Ecstasy (MDMA) - Effects on the Body

Effects on the Body

Medical doctors say that ecstasy increases the levels of several neurotransmitters in the brain. Neurotransmitters are substances that help spread nerve impulses from one nerve cell to another. Specifically, ecstasy increases serotoninA combination of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen; it is found in the brain, blood, and stomach lining and acts as a neurotransmitter and blood vessel regulator., which regulates mood and blood vessel behavior; dopaminePronounced DOPE-uh-meen; a combination of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen that acts as a neurotransmitter in the brain., which regulates movement and mood; and norepinephrinePronounced nor-epp-ih-NEFF-run; a natural stimulant produced by the human body., which regulates blood pressure.

Government Steps In

The Ecstasy Prevention Act of 2001, Senate Bill S1208 IS, offered government grants to communities that put a high priority on curbing the sale of ecstasy at clubs and raves. The bill also provided $7 million in federal funding for a national media campaign on the dangers of ecstasy and other club drugs. The same bill instituted a drug test for ecstasy use among government employees.

The neurotransmitters flood the brain's synapses, which are junctions between two nerve cells where signals pass, and are not taken in again by the brain's nerve terminals. An excess of serotonin in the brain affects emotions and perception. An excess of dopamine alters muscle movements and the ability to feel pleasure and pain.

Basically, the ecstasy user's brain chemistry is altered. About twenty minutes after ingestion, ecstasy causes a "rush" that leads to a high, lasting about three to six hours. During that high, a user often experiences high levels of happiness, contentment, affection for friends and strangers, self-confidence, and increased energy. The drug lowers inhibitionsInner thoughts that keep people from engaging in certain activities. and encourages people to act on their impulses. Its use has been linked to casual sexual encounters.

In a club or rave setting, an ecstasy user might dance nonstop for hours, "feeling" the music with a heightened sense of awareness. However, repeated incidents have shown that crowded clubs prove a bad setting for ecstasy use. The drug's side effects can be intensified by heat, exercise, and dehydration.

Ecstasy affects many functions of the body beyond mere emotion. It causes uncomfortable clenching of the jaw, muscle tension, nausea and vomiting, excessive sweating, tremors, chills, and blurred vision. In certain people it can lead to death through elevated body temperature, heart attack, stroke, or seizure. Some ecstasy deaths have occurred when users drank too much water, leading to fatal swelling of the brain. A condition called rhabdomyolysisPronounced rabb-doh-my-OLL-uh-sis; destruction of muscle tissue leading to paralysis. has also been linked to ecstasy use. Medical literature also warns that ecstasy use can lead to kidney failure through alteration of the salt level in the bloodstream.

The most difficult side effects of ecstasy use begin as the drug wears off. These effects can last for weeks or months. In his book, Gahlinger observed: "Coming down off a weekend rave, the aftermath of MDMA can feel like a bad hangover that some users refer to as the Terrible Tuesdays." The user feels stressed, anxious, tired, and depressed. Ecstasy differs from other drugs in that users do not get relief from their hangovers from taking another dose of the substance. Sometimes the extra dose of ecstasy makes the bad symptoms worse. Even in those who get some rebound relief from another dose, ecstasy users build up a toleranceA condition in which higher and higher doses of a drug are needed to produce the original effect or high experienced. level. After awhile, the desired high does not come, no matter how much ecstasy the user takes.

Gahlinger noted: "Monkeys show abnormal patterns of serotoninproducing neurons up to seven years after treatment with MDMA. In people who have taken MDMA 20 times or more, analysis of the spinal fluid shows a depletion of serotonin metabolites, indicating a long-term disruption in normal brain functioning." Ecstasy abuse has been linked to long-term depression, panic attacks, impulsive behavior, and memory loss—all symptoms of a serotonin imbalance in the brain. Studies show that ecstasy is neurotoxic in animals. In other words, it can damage their brains.

As part of its campaign against drug use, the Partnership for a Drug-Free America told the story of Danielle, a young woman who died after using ecstasy. Here, her picture is superimposed with her death certificate. According to the coroner, th
As part of its campaign against drug use, the Partnership for a Drug-Free America told the story of Danielle, a young woman who died after using ecstasy. Here, her picture is superimposed with her death certificate. According to the coroner, the cause of death was ecstasy. Public Service Announcement provided courtesy of the Partnership for a Drug-Free America®.

About one in twelve people lack an enzyme called cytochrome P450-246 that metabolizes ecstasy. One dose of the drug can be fatal to this group of users.