Agony and ecstasy: a review of MDMA effects and toxicity
European Psychiatry August 1, 2000 C. Burgess, Alan O'Donohoe, Michael Gill 108 citations
Ecstasy, a recreational drug often thought to be safe, can cause serious acute adverse effects including hyperthermia, seizures, cardiac arrhythmias, liver toxicity, low sodium levels, and various psychiatric disorders. These effects are not due to overdose alone or the typical environment where the drug is used. In animal studies, Ecstasy damages serotonin-producing neurons at doses similar to those taken by humans, though its long-term effects on the human brain remain unknown. Because of the drug's popularity, both immediate and potential lasting harms warrant concern, and Ecstasy toxicity should be considered when diagnosing certain medical and psychiatric conditions.