Use of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; ecstasy) has increased dramatically in recent years, yet little is known about its effects on the developing brain. Neonatal rats were administered MDMA on days 1-10 or 11-20 (analogous to early and late human third trimester brain development). MDMA exposure had no effect on survival but did affect body weight gain during treatment. After treatme...

3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, "Ecstasy") releases serotonin and dopamine. The role for dopamine in mediating the effects of MDMA has not yet been examined in humans. We investigated the effect of pretreatment with the dopamine D(2) antagonist haloperidol (1.4 mg i.v.) on psychological and physiological responses to MDMA (1.5 mg/kg p.o.) in 14 healthy volunteers using a double-blind p...

objective: the aim of the present study was to investigate the neuroprotective effects of melissa officinalis, a major antioxidant plant, against neuron toxicity in hippocampal primary culture induced by 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (mdma) or ecstasy, one of the most abused drugs, which causes neurotoxicity. materials and methods: 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2 thiazoyl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromid...

This study examines the relationship between MDMA (Ecstasy), sexual behavior, and sexual risk taking. The sample consisted of 98 current and former users of MDMA. Several strategies were utilized to recruit respondents and data were collected through in-depth interviews during 1997 and 1998. The majority of respondents had used MDMA during the 6-month period prior to the interview and a large p...

The recreational drug, (+/-)3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, 'Ecstasy'), is a potent serotonin (5-HT) neurotoxin in animals. Whether humans who use MDMA incur 5-HT neural injury is unknown. The present studies utilized positron emission tomography (PET) in conjunction with the 5-HT transporter ligand, [11C]McN-5652 to assess the status of brain 5-HT neurons in human MDMA users. Like non...

“Ecstasy” or 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is commonly abused in nightclub “raves” and rock concerts, where its euphoric and stimulantlike effects can enhance social interaction and endurance. Recently, it has become increasingly popular as a recreational drug in Taiwan. The amount of Ecstasy confiscated by law enforcement agencies has increased from 700 to 44,650 g over the last fou...

The use of the street drug methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), commonly referred to as ecstasy, has become increasingly prevalent amongst teenagers and young adults in the United States and many other parts of the world. While most anesthesiologists are facile with the intricacies of managing patients intoxicated by alcohol, cocaine and narcotics the new "club" drugs present a challenge, espe...

Analysis often reveals variability in the composition of ecstasy pills from pure 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) to mixtures of MDMA derivatives, amphetamine, and other unidentified substances. For a comprehensive toxicological analysis one needs to know all steps to MDMA synthesis which may originate impurities. The aim of this study was to synthesise and determine the chemical-physic...

3,4- Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or "Ecstasy") is a psychoactive and hallucinogenic drug of abuse. MDMA has been shown to produce neurotoxicity both in animals and humans. Recently, the vasodilator drugs such as pentoxifylline is one of the new strategies which have been considered as neuroprotector. In this study effect of pentoxifylline on bcl-2 gene expression changes in hippocampus ...