Because of a lapse in government funding, the information on this website may not be up to date, transactions submitted via the website may not be processed, and the agency may not be able to respond to inquiries until appropriations are enacted. The NIH Clinical Center (the research hospital of NIH) is open. For more details about its operating status, please visit cc.nih.gov. Updates regarding government operating status and resumption of normal operations can be found at opm.gov. When used in a therapeutic setting, MDMA may enhance many aspects of talk therapy.

It’s part of a wider group of chemicals called phenethylamines, known for their hallucinogenic and stimulant effects. The drugs methamphetamine and cathinone (bath salts) are also part of this group. As some of the above names suggest, MDMA is a derivative of amphetamine and a member of the phenethylamine family. A number of homologous compounds with broadly similar effects, e.g.

Short-term side effects of MDMA

Educate yourself and your friends about the safety tips for ecstasy use to reduce unwanted health problems. A 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health of people aged 12 or older showed that almost 2.2 million people said they used ecstasy in 2023, or nearly 1% of people surveyed. More than 22 million of those surveyed said they have tried ecstasy at some point in their lives. This involves taking ecstasy along with the hallucinogenic drug LSD. It was first made by German scientists in 1912, but it became widely available on the streets in the 1970s. It’s used to increase alertness and experience longer periods of happiness.

Therapeutic uses of MDMA

It’s no surprise that homemade MDMA operations often lead to fires, chemical burns, or arrests. Although one of its key ingredients—safrole—is derived from the sassafras plant, the final product is synthesized through a multi-step chemical process. The reality is that MDMA is man-made and typically produced in illegal labs using a variety of hazardous chemicals. The full, long-term effects of MDMA on the brain aren’t known. However, because MDMA affects brain chemicals, some researchers think it could have lasting effects on areas, such as cognition and mood.

• MDMA is often called molly or ecstasy and is frequently taken in pill or capsule form.
• The reported effects of MDMA vary according to the dose and the frequency and duration of use.
• No one will get in trouble, and the information could be lifesaving.
• While theoretically possible, it is illegal, hazardous, and involves toxic chemicals.

These additives not only reduce purity but also increase the risks of overdose and adverse reactions. The drug can be sold in powder, capsule, or pressed pill form, each potentially containing unknown substances. From the foregoing review, one must conclude that the whole group of amphetamines and related drugs strongly resemble each other and cocaine, at least with respect to their toxic effects.190 However, the question of the likelihood of addiction, as discussed earlier, cannot yet be answered and must await a longer accumulation of clinical experience. As noted earlier in this review, the usual “recreational” dose of MDMA or MDEA produces blood levels in the range of 100–250 ng/mL, or 100–250 μg (0.1–0.25 mg) per litre. Most of the cases of serious toxicity or fatality have involved blood levels ranging from 0.5 mg/L to 10 mg/L, that is, up to 40 times higher than the usual recreational range.

Health Risks of Molly and Ecstasy Use

Lasting all night, these events feature dancing to techno (a type of electronic music) amidst laser light shows and often involve illicit drug use, especially ecstasy. People who identify as heterosexual males accounted for over half of ecstasy users compared with 28% of people who identify as heterosexual females, according to a 2023 study. Bisexual females made up about 10% of ecstasy users compared with gay males (4.6%), bisexual males (3.6%), and lesbian females (1.7%).

• “Ecstasy” (MDMA) and related drugs are amphetamine derivatives that also have some of the pharmacological properties of mescaline.
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• Ecstasy was originally developed by Merck pharmaceutical company in 1912.
• This is made more likely by overexerting yourself physically while on ecstasy, for example, by dancing all night at a rave or in other hot environments.
• This is an important point, because it demonstrates the degree to which the seriousness of the effects can be dependent on environmental factors other than the drug concentration.
• However, some researchers are studying ways that MDMA might be useful as a treatment for certain mental health conditions.

More on Substance Abuse and Addiction

MDA (methylenedioxyamphetamine), MDEA (methylenedioxyethylamphetamine) and MBDB (N-methyl-1-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-2-butanamine), have appeared, but have proved less popular. These and many other more distant relatives of MDMA have now been subsumed by the generic term ecstasy. Street terms for MDMA include Adam and XTC, but often reflect the imprinted logo, e.g. There’s no set definition for “hard drugs.” Generally, hard drugs are considered to be those with the greatest potential for harm and addiction, such as heroin and cocaine.

MDMA is more likely to lead to a serious emergency, like an overdose, if it’s been cut with another drug. If someone is overdosing, it’s important to get them medical attention right away. Using alcohol or other drugs along with ecstasy makes it more likely to harm yourself and end up in the hospital. If you’re going to take ecstasy, try to take it in mini doses.

Avoid being around bodies of water, hills, or being in a car. Before and during your time on ecstasy, drink one 16-ounce bottle of water for every hour that passes while on the drug. This will stop you from getting dehydrated and possibly fainting or feeling lightheaded. If you or someone you know has suicidal thoughts while using ecstasy, call or text 988 (the national suicide hotline) or visit , which provides support via online chats. You may worry about getting in trouble with the police for using ecstasy.

Still legal in 1984, MDMA was being sold under the brand name “Ecstasy,” but by 1985, the drug had been banned due to safety concerns. The Foundation for a Drug-Free World is a nonprofit, international drug education program proudly sponsored by the Church of Scientology and Scientologists all over the world. This book has helped so many men and women; and we want to give it you for FREE.

MDEA is also sometimes called ecstasy by its vendors and users, but is more often referred to as Eve. The 3 compounds are closely similar in their chemistry and in their biological effects, so that the description of MDMA in the rest of this review also applies in the main to MDEA, and to a considerable extent to MDA. MDMA is a synthetic substance commonly known as ecstasy, although the latter term has now been generalised to cover a wide range of other substances. Originally developed in 1912 by the Merck chemical company, it was never marketed as such.

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It’s important to note that recreational use is often much more frequent and higher in dose than therapeutic use. When you contact 911, always let them know what drugs the person took and how much. No one will get in trouble, and the information could be lifesaving. MDMA is classed as a Schedule 1 controlled substance and is illegal in the United States.

This can cause lockjaw, a painful condition in which you can’t fully open your mouth. Some people who take ecstasy suck on lollipops or pacifiers to prevent this. As the effects begin to fade, people often take another dose of ecstasy to double the time it lasts. The effects of ecstasy typically last about four to six hours, though they can continue for weeks. This involves taking several doses of ecstasy spread out over a short time.

Stiffness and pain in the lower-back and limb muscles are very common complaints during the first 2–3 days after the use of MDMA. Headache, nausea, loss of appetite, blurred vision, dry mouth and insomnia are other commonly reported physical symptoms during the drug experience and immediately afterwards. Heart rate and blood pressure, which are usually elevated during the drug experience, tend to fluctuate more widely than normal during the following days. “Ecstasy” (MDMA) and related drugs are amphetamine derivatives that also have some of the pharmacological properties of mescaline. They have become popular with participants in “raves,” Ecstasy ingredients because they enhance energy, endurance, sociability and sexual arousal.