Knowledge Tree
MDMA
Also known as: 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, Ecstasy, Molly
Facts (76)
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Effects of psychedelics on neurogenesis and broader neuroplasticity link.springer.com Dec 19, 2024 35 facts
measurementCanales and Ferrer-Donato (2014) demonstrated that a 10 mg/kg dose of MDMA combined with alcohol, administered during the E13-E15 pregnancy window, reduced neurogenesis (proliferation and survival) by approximately 40% in adult female offspring compared to saline controls.
claimResearchers in the study by Hernández-Rabaza et al. found no difference in potential abnormalities in the growth of new neurons between MDMA-treated rats and the control group.
referenceCatlow BJ, Badanich KA, Sponaugle AE, Rowe AR, Song S, Rafalovich I, Sava V, Kirstein CL, and Sanchez-Ramos J published 'Effects of MDMA (ecstasy) during adolescence on place conditioning and hippocampal neurogenesis' in the 'European Journal of Pharmacology' in 2010.
measurementIn the study by Cho et al. (2008), both 1.25 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg doses of MDMA led to reduced cell proliferation in rat offspring when measured 24 hours post-BrdU labeling, but the higher dose of 20 mg/kg resulted in fewer BrdU-positive cells at 28 days post-BrdU labeling.
measurementCanales and Ferrer-Donato (2014) observed a 30% reduction in locomotion and a 50% increase in working memory errors in adult female offspring exposed to both MDMA and alcohol during the E13-E15 pregnancy window.
claimAdolescent exposure to MDMA affects neural proliferation more significantly in adults compared to younger subjects, suggesting lasting implications based on the timing of exposure.
claimMDMA is being explored as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) under controlled dosing regimens.
claimPrenatal exposure to MDMA alters noradrenergic neurodevelopment in rats, according to a 2012 study by Thompson et al. published in Neurotoxicology and Teratology.
measurementGarcía-Cabrerizo and García-Fuster (2016) found a positive correlation between mature BDNF (mBDNF) levels and the number of BrdU+ cells (r = 0.492), and a stronger correlation between 5-HT2CR expression and mBDNF (r = 0.713) in rats exposed to MDMA.
claimPrenatal and neonatal exposure to MDMA can result in long-term impairments in neurogenesis and behavioral deficits.
claimSessa B published research in 2017 regarding the use of MDMA in the treatment of PTSD, framing it as an innovative therapeutic approach.
claimDavid E. Nichols identified a new therapeutic class of drugs called entactogens in 1986, distinguishing them from MDMA, MBDB, and classic hallucinogens based on their mechanism of action.
referenceMithoefer et al. (2019) published a study in Psychopharmacology outlining the study design and rationale for phase 3 clinical trials of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD, based on a pooled analysis of six phase 2 randomized controlled trials.
referenceA. Papaseit et al. reviewed the interactions of MDMA with pharmaceuticals and drugs of abuse in a 2020 article published in Expert Opinion on Drug Metabolism & Toxicology.
referenceThe National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) maintains information regarding MDMA (Ecstasy/Molly) as of 2024.
claimIn experiments using the Open Field test, 5 mg/kg of DOI failed to boost the head-twitch response (HTR) in mice with a 5-HT2BR knockout, and 20 mg/kg of MDMA failed to increase the locomotor response in the same genotype compared to control mice, suggesting 5-HT2BR may play a significant role in the behavioral effects of psychedelics.
measurementIn a study by Catlow et al. (2010), rats treated with 5 mg/kg of MDMA per day for 10 days exhibited an initial increase in BrdU+ cells immediately following treatment, followed by a 40–50% decrease in these cells 14 days later.
claimPhenethylamines, such as MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) and its analogs, affect monoamines by blocking their uptake and forcing their release into the synaptic cleft.
accountPsychopharmacologist Alexander Shulgin synthesized MDMA in the 1970s and, following self-experimentation, proposed its use as a medicine to assist patients in therapy for PTSD and addiction disorders.
claimGarcía-Cabrerizo and García-Fuster (2016) posited that chronic MDMA exposure (60 mg/kg) negatively affects overall plasticity, with more pronounced effects observed in adult animals.
measurementGarcía-Cabrerizo and García-Fuster (2016) found no significant impact on neurogenesis in rats when a lower dosage of 15 mg/kg of MDMA (3 × 5 mg within 1 day) was administered.
claimMDMA is currently in the final stages of clinical research for approval as a psychotherapeutic tool for the treatment of PTSD.
accountIn the 1980s, MDMA began to be sold illicitly as a street drug under names such as 'molly' or 'ecstasy'.
measurementThe Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) phase 3 studies utilize MDMA doses ranging from 0.08 to 0.18 grams per patient.
claimPrenatal exposure to MDMA results in long-term behavioral consequences in rats, as reported by Thompson et al. in a 2009 study in Physiology & Behavior.
claimSchaefer TL, Grace CE, Braun AA, Amos-Kroohs RM, Graham DL, Skelton MR, Williams MT, and Vorhees CV reported in 2009 that developmental exposure to the serotonergic drugs citalopram and MDMA results in cognitive impairments.
referenceArmenian and Rodda (2020) analyzed two decades of demographic trends in decedents who used MDMA (Ecstasy).
measurementCatlow et al. (2010) reported that MDMA treatment reduced the survival of new neurons in rats by approximately 40–50%, as determined by co-labeling BrdU and NeuN.
claimThompson et al. (2012) found that maternal ingestion of MDMA during the E14-E20 embryonic window increased fiber density in the prelimbic cortex and the CA1 region of the hippocampus in offspring.
measurementIn a study by Hernández-Rabaza et al., male rats administered 40 mg/kg of MDMA over two days showed no change in cell proliferation immediately, but exhibited a 40% decrease in new cells (BrdU+ cells) in the dentate gyrus when assessed 14 days post-treatment compared to the control group.
measurementGarcía-Cabrerizo and García-Fuster (2016) reported that a 60 mg/kg dose of MDMA (administered as 3 × 5 mg/kg over 4 days) had a more significant negative impact on cell proliferation in adult rats (P48-P58) compared to adolescent rats (P27-P37), as measured by ki67 and BrdU labeling.
claimLow doses of MDMA used in therapeutic contexts show minimal adverse effects on brain morphology.
claimMDMA exhibits dose-dependent effects on neurogenesis, where high doses are linked to decreased proliferation and survival of new neurons, potentially leading to neurotoxic outcomes.
procedureCho et al. (2008) investigated the impact of MDMA on adult neurogenesis in the offspring of dams exposed to 1.25 or 20 mg/kg of MDMA for 36 days (E6-P21) via oral gavage.
accountMerck chemist Anton Köllisch initially developed MDMA in 1912 as an appetite suppressant, though it was never sold for that purpose.
History and Current Status of Psychedelics and Entactogens ... - NCBI ncbi.nlm.nih.gov 17 facts
claimMDMA has been found to be very valuable within a psychotherapeutic context due to its ability to facilitate insight, introspection, and positive mood.
accountLori Tipton described the therapists in the MAPS MDMA trial as 'trauma doulas' who created a safe environment for inner discovery and healing, while emphasizing that the participant was responsible for doing the work of healing.
accountIn 2017, Lori Tipton participated in a Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) clinical trial exploring the use of MDMA for the treatment of PTSD.
claimCharles Grob and colleagues conducted the first Phase 1 study of MDMA in the early 1990s to establish safety parameters.
claimNon-classic hallucinogens include MDMA (also known as ecstasy or molly), ketamine, and ibogaine, according to Charles Grob.
accountTipton completed the MDMA-assisted therapy trial in 2018 and reported that she no longer qualified for a PTSD diagnosis, a status she maintained as of the time of the interview.
claimMDMA is classified as an entactogen, a term reflecting its ability to promote affiliative social behavior, according to Nichols (2022).
claimTipton's personal therapist observed that the progress Tipton made in less than 6 months of MDMA-assisted therapy would have taken decades to achieve with traditional therapy.
accountTipton reported that MDMA-assisted therapy sessions allowed her to recall specific details about a murder scene at her mother's house that were previously missing from her internal narrative.
accountFollowing its synthesis in 1912, MDMA was "put on a back shelf and forgotten" due to the onset of World War I, according to Charles Grob.
accountClinical interest in MDMA resurfaced in the mid-1970s, but by the early 1980s it became popular as a club drug, leading to its scheduling as a controlled substance, according to Charles Grob.
referenceThe MAPS Phase 3 MDMA-Assisted Therapy for PTSD study is a clinical trial investigating the use of MDMA for treating PTSD.
claimMDMA is characterized as relatively mild, easily controlled, of moderate duration, and having the unique quality of facilitating profound empathy and compassion toward oneself and others.
accountU.S. Army Intelligence investigated MDMA and related compounds in the 1950s due to their structural similarity to mescaline and amphetamine, but the research ended abruptly after a participant died.
referenceThe MDMA-assisted psychotherapy trial conducted by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) utilized a client-led therapy model that allowed participants to maintain control over the topics discussed during sessions.
quoteTipton described her MDMA-assisted therapy sessions as 'very interesting and intense' and noted that the experience allowed her to feel embodied in a way she had not felt in years due to PTSD.
accountTipton participated in a clinical trial where she received MDMA three times over approximately three months.
Neuroimaging in psychedelic drug development: past, present, and ... nature.com Sep 27, 2023 11 facts
claimResting-state data from neuroscience studies has provided insights into the acute brain-network effects of psilocybin, LSD, and MDMA.
referenceCarhart-Harris et al. (2014) published a study in the International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology on the effect of acutely administered MDMA on subjective and BOLD-fMRI responses to favourite and worst autobiographical memories.
claimWhile the authors focused their study outlines on 5-HT2AR agonist 'classic' psychedelics like psilocybin, LSD, and DMT, these study frameworks could be applied to other novel therapies such as ketamine, MDMA, and ibogaine.
measurementAs of the time of writing, there are 96 registered clinical trials for psilocybin, 112 for MDMA, 132 for LSD, 20 for Dimethyltryptamine, and 4 for ibogaine listed on clinicaltrials.gov.
claimPET investigations have been used to understand the long-term effects of recreational MDMA and psychedelic use on serotonin brain markers, specifically serotonin transporters and 5-HT2A receptors.
referenceCarhart-Harris et al. (2015) published a study in Biological Psychiatry investigating the effects of acutely administered 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) on spontaneous brain function in healthy volunteers, utilizing arterial spin labelling and blood oxygen level-dependent resting-state functional connectivity.
claimEarly clinical trial work in the mid-2000s tested the efficacy of MDMA in treating post-traumatic stress disorder.
referenceA systematic review published in Psychopharmacology in 2022 examined drug-drug interactions between psychiatric medications and MDMA or psilocybin.
claimKetamine, 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), and ibogaine are psychoactive substances that hold promise for psychiatric treatment alongside classic serotonergic psychedelics.
claimTask fMRI data has shown that LSD affects the brain's response to positive hedonic stimuli such as music, psilocybin affects social and emotional processing, and MDMA affects the recall of positive and negative emotional memories.
claimModern research into classic psychedelics and related compounds includes the study of LSD, psilocybin, N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), MDMA, ketamine, and ibogaine.
What Western medicine can learn from the ancient history of ... - BBC bbc.com Sep 11, 2024 3 facts
accountOn 10 August 2024, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced it would not approve MDMA-assisted therapy as a treatment for moderate to severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), citing insufficient data to conclude the drug was safe and effective, despite promising results from a Phase 3 trial published in September 2023.
claimProponents of psychedelic-assisted therapy suggest that compounds like MDMA, LSD, psilocybin, and ketamine may help alter the perspectives of individuals suffering from 'diseases of despair'—such as suicide, drug overdose, and alcohol abuse—when used in conjunction with talking therapy.
claimModern medical researchers are investigating psychedelic compounds such as MDMA, LSD, psilocybin, and ketamine as potential treatments for psychiatric disorders including anxiety, depression, and substance abuse.
Ancient Roots of Today's Emerging Renaissance in ... link.springer.com 2 facts
claimIn the last decade, governing bodies have approved clinical trials for MDMA, ketamine, LSD, psilocybin, and dimethyltryptamine.
claimInterventions using psilocybin and MDMA have been most effective when carried out over several weeks with oversight from therapists, according to studies by Carhart-Harris et al. (2021), Davis et al. (2020), Griffiths et al. (2016), and Mitchell et al. (2021).
The Mechanisms of Psychedelic Visionary Experiences - Frontiers frontiersin.org Sep 27, 2017 2 facts
referenceRay (2016) proposed the 'primer/probe method' for constructing the ecstasy of MDMA from its component mental organs in the journal 'Medical Hypotheses'.
referenceThe paper 'The effects of psilocybin and MDMA on between-network resting state functional connectivity in healthy volunteers' by L. Roseman, R. Leech, A. Feilding, D. Nutt, and R. Carhart-Harris, published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience in 2014, investigates the neurological impact of psilocybin and MDMA.
Psychedelics, Sociality, and Human Evolution frontiersin.org 2 facts
referenceThe study 'Psilocybin and MDMA reduce costly punishment in the Ultimatum Game', published in 2018 in Scientific Reports by A. S. Gabay et al., demonstrates that psilocybin and MDMA influence behavior in the Ultimatum Game by reducing costly punishment.
referenceDe Gregorio et al. (2021a) reviewed preclinical and clinical studies on the use of hallucinogens, specifically LSD, psilocybin, MDMA, and ketamine, in mental health, published in the Journal of Neuroscience.
Published Studies — Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and ... hopkinspsychedelic.org 2 facts
referenceA 2024 study published in Scientific Reports by Sharma et al. investigated the knowledge, attitudes, and concerns of U.S. healthcare professionals regarding psilocybin and MDMA as novel therapies.
referenceA 2017 study by Saleemi, Pennybacker, Wooldridge, and Johnson published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology investigated MDMA adulterants by product name and the impact of harm-reduction services at raves.
history Archives - UC Berkeley Center for the Science of Psychedelics psychedelics.berkeley.edu 1 fact
perspectiveIn a February 2014 editorial, Scientific American called for an end to the ban on psychedelic drug research, criticizing the mental health treatment industry for a lack of progress since the 1950s and arguing that regulators have unfairly prohibited drugs like LSD, MDMA, and psilocybin.
The Montreal model: an integrative biomedical-psychedelic ... frontiersin.org 1 fact
claimWhile some experts define the term 'psychedelic' specifically as agonists of serotonin 2A receptors (such as psilocybin), psychedelic treatment models have been applied to diverse psychoactive drugs including MDMA, ibogaine, cannabis, and ketamine.