MDMA effects consistent across laboratories
M. Kirkpatrick, M. Baggott, J. Mendelson, G. Galloway, M. Liechti, C. Hysek, Harriet de Wit
Psychopharmacology March 15, 2014 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-014-3528-z via Semantic Scholar
Summary
Across three independent laboratories in Basel, San Francisco, and Chicago, 220 healthy volunteers received either placebo or MDMA (1.5 mg/kg or a 125-mg fixed dose) under double-blind conditions. Despite differences in study methods and participants' prior drug use, MDMA produced very similar cardiovascular and subjective effects at all sites. Prior MDMA use was inversely related to feeling "Any Drug Effect" only at sites testing more experienced users. The pharmacological effects of MDMA are robust and highly reproducible across settings, with modest evidence for tolerance in regular users.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Placebo-controlled drug challenge study Double-blind Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 220 |
| Population | Healthy volunteers with varying levels of previous MDMA experience |
| Keywords | Psychology Medicine |
| Citations | 78 |
| Key finding | MDMA produced similar cardiovascular and subjective effects across three different laboratories, with modest evidence for tolerance in regular users. |
Abstract
Several laboratories have conducted placebo-controlled drug challenge studies with 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), providing a unique source of data to examine the reliability of the acute effects of the drug across subject samples and settings. We examined the subjective and physiological responses to the drug across three different laboratories and investigated the influence of prior MDMA use. Overall, 220 healthy volunteers with varying levels of previous MDMA experience participated in laboratory-based studies in which they received placebo or MDMA orally (1.5 mg/kg or 125-mg fixed dose) under double-blind conditions. Cardiovascular and subjective effects were assessed before and repeatedly after drug administration. The studies were conducted independently by investigators in Basel, San Francisco, and Chicago. Despite methodological differences between the studies and differences in the subjects’ drug use histories, MDMA produced very similar cardiovascular and subjective effects across the sites. The participants’ prior use of MDMA was inversely related to feeling “Any Drug Effect” only at sites testing more experienced users. These data indicate that the pharmacological effects of MDMA are robust and highly reproducible across settings. There was also modest evidence for tolerance to the effects of MDMA in regular users.