Ecstasy (MDMA) - Reactions with Other Drugs or Substances

Reactions with Other Drugs or Substances

Sometimes people intend to mix ecstasy with other drugs or alcohol. Sometimes the "ecstasy" pill actually contains other substances. Either way, ecstasy does not react well with any drug or with alcohol. Taking ecstasy while drinking alcohol can greatly increase the possibility of fever and dehydration. Combining ecstasy with hallucinogens such as ketamine, LSD, or 2C-B can magnify the level of hallucinationsVisions or other perceptions of things that are not really present.. Mixingecstasy with stimulants such as cocaine or methamphetamine can increase blood pressure and heart rate.

Certain prescription drugs known as monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) should never be combined with MDMA. The reaction between the two substances can be fatal. MAOIs are prescribed for depression and for the symptoms of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Some other drugs prescribed for depression and anxiety may actually block the brain's reaction to ecstasy. This group of drugs is called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, and includes Prozac, Zoloft, and Paxil.

People suffering from anxiety, depression, phobiasExtreme and often unexplainable fears of certain objects or situations., or other mental disorders should avoid taking ecstasy at all. Even one dose can cause mental problems to become worse, or to last longer, or to be resistant to treatment.

Ecstasy and Mental Health

Late in 2004, the Food and Drug Administration approved two pilot studies of ecstasy for use in the mental health field. In one study, terminally ill cancer patients were given ecstasy in hopes that the drug would ease their anxiety as they faced death. In another, the drug was given to victims of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a condition brought on in response to a frightening or life-threatening event. The government did not fund either of these studies. They were paid for by a private, nonprofit foundation called the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies.