Rare but relevant: MDMA and hyponatraemia
Addiction December 8, 2025 María Rita Concepción García, Nelson G. M. Gomes, Diana Dias Da Silva
MDMA (ecstasy), commonly used for its stimulant and empathogenic effects especially among young adults in recreational settings, can cause hyponatraemia—a low blood sodium concentration that alters mental state and is life-threatening if untreated. Although hyponatraemia is a common electrolyte disorder in clinical care, acute MDMA-induced hyponatraemia was first reported in 1993. Women face higher incidence rates and greater odds of severe effects. This review describes the clinical manifestations, prevalence, pathophysiological mechanisms, and therapeutic approaches for correcting this electrolyte imbalance.