This article gives a brief account of a two-year experience with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry methods developed for the analysis of opiates (morphine, codeine, heroin and 6-acetylmorphine), cocaine, methadone, and amphetamines (amphetamine; methamphetamine; 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine--MDA, and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine--MDMA, Ecstasy) in hair. The methods developed were repro...

BACKGROUND 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) misuse is associated with hyponatremia particularly in women. Hyponatremia is possibly due to inappropriate secretion of plasma arginine vasopressin (AVP). OBJECTIVE To assess whether MDMA increases plasma AVP and copeptin in healthy male and female subjects and whether effects depend on MDMA-induced release of serotonin and norepin...

Ecstasy normally contains 3,4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) that increases the levels of serotonin, dopamine, and epinephrine in the central nervous system with consequent adverse effects on the cardiovascular system. Herein, we presented a case of ecstasy abuse which resulted in two episodes myocardial infarction during a three month period; the second episode led to death due to thromb...

Three cases of jaundice after ingestion of 3,4-methylenedioxymetamphetamine (MDMA), known as 'ecstasy', are reported and the complications associated with the misuse of this drug, which was initially misrepresented as 'safer than alcohol' are described. Ingestion of 'ecstasy' should be considered when investigating unexplained jaundice in younger patients.

Laboratory animals can develop serotonergic neurotoxicity after repeated doses of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) or ‘Ecstasy’. If similar neural damage occurs in humans, this may be evident in cognitive or behavioural impairments. In a review of the behavioural skills shown by drug-free recreational Ecstasy users, three aspects of cognitive performance are often affected: reduced memo...

BACKGROUND Although 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) has a long history in recreational settings, research on its composition (purity and adulteration) has focused only on tablets even though crystal format is readily available for users. METHODS Drug specimens collected between January 2000 and December 2014 were analyzed at Energy Control's facilities. All samples were voluntarily p...

In the last decade, a global trend of escalating ecstasy (MDMA, MDA, MDEA, MBDB) use was observed. Mentions on medical death certificates, last year's ecstasy use, number of drug offenders, seizures, prices and dosage levels figures were used for this descriptive and correlational study. Figures (1994-2003) were taken from the UK General Mortality Registers, from the Home Office Statistical Bul...

MDMA [(+/-)3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, also known as ecstasy] is a popular recreational drug among women of reproductive age. The objective of this study was to investigate the long-term neurobehavioral consequences of early developmental MDMA exposure. On postnatal days (PD) 1-4, Sprague-Dawley rats received two 10 mg/kg injections of MDMA with an inter-dose interval of 4 h. Male subjec...

background: corn silk (cs) is widely used in iranian traditional medicine and feijoa sellowiana(fs) is a native plant widespread in the southern parts of iran. the aim of the present study was to assess renal protective activities of cs and fs against dosage induced injury by ecstasy (mdma) using insitu rat renal perfusion (irrp) system.methods: hydro-alcoholic extract of cs and fs (10, 20, 40 ...

MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) was first used as a legal adjunct to psychotherapy in the 1970s. By the early 1980s, "Ecstasy" had become a tiny part of the recreational American drug scene, and was ultimately criminalized in 1986. For a decade use continued, but remained quiet. By the end of the 1990s, increased supply, demand, seizures of pills, arrests of distributors associated wit...