It’s also important to know that alcohol can interact with MDMA and cause more severe side effects. A large observational study from 2022 found that MDMA use was connected to a lower risk of depression, and they advise further study to see if this is a true association. Overall, research on the effects of chronic MDMA use is limited, and more studies in humans are needed to determine the long-term effects of this drug. Below, we’ll explore what the research says about the long-term effects of chronic MDMA use, both recreationally and medically. According to the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, roughly 2.2 million people reported using MDMA at least once over the past 12 months.
Risks of Ecstasy
MDMA can cause a number of uncomfortable and dangerous side effects. The effects of molly occur within 30 to 45 minutes of taking the drug and gradually wear off in about three to six hours. But because of the drug’s long half-life, molly https://sober-home.org/what-is-a-a-alcoholics-anonymous/ stays in your system even longer and can be detected in urine for up to four days. Whether or not deficits are caused by lack of sleep or use of other drugs, it is still the case that partying too hard may affect your mental abilities.
MDMA and the developing brain
Twelve-step recovery programs and support groups may be helpful, particularly when used in conjunction with cognitive behavioral interventions. While self-administration in animals is less common with MDMA than it is with other substances such as cocaine, there is strong evidence that ecstasy has long-term impacts on the brain’s chemical balance. In the worst cases, someone who has overdosed on MDMA may stop breathing and need to undergo CPR.
Dangers & Long-Term Effects of MDMA (Ecstasy)
Many users do this to avoid what is often called “the crash,” resulting in feelings of anxiety, depression, fatigue, exhaustion, irritability, agitation, and impulsivity. In some individuals, users become aggressive and struggle with insomnia, significant decrease in appetite, memory loss and difficulty concentrating. Repeated use of ecstasy interferes with the normal brain chemistry, resulting in severe mood-swings as well. Some people who use MDMA have self-reported experiencing feelings of addiction, with many persevering in taking the drug despite negative past experiences. Many people report cravings, withdrawal symptoms and increased tolerance to the substance, all indicators that MDMA can become addictive for certain individuals. In one smaller study in Sweden, researchers followed 50 people with severe mental health conditions for 5 years as they participated in psychedelic-assisted therapy.
One thing that you need to consider, is that a statistically significant effect on memory in a study, may reflect a very subtle (but possibly significant) effect on everyday life. Effects being subtle however, may also mean that effects on mental abilities caused by MDMA could go unnoticed. It is therefore very difficult to know if MDMA would affect you, or whether such effects would be a problem. Additionally, although the long term effects of MDMA may be less risky than something like tobacco, there is no way to know if what is bought illegally is actually MDMA. Long-term use of MDMA may lead to compulsive behaviors and neglect of important responsibilities such as work, school, commitments, and relationships. This large shift in priorities can mark the beginning of an addiction or substance use disorder developing.
Other effects include feeling greater empathy toward others and enhanced sensory perception. Ongoing clinical trials also suggest that ecstasy may help treat chronic post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). MDMA, also known as ecstasy or “molly,” is a synthetic drug known primarily for its hallucinogenic and stimulant effects. MDMA is short for its chemical name 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine. It is a derivative of amphetamine and has a similar structure to methamphetamine (“meth”). The length of an ecstasy ‘high’ will very much depend on the amount of the drug taken and the individual taking it.
However, the excessive serotonin release results in significant short-term depletion of serotonin in your brain. This can contribute to negative psychological aftereffects such as depression, anxiety, and fatigue, which you may experience for a few days after MDMA use. Taking an adulterated drug can lead to unexpected and unwelcome side effects and may increase its potential health risks. Over the past decade, illegally made opioids like fentanyl have been increasingly found in the drug supply, and have contributed to a dramatic rise in drug overdose deaths in the United States.
- The early results are promising and show the possibility of positive long-term effects as well.
- It is generally risky to take any drug while breastfeeding without medical advice.
- Seven years after quitting ecstasy, the man was experiencing severe short-term memory problems.
- Another important symptom of drug dependence is difficulty in controlling or abstaining from drug use despite negative social, psychological or physical consequences.
Elevated levels of serotonin and dopamine also play a role in a drug being addictive due to an increase in impulsivity. People have reported experiencing withdrawal symptoms https://sober-home.org/ like fatigue and loss of concentration. Ecstasy overdose symptoms can include faintness, panic attacks or extreme anxiety, high blood pressure, and seizures.
MDMA is classified as a schedule I drug, which means that it hasn’t been accepted or approved to treat any medical conditions. However, early research suggests that MDMA may become a potential treatment option for several mental health conditions in the future. Even though MDMA doesn’t necessarily have addictive properties like some other drugs, such as cocaine or methamphetamine, there’s still the potential for substance misuse. And chronic, heavy use of MDMA may even have long-term effects — especially on serotonin in the brain. The immediate impact of ecstasy begins within about 45 minutes of taking a dose. People typically experience an increased sense of well-being and emotional warmth.
The drug’s rewarding effects vary with the individual taking it, the dose taken, purity of the MDMA, and the environment in which it is taken. In rats, these effects include reduced expression of the serotonin transporter responsible for recycling serotonin and changes in genes that regulate serotonin production. Similar effects on the serotonin system in humans could potentially disrupt serotonin levels, leading to changes in mood and cognition (ability to think).
MDMA-assisted therapy is a therapeutic approach that uses MDMA as a tool within a controlled and supervised therapeutic setting. It involves using lower doses of MDMA in conjunction with multihour psychotherapy sessions to address mental health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety. MDMA (an abbreviation of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine), also called “Molly” or “Ecstasy,” is a lab-made (synthetic) drug that has effects similar to stimulants like methamphetamine. It is typically sold illicitly as colorful tablets with imprinted logos, capsules, powder, or liquid. Some researchers and organizations consider MDMA to be a psychedelic drug because it can also mildly alter visual and time perception.
If you are suffering with drug addiction, contact us to see how we can help you. This includes videos providing information about where and how to get help for yourself or someone you care about. Anyone under the influence of ecstasy who kills or injures another person while driving can be sentenced to a term in prison. Doctors recommend that you drink 500ml per hour if you are moving around (eg dancing), and 250ml per hour if you are not moving around. Download the ecstasy fact sheet and watch the Respect Your Brain videos for more information.
MDMA causes a huge release of serotonin in the brain, creating feelings of happiness, relaxation and wellbeing. If the person has been mixing ecstasy with other drugs, tell the NSW Ambulance paramedic exactly what they have taken. Generally paramedics don’t involve the police unless there is danger to themselves or other people/children, someone dies, or a crime (such as violence or theft) has been committed. If you use ecstasy often and for a long time you may also develop a tolerance to the drug. Tolerance means that you must take more of the drug to get the same effects you used to have with smaller amounts. It appears that you feel more unpleasant effects when you use more ecstasy.
Whether such effects would last for a very long time is also debatable. There is strong evidence from brain imaging studies suggesting that most changes in the brain areas affected by MDMA (serotonergic system) are not long term. Our Skills & Knowledge Division concentrates on growing the capacity of Australia’s youth mental health workforce with an emphasis on accessible expertise and innovation. The animated video series for young people explores the effects of alcohol, cannabis and MDMA on the adolescent brain. Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is an an empathogen, which means it increases an individual’s feeling of empathy and compassion towards others.
However, it’s essential to seek professional medical guidance rather than attempting to self-medicate. Prolonged or heavy MDMA use can result in persistent changes in your brain’s serotonin system. Regular overuse of MDMA use has been linked to confusion, depression, anxiety, paranoia, and difficulties with memory and attention. MDMA first became popular in nightclubs, but people now take it in a wide range of settings. Researchers are also studying MDMA as a treatment for depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in supervised clinical research trials.
The medical use of MDMA is highly regulated and only administered by healthcare professionals in regulated settings.
It is an illegal drug that acts as both a stimulant and psychedelic, producing an energizing effect, as well as distortions in time and perception and enhanced enjoyment from tactile experiences. While there are no specific treatments for ecstasy addiction, the National Institute on Drug Abuse suggests that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most effective option. This type of intervention helps change how people think and behave to support addiction recovery.
Research has shown that animals will self-administer MDMA, an indicator of a drug’s abuse potential. Damage to brain serotonin neurons can occur; serotonin is thought to play a role in regulating mood, memory, sleep, and appetite. Studies are conflicting on MDMA use and its affects on memory and cognition.
Dependent users may find it difficult to stop using MDMA or control how much they use. People who already have mental health problems or a history of mental illness should not take MDMA. MDMA is a stimulant drug that may increase feelings of empathy and is usually swallowed. Animal studies show that MDMA in moderate to high doses can damage nerve cells in the brain.
