The gluco-regulatory effects of 3,4- Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA): A controlled n-of-2 self-experimentation
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) December 18, 2021 Harriet A. Carroll
MDMA (ecstasy) caused blood sugar dysregulation and high insulin levels in two female scientists who tested it on themselves, compared to a no-drug control day. The drug raised the stress hormone cortisol in both, but only one showed an increase in copeptin (a marker of the water-balance hormone AVP). That same person produced less urine, felt thirstier, and had a drier mouth. Because glucose problems occurred without consistent AVP elevation, cortisol—not AVP—is likely the main driver. The findings are preliminary and need replication in larger, therapeutic-style studies.