Persistent Effects of (±)3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, “Ecstasy”) on Human Sleep
SLEEP September 1, 1993 Richard P. Allen, Una D. Mccann, George A. Ricaurte 113 citations
MDMA, a recreational drug that damages serotonin neurons in animals, is linked to persistent sleep disturbances in humans. Comparing all-night sleep recordings of 23 MDMA users with 22 matched controls, MDMA users averaged 19 minutes less total sleep and 23.2 minutes less non-REM (NREM) sleep, primarily due to 37 minutes less stage 2 sleep. No significant differences appeared in stages 1, 3, or 4. While the cause—whether serotonin neurotoxicity—remains unknown, the findings suggest MDMA use can lead to lasting changes in brain structures governing sleep.