Balázs Szigeti, Ellen Bradley, Joshua Woolley
preprint
On August 9th the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) rejected 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine assisted therapy (MDMA-AT) as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), despite seemingly positive trial results. A major reason cited was functional unmasking, which combined with enthusiasm about MDMA, raised concerns about the objectivity of these trials. Here, we define what is...
L. J. Flameling, Jacob S. Aday, Michiel van Elk
1 citation
preprint
In their recent paper titled “MDMA-assisted therapy for moderate to severe PTSD: a randomized, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial”, Mitchell et al.1 report on the results from a study researching the potential use of 3,4-methylenedioxy methamphetamine-assisted therapy (MDMA-AT) for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We applaud the efforts made to further establish the efficacy...
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
Kathleen A. Trychta, Brandon K. Harvey
1 citation
preprint
Abstract Drugs of abuse can cause local and systemic hyperthermia, a known trigger of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and the unfolded protein response (UPR). Another trigger of ER stress and UPR is ER calcium depletion which causes ER exodosis, the secretion of ER resident proteins. Club drugs such as 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ‘ecstasy’) can create hyperthermic conditions in...
SSRN Electronic Journal
Vincent Joralemon
preprint
MDMA is currently a Schedule I controlled substance, the most restrictive category under the Controlled Substances Act. But Lykos Therapeutics' (formerly MAPS PBC) pending New Drug Application for MDMA-assisted therapy as a treatment for PTSD may force the Drug Enforcement Administration's hand: FDA approval supplies the "accepted medical use" that Schedule I drugs are statutorily denied,...
Research Square
Majid Eslami, Laleh Khorshidi, Maryam Ghasemi et al.
preprint
Abstract 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) or "Ecstasy", which has been used for recreational purposes, is shown to cause learning and memory impairment. Statins, beyond their efficient cholesterol-lowering action through inhibition of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-COA) reductase, possess multiple neuroprotective impacts referred to as pleiotropic effects. In this regard, we aimed...
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
Shawn. M. Aarde, Pai-Kai Huang, Michael A. Taffe
1 citation
preprint
Abstract Rationale MDMA alters body temperature in rats with a direction that depends on the ambient temperature (T A ). The thermoregulatory effects of MDMA and T A may affect intravenous self-administration (IVSA) of MDMA but limited prior reports conflict. Objective To determine how body temperature responses under high and low T A influence MDMA IVSA. Methods Male Sprague-Dawley rats were...
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
M. A. Taffe
preprint
Abstract Hyperthermic responses are commonly reported in cases of human medical emergency following recreational use of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, “Ecstasy”), but a precise determination of contributing environmental factors has been elusive given the relative scarcity of threatening and fatal reactions in humans. This study was conducted to determine if elevated physical activity...
Balázs Szigeti
1 citation
preprint
On August 9th the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) rejected 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine assisted therapy (MDMA-AT) as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) despite seemingly positive trial results. A major reason cited was functional unmasking, which combined with enthusiasm about MDMA, raised concerns about the objectivity of these trials. Here, we define what is...
Kelley C O'Donnell, Michael Alpert, Lauren Okano et al.
preprint
Results from multiple recent studies support the use of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in conjunction with psychotherapy (i.e., MDMA-Assisted Therapy) in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In two Phase 3 trials, MDMA-Assisted Therapy comprised a short-term, intensive psychotherapy that included three sessions directly facilitated by MDMA (referred to as...
Cell Reports
October 26, 2026
Di Wu, Chuanyu Liu, Hongshuang Wang et al.
Amphetamine-type stimulants (ATSs) disrupt the brain monoaminergic system and strongly stimulate motivation, movement, and addiction. Vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) plays a vital role in monoaminergic neurotransmission by sequestering monoamines in presynaptic vesicles. How ATS binds to and regulates VMAT2 remains elusive. Here, we report the cryo-EM structures of human VMAT2 in...