The effect of MDMA administration on oxytocin concentration levels: systematic review and a multilevel meta-analysis in humans.
Anna Vaslavski, Anna Harwood Gross, Salomon Israel, Leehe Peled-Avron
Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews October 1, 2025 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106324 via PubMed
Summary
MDMA administration is associated with a transient increase in oxytocin levels, peaking between 150 and 200 minutes after administration. The dose of MDMA did not significantly influence these changes, and there was a trend indicating that samples with more female participants had smaller increases in oxytocin. This time-dependent effect of MDMA on oxytocin may play a role in its prosocial effects and could inform the timing of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy sessions.
Study at a glance
| Design | meta-analysis |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 39 |
| Population | human participants from ten studies |
| Key finding | MDMA transiently elevates oxytocin levels in a time-dependent manner, peaking between 150 and 200 minutes after administration. |
Abstract
3,4-Methylenedioxmethamphetamine (MDMA) has been shown to enhance social cognition, partly through its effects on oxytocin, a neuropeptide involved in social cognition. Despite growing evidence linking MDMA to increased oxytocin levels, no study has systematically examined this relationship across different doses, times, and participant characteristics. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates the effects of MDMA administration on peripheral oxytocin levels in humans. A systematic search identified ten studies, comprising 39 effect size estimates. Multilevel meta-analyses were conducted using Hedge's g as the primary outcome, with dose, time of measurement, and sex as moderators. Results revealed that oxytocin levels increased over time, peaking between 150 and 200 min, before declining. The dose did not significantly predict oxytocin changes, and a trend suggested that samples with a higher proportion of female participants exhibited smaller increases in oxytocin levels. These findings suggest that MDMA transiently elevates oxytocin levels in a time-dependent manner, potentially contributing to its prosocial effects. Importantly, these findings may guide oxytocin-informed timing of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy sessions. Standardization of methods and larger sample sizes are needed to clarify these effects and optimize the therapeutic benefits of MDMA.