Second Thoughts on 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) Neurotoxicity
Archives of General Psychiatry – March 01, 1990
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
MDMA users exhibited a notable blunted serum prolactin response when challenged with intravenous L-tryptophan, hinting at potential serotonergic neurotransmitter disruption. In a sample of 9 MDMA users and 9 controls, the findings raise questions about neurotoxicity linked to this hallucinogen. However, methodological flaws emerged, including inadequate screening for other psychotropic drug use; 33% of participants reported marijuana use. These limitations suggest that while the data is intriguing, it may not definitively indicate neurotoxic effects or causal relationships in the context of psychiatry and pharmacology.
Abstract
To the Editor.— Recent attention has been drawn to the purported neurotoxic dangers associated with 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). Price et al1have attempted to assess possible serotonergic neurotransmitter damage by contrasting serum prolactin response to the challenge with intravenous L-tryptophan in subjects with a history of MDMA use vs control subjects. Their primary finding was a blunted rise in the expected serum prolactin level in MDMA users, but not to a statistically significant degree. The importance of this finding appears to be questionable and perhaps misleading. Even if the data had yielded a statistically significant result, would such a correlation necessarily imply causation? A methodological limitation to the study would appear to be that subjects were not adequately screened on selection to exclude those who were using other psychotropic drugs. There is no mention that toxicology screens were ever performed. In fact, three subjects (33%) admitted to marijuana use