MDMA

Question 1

methylenedioxymethamphetamine

Answer 1

street name: ecstasy, Molly

ecstacy is a cocktail with MDMA as the active ingredient

Question 2

mixed stimulant hallucinogen

Answer 2

both stimulant and psychedelic properties

Question 3

where is MDMA found

Answer 3

sassafras tree

patented by Merck pharmaceuticals

Question 4

how is MDMA intaken

Answer 4

ingested - lipid soluble (30-60min onset)

Question 5

why does MDMA have a longer high time

Answer 5

because the metabolite MDA is also psychoactive
some people don’t have the enzyme responsible for metabolism
SSRIs inhibit enzyme from decomposing MDMA which can make it toxic

Question 6

steps of MDMA

Answer 6

A1- competitive reuptake inhibitor 
goes in place of molecules being taken up leaving more in synapse
A2- leaky vesicles: breaks them down 
reverse transport: dose dependant 
puts NTs back into synapse instead of in
A3- agonist at H5T-1 and 2
release of oxytocin
B- MAO-A inhibitor prolongs high

Question 7

effects

Answer 7

sympathomimetic- acts like sympathetic NS
amphetamine-like
loss of consciousness, tachycardia

Question 8

bruxism

Answer 8

teeth grinding

Question 9

what happens in conjunction with club conditions

Answer 9

hyperthermia, dehydration, organ failure, seizures, kidney failure, blot clot

Question 10

psychological effects

Answer 10

empathogenic- increased warmth, feelings of kinship
increased verbal behaviour
mild euphoria due to oxytocin
sudden and extreme onset of paranoia, panic, delirium

Question 11

negative effects of MDMA

Answer 11

depression and lethargy - suicide Tuesday
sleep disturbances
chronic use:
substance induced paranoid psychosis
selective serotonergic neurotoxin- relapse of preexisting illness
lower seizure threshold

Question 12

tolerance

Answer 12

diminished effects after first 7 uses
- serotonin down regulation
sporadic intake decreases

Question 13

dependance

Answer 13

unsure- no withdrawal behaviours

psychological dependance not well documented because of poly-drug use or pre use

Question 14

synthetic analogues

Answer 14

MDA: metabolite of MDMA but more stimulating and toxic
MDE: introspective
MMDA: closed eye hallucinations
MBDB: similar to MDA

Question 15

verbal working memory in MDMA

Answer 15

tested verbal working memory on MDMA users and found they had poorer performance on all tasks - not able to use semantic clustering and build associations
found long term deficits in verbal memory

Question 16

mind in the eyes test

Answer 16

found that individuals under the influence of MDMA were better at seeing the positive emotions but struggled with negative

Question 17

morphed facial expression task

Answer 17

found MDMA users could identify happy but not fear
decreased ability to recognize angry and fearful faces but no impact on the happy
MDMA selectively impacts negative social perceptions