The entactogen 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; ecstasy) as a treatment aid in psychotherapy and its safety concerns.
Archives of toxicology August 1, 2024 Brian A Baldo 5 citations
MDMA (ecstasy) is an entactogen that primarily releases and blocks reuptake of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin, with mood effects mediated by 5-HT2A receptors. Its social-bonding properties may involve oxytocin release. Acute adverse effects, mostly transient, include dehydration, hyperthermia, seizures, and organ failure, often at crowded events. Deaths from MDMA alone are rare compared to coadministration with other drugs. A phase 3 trial found MDMA-assisted therapy a potential breakthrough for PTSD, prompting regulatory steps: Australia's TGA approved prescribing for PTSD, and the FDA approved trials for asociality in schizophrenia and alcohol-use disorder, with ongoing studies on startle response, anxiety in life-threatening illness, and social anxiety in autistic adults.