3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (Ecstasy) Inhibits Dyskinesia Expression and Normalizes Motor Activity in 1-Methyl-4-Phenyl-1,2,3,6-Tetrahydropyridine-Treated Primates
Journal of Neuroscience October 8, 2003 Mahmoud M. Iravani, Michael S. Jackson, Mikko Kuoppamäki et al. 105 citations
MDMA (ecstasy) reduced dyskinesia and extended the effect of L-DOPA in a single Parkinson's disease patient. In MPTP-treated marmosets primed with L-DOPA, MDMA given alone transiently relieved motor disability but worsened symptoms over 60 minutes. When combined with L-DOPA, MDMA markedly decreased dyskinesia by reducing chorea and, to a lesser extent, dystonia, and lowered locomotor activity to normal levels. MDMA also alleviated dyskinesia induced by the dopamine D2/3 agonist pramipexole. These effects were fully blocked by the serotonin reuptake inhibitor fluvoxamine and partially inhibited by 5-HT1a/b antagonists, indicating MDMA's antidyskinetic action is mediated through serotonin systems.