Dance Clubbing on MDMA and during Abstinence from Ecstasy/MDMA: Prospective Neuroendocrine and Psychobiological Changes
Neuropsychobiology January 1, 2008 A. C. Parrott, Jing Zhan Lock, A.c. Conner et al. 77 citations
Recreational Ecstasy users showed an 800% increase in cortisol and a 75% increase in testosterone when dancing at a club on MDMA, but no such changes occurred when they danced at the same club without the drug. Body temperature did not change significantly, though a borderline trend for higher values appeared after MDMA. Feelings of happiness and excitement increased under MDMA but were not significantly greater than during abstinence. The findings suggest that neurohormonal release is a key part of the acute MDMA experience and support a bioenergetic stress model of recreational use.