Ecstasy (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine): cardiovascular effects and mechanisms.
European Journal of Pharmacology May 7, 2021 D. Fonseca, D. M. Ribeiro, Margarida Tapadas et al. 23 citations
MDMA, also known as ecstasy, increases blood pressure and heart rate and can impair cardiac contractile function, cause arrhythmias, myocardial necrosis, and valvular heart disease, as well as vasoconstriction, disrupt vascular integrity, and alter haemostasis. These effects involve interactions with monoamine transporters and receptors, oxidative stress, and activation of matrix metalloproteinases. The review describes both the cardiovascular risks of recreational MDMA use and the unresolved risk/benefit ratio for its therapeutic use in psychiatry, especially in patients with underlying cardiovascular disease.