Ecstasy (MDMA) in recreational users: self reported psychological and physiological effects. Hum Psychopharmacol

Twenty recreational drug users were asked to describe the psychological and physiological eects they experienced under MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine). The subjects comprised 11 males and nine females, in the age range 18–31 years. Five subjects had taken MDMA once, nine had taken it 2–9 times, while six subjects had taken it 10 times. Each subject completed a modified Profile of Mood States Questionnaire (POMS), an Ecstasy Eect Questionnaire, and a structured interview, covering past experience with MDMA. Increased feelings of elation, agreeableness, energy, and mental confusion were reported on-drug ( p < 0001), together with faster heart rate, feeling hot, increased sweating and dehydration, dilated pupils, and tight jaw (trismus). Coming o-Ecstasy led to feelings of lethargy, moodiness, insomnia, depression, irritability, and paranoia. Bad MDMA trips were reported by 25 per cent of the sample, following a variety of unpleasant experiences. Chronic pharmacodynamic tolerance was not apparent, since although regular users all described their first MDMA experience as ‘the most intense’, later trips were aected by knowledge and expectancy, rather than any diminution in drug response. Acute pharmacodynamic tolerance was, however, evident, with a period between drugs being described as necessary in order to maintain dru