A direct comparison of the behavioral and physiological effects of methamphetamine and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in humans
Psychopharmacology June 30, 2011 M. Kirkpatrick, Erik W. Gunderson, Audrey Y. Perez et al. 119 citations
Methamphetamine and MDMA, despite chemical similarities, produce both overlapping and distinct effects in the same individuals. In a residential study with 11 adult volunteers, both drugs acutely increased cardiovascular measures and positive subjective effects while decreasing food intake. Participants had difficulty distinguishing between the drugs. Methamphetamine improved cognitive performance and disrupted sleep, whereas MDMA increased negative subjective-effect ratings. Few residual effects were noted for either drug. These differences may help explain the drugs' differing public perception and abuse potential, though recreational route of administration could also account for many attributed effects.