The purpose of this review article is to give a summary of the literature on the use of psychedelic drugs, such as psilocybin, LSD, ayahuasca, and MDMA, in the treatment of various mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and substance use disorders. This review's main goal is to highlight recent human studies on the use of particular psychedelic drugs, like psilocybin, LSD,...
CureusMay 7, 2023Suhwoo Bae, Michael Vaysblat, Ilja Dejanovic et al.6 citations
Recreational drug use is a significant public health concern in various countries. It is well understood that usage of psychedelics/hallucinogens, such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), ecstasy, phencyclidine (PCP), and psilocybin-containing mushrooms, has increased significantly over the last few decades, particularly in adolescents and young adults, yet the effects of these recreational...
3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ‘Ecstasy’ or ‘Molly’) is a synthetic psychostimulant and entactogenic drug of abuse that augments feelings of pleasure, increases energy, and distorts sensory perception. MDMA increases serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine neurotransmission within the mesolimbic reward pathway, which impacts human sexual function. While dopamine is implicated as a...
PhysiologyMay 1, 2023Joshua Wyrosdic, Zahra Thirouin, Charles Bourque
Clinical studies have shown that hyponatremia can be induced by the ingestion of the recreational drug MDMA (3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine, ecstasy) when combined with a water intake (Baggot et al., 2016). However, the mechanisms by which MDMA induces hyponatremia is unknown. Hyponatremia is a life-threatening condition that causes rapid swelling of the brain and is commonly encountered...
Se presentan a continuación los resultados de un estudio exploratorio y descriptivo centrado en el análisis de los sentidos y vivencias asociados a experiencias de consumo de MDMA (3,4-metilendioximetanfetamina, Éxtasis) en usuarios jóvenes de esta sustancia que habitaban la ciudad de Montevideo en el período 2017-2019. Se desarrolló un muestreo no probabilístico en cadena que permitió la...
Withania somnifera (WS) is utilized in Ayurvedic medicine owing to its central and peripheral beneficial properties. Several studies have accrued indicating that the recreational amphetamine-related drug (+/-)- 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; Ecstasy) targets the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system in mice, inducing neurodegeneration and gliosis, causing acute hyperthermia and cognitive...
Les adolescents et jeunes adultes participant à des événements musicaux consomment fréquemment des substances psychoactives pour améliorer la qualité des relations et des perceptions. Parmi ces substances, une association de LSD puis de MDMA, prises à une heure d’intervalle, dénommée Candy Flip, connue depuis longtemps, bénéficie d’une bonne réputation. Notre travail explore ces substances en...
The increased use of the stimulant drug, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), more commonly known as Ecstasy, Molly or X, has been linked to the development of life-threatening hyperthermia in human and animal models. The current study aimed to investigate the role of the gut-adrenal axis in MDMA-induced hyperthermia by assessing the influence of the acute exogenous supplementation with...
BackgroundAlcohol and other substance use disorders are commonly associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and the presence of these comorbidities is associated with worse treatment outcomes. Additionally, disparities in substance and PTSD prevalence have been associated with minority races and ethnicities, and minorities have been shown to be less likely to engage in treatment....
This Patent Highlight describes derivatives of DMT, 5-MeO-DMT, and MDMA that are metabolically converted to biologically active analogs. When these prodrugs are administered to a subject, they potentially could be used therapeutically in conditions associated with neurological diseases. Furthermore, the disclosure provides methods to potentially treat conditions comprising major depressive...
Hyperthermia induced by psychomotor stimulants may cause leakage of the blood-brain barrier, vasogenic edema, and lethality in extreme cases. Current treatments such as whole-body cooling are only symptomatic and a clear need to develop pharmacological interventions exists. Dantrolene sodium, a peripheral muscle relaxant used in the treatment of malignant hyperthermia, has been proposed as...
Recent years have seen escalating media, public and scientific interest in psychedelic medicine. Australia and New Zealand have been late to this research; however, in the past 2 years, rapid developments suggest that this is changing. Here, we argue for the need to critically review existing evidence in this field to guide future directions. We focus on...
3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), a recreational drug, induces euphoric sensations and psychosocial effects, such as increased sociability and empathy. Serotonin, also called 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), is a neurotransmitter that has been associated with MDMA-induced prosocial effects. However, the detailed neural mechanisms remain elusive. In the present study, we investigated whether...
In February 2023, Australia became the first country in the world to allow psychiatrists to prescribe 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This may have left interested clinicians looking for practical examples of the use of MDMA. In the 1950s and 1960s, psychedelics were successfully utilized in the treatment of alcoholism. This case study, the...
Abstract MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) was originally synthesized and patented by the Merck chemical company in 1914. It was not explored for human use until the 1970–80s when there were published reports that it could be a useful catalyst to psychotherapy, in part because it often produced reduced anxiety and increased emotional openness. In 1985, in response to media attention to...
Within the modern resurgence of psychedelics as medicinal agents for a range of conditions, the story of MDMA (Ecstasy, Molly) has been re-narrated from a dangerous street drug to a breakthrough mental health therapy. Even still, the story of MDMA remains incomplete within a binary discourse of deviant recreational use versus psychotherapeutic-medical use. The present research aimed to uncover...
Introduction Curiosity toward the effects of psychedelic drugs on neural activation has increased due to their potential therapeutic benefits, particularly serotonergic psychedelics that act as 5-HT2A receptor agonists such as LSD, psilocybin, and MDMA. However, the pattern of their effects on neural activity in various brain regions in both clinical and healthy populations is still not well...
Abstract There is substantial contemporary interest in psychedelic agents as medicines for maladies of the mind. This follows research in the 1950s and 1960s exploring the use of LSD and other psychedelics to treat a range of psychiatric illnesses as well as addictions. This research was shut down after prohibition of these drugs; however, the last decade has seen a major renewal of interest in...
Methylone is one of the most common synthetic cathinones popularized as a substitute for 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, midomafetamine) owing to its similar effects among users. Both psychostimulants exhibit similar chemistry (i.e., methylone is a β-keto analog of MDMA) and mechanisms of action. Currently, the pharmacology of methylone remains scarcely explored in humans. Herein, we...