its acute systemic effects (e.g., hyponatremia and hyperthermia). However, additional mechanisms might concur to it as well. Experiments aimed at disclosing the basis for such an acute effect...
Addiction
July 8, 2006
Roland W. Freudenmann, Florian Öxler, Sabine Bernschneider‐reif
201 citations
ABSTRACT Background Little is known about the origin of methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy). The most commonly repeated statement in the medical literature is that MDMA was synthesized by the German pharmaceutical company Merck in 1912 in order to develop an appetite suppressor. Aim To reconstruct the true story of the first known description of MDMA at Merck using the original...
Human psychopharmacology
July 2006
A C Parrott, J Rodgers, Tom Buchanan et al.
Non-drug factors such as ambient temperature can heighten the adverse effects of MDMA (3,4-methylendioxymethamphetamine) in animals. We assessed whether dancing and feeling hot on Ecstasy would be associated with more psychobiological problems in recreational users. In an internet study, 206 unpaid participants (modal age 16-24) reported that they had used recreational Ecstasy/MDMA. They...
Neuropsychopharmacology
July 2006
Michael John Morgan, Lara Chiara Impallomeni, Alessandro Pirona et al.
Ecstasy (MDMA; 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) has a well-recognized neurotoxic effect on central serotonergic (5-HT) systems in animals, and there is some evidence of persistent serotonergic dysregulation in human ecstasy users. Serotonin is believed to mediate impulsive behavior and effective decision-making. Thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate impulsive behavior and...
European Journal of Neuroscience
July 1, 2006
Linda Ferrington, Eszter Kirilly, Douglas E. Mcbean et al.
21 citations
Abstract Acutely, 3,4,‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) induces cerebrovascular dysfunction [ Quate et al ., (2004) Psychopharmacol. , 173 , 287–295]. In the longer term the same single dose results in depletion of 5‐hydroxytrptamine (5‐HT) nerve terminals. In this study we examined the cerebrovascular consequences of this persistent neurodegeneration, and the acute effects of subsequent...
European Journal of Neuroscience
July 1, 2006
Kevin T. Ball, Daniel Budreau, George V. Rebec
40 citations
Abstract To investigate the neuronal mechanisms underlying the behavioural alterations that accompany repeated exposure to MDMA (ecstasy), we recorded the activity of > 200 striatal units in response to multiple, intermittent, locomotor‐activating doses (5.0 mg/kg) of MDMA. Rats were treated with once‐daily injections of either saline or MDMA for 5 days when housed in their home cage, followed...