At certain doses, the psychoactive drug (±) 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, “Ecstasy”) destroys brain serotonin axon terminals. By causing increases in plasma MDMA concentrations that exceed those predicted by the increase in dose, non-linear pharmacokinetics has the potential to narrow the range between safe and neurotoxic doses of MDMA. The present study sought to determine if the p...

AIMS To improve our understanding of the pharmacology of 'ecstasy' in recreational environments; in particular, to describe the composition of ecstasy pills, patterns of ecstasy use and the relationship between dose of 3,4-methylendioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and resulting plasma concentrations. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS A naturalistic observational study of 56 experienced 'ecstasy' use...

Decision-making, i.e. selecting an action from a number of alternatives when the outcome is uncertain, is a complex process that is important for everyday life. 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), also known as 'Ecstasy', is a widely used recreational drug that is known to increase serotonin (5-HT) and, to a lesser extent, dopamine (DA) in animals. This study examined whether MDMA alters ...

3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is an illicit psychoactive drug with cardiovascular effects that have not been fully described. In the current study, we observed the effects of acute MDMA on rabbit left ventricular function. We also observed the effects of MDMA on nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activity in cultured rat ventricular myocytes (H9c2). In the rabbit, MDMA (2 mg/kg) alone ca...

The delta opioid system is involved in the behavioral effects of various drugs of abuse. However, only a few studies have focused on the possible interactions between the opioid system and the effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). In order to examine the possible role of the delta opioid system in MDMA-induced behaviors in mice, locomotor activity and conditioned place preference...

PURPOSE Using a case-control design, patterns of drug use, psychological symptoms, and behavioral characteristics associated with 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA ) use were surveyed in a sample of older adolescents (median age 20). METHODS One hundred (42 MDMA users; 58 non-MDMA users) older adolescents were recruited using the "snowball" technique and interviewed regarding their use ...

3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is a widely abused illicit drug that can cause severe and even fatal adverse effects. However, interest remains for its possible clinical applications in posttraumatic stress disorder and anxiety treatment. Preclinical studies to determine MDMA's safety are needed. We evaluated MDMA's pharmacokinetics and metabolism in male rats receiving 2.5, 5, and 10 ...

Our study was aimed at analyzing the basis for the apparent lack of perinatal sensitivity to the serotonergic neurotoxin 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, "ecstasy"). MDMA (20 mg/kg s. c.) repeatedly administered to rat dams during gestation, did not affect [3H]paroxetine-labeled serotonin (5-HT) transporter density and 5-HT content in the offspring. A single dose of MDMA was then given...

3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is a widely abused illicit drug that can cause severe and even fatal adverse effects. However, interest remains for its possible clinical applications in posttraumatic stress disorder and anxiety treatment. Preclinical studies to determine MDMA’s safety are needed. We evaluated MDMA’s pharmacokinetics and metabolism in male rats receiving 2.5, 5, and 10 ...

Acute treatment with (+-)3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) at high doses (10 and 30 mg/kg, IP), but not lower doses increased locomotor activity in male rats. MDMA did not consistently produce any other stereotyped behaviors at any dose. Dopamine (DA) turnover rate as estimated by the ratio of brain tissue levels of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) over DA was decreased in the stri...