Ecstasy, E, XTC, eccy, the love drug, pills
Ecstasy
- Ecstasy is a street name for the drug methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). It is a type of stimulant that also produces hallucinogenic effects.
- Although ecstasy is sometimes described as being a mild hallucinogen, it is very rare for a person using ecstasy to hallucinate.
- Ecstasy usually comes in the form of a tablet, in various shapes, sizes and colours. Often, the tablets are imprinted with logos and designs from popular culture.
- Drugs sold as ecstasy may not contain any MDMA; they can be a mix of amphetamine, paramethoxyamphetamine (PMA), ketamine or other substances.
AKA (common names)
Low - moderate doses
- Euphoria
- feelings of wellbeing
- feelings of intimacy with others
- confidence
- reduced inhibitions
- heightened sensations
- empathy
High doses
A high dose of ecstasy can cause an individual to overdose. This means that a person has used more ecstasy than their body can cope with.
The effects can include:
- floating sensations
- vomiting
- high body temperature
- high blood pressure
- increased heart beat
- hallucinations, convulsions
- irrational or bizarre behaviour
- ecstasy has been linked to several deaths through heart attack and brain haemorrhage
Signs of overdose
In high doses ecstasy can cause seizures and vomiting.
The symptoms of overdose include:
- a sharp rise in body temperature and blood pressure
- dizziness
- cramps
- heart palpitations and vomiting.
People with certain disorders – such as epilepsy, high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease or mood or psychiatric disorders – are at greater risk of harm if they take ecstasy.
Ecstasy may aso contribute to death in a number of ways, including:
- cardiac arrest
- stroke
- kidney failure
- overheating (hyperthermia) and dehydration
- Dilutional hyponatremia, when the user ‘drowns’ their brain by drinking too much water
Route of administration & onset
- Ecstasy is normally swallowed though it can also be snorted, smoked, injected or inserted into the anus or vagina.
- The effects of ecstasy start to be felt within 20 minutes to 1 hour after being swallowed, plateau at 2-3 hours after consumption and diminish in intensity over the next 3-4 hours.
- Snorting or injecting can result in much quicker onset of effects.
- The “come-up” is the term used to refer to the stage at which the effects begin to be felt. The “peak” describes the effects at their most intense.
Duration of effect & 'come down' (half-life)
- The effects of ecstasy start to be felt within 20 minutes to 1 hour after being swallowed, plateau at 2-3 hours after consumption and diminish in intensity over the next 3-4 hours.
Mechanism of action (on the brain)
MDMA primarily inhibits serotonin reuptake and stimulates serotonin release.
MDMA acts as an indirect serotonin (5-HT), norepinephrine (NE), and dopamine (DA) agonist.
Tolerance (dependence) & withdrawal
- There is evidence that it is possible to become psychologically dependent on ecstasy.
- People who are psychologically dependent on ecstasy may find they feel an urge to use it when they are in specific surroundings or socialising with friends.
- At present, there is no conclusive evidence for physical dependence on ecstasy.
- People who use regularly can develop a tolerance to it which means that they need to take larger amounts to get the same effect.
- However, research indicates that using larger amounts of ecstasy will increase the severity of undesirable effects, rather than increase the pleasurable effects.
- If a dependent individual ceases using ecstasy, they may experience withdrawal symptoms as they get used to functioning without the drug.
- If an individual has a dependency on ecstasy, withdrawal symptoms generally commence about 12 hours following the last dose.
While severe physical symptoms are uncommon, ecstasy withdrawal can cause psychological problems such as:
- cravings
- sleepiness
- general aches and pains
- anxiety
- depression
- loss of concentration
- insomnia
- restlessness
- agitation
Short-term harms & risks
- jaw clenching
- teeth grinding
- increased blood pressure and heart rate
- nausea
- loss of appetite
- increased body temperature
- sweating
- skin tingles
- dilated pupils
- poor muscle control and unsteadiness
- muscle aches and stiffness
- anxiety
- paranoia
- aggression
- psychosis
Long-term harms & risks
- Little is known about the long-term effects of ecstasy.
- There is some evidence that ecstasy can cause damage to some parts of the brain and that regular, heavy use can lead to depression.
- An individual taking ecstasy regularly may find that they are not eating or sleeping enough and neglecting their health.
