Therapeutic Drug Monitoring
March 19, 2004
Rafael de la Torre, Magı́ Farré, Pere N. Roset et al.
445 citations
MDMA (ecstasy) is a widely misused psychostimulant that increases energy, euphoria, and sociability while also producing distinctive 'entactogen' effects such as feeling close to others and increased empathy. It works by promoting the release and blocking the reuptake of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. Acute toxic effects include serotonin syndrome, characterized by muscle rigidity, hyperreflexia, and hyperthermia. MDMA metabolism involves two main pathways; one is partially regulated by the polymorphic enzyme CYP2D6, but mechanism-based inhibition after two consecutive doses limits the impact of CYP2D6 genetics on acute toxicity. Metabolism may also contribute to long-term neurotoxic effects through progressive degeneration of the serotonergic system.
Chemical Research in Toxicology
August 2, 2001
Mireia Segura, Jordi Ortuño, Magı́ Farré et al.
105 citations
A new method using strong cation-exchange solid-phase extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection was validated for measuring the metabolite 3,4-dihydroxymethamphetamine (HHMA) in plasma and urine. Applied to samples from healthy volunteers given MDMA (ecstasy), HHMA appeared as a major metabolite, with peak plasma concentrations (154.5 microg/L) and overall exposure (AUC 1990.9 microg/L h) similar to those of MDMA itself. Urinary recovery of HHMA over 24 hours accounted for 17.7% of the 100 mg MDMA dose, raising total recovery of MDMA and its metabolites to 58%. The method is accurate and precise for pharmacokinetic studies, and measuring HHMA may help clarify its role in MDMA metabolism and potential neurotoxicity.
British Journal of Pharmacology
January 1, 2005
Isabel Escobedo, Esther O’shea, Laura Orío et al.
68 citations
MDMA itself does not cause the immediate release of dopamine or serotonin in the mouse brain; instead, peripheral injection of MDMA reduced striatal dopamine and modestly reduced serotonin one hour after the last dose, but direct injection into the striatum did not produce these acute effects. The metabolite HHMA also did not contribute to acute dopamine depletion, as its effects differed from MDMA after peripheral injection. Long-term dopamine loss seven days later was not due to MDMA itself, since only very high intrastriatal doses caused such loss, and HHMA did not alter striatal dopamine after peripheral injection. HHMA crossed the blood–brain barrier but was not detected in brain after peripheral MDMA, suggesting it is metabolized to other active compounds.