Stimulant effects of 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) 75 mg and methylphenidate 20 mg on actual driving during intoxication and withdrawal
Addiction August 8, 2006 J. G. Ramaekers, K. P. C. Kuypers, N. Samyn 90 citations
MDMA, a popular recreational drug in Europe, has stimulant-like effects on driving that vary by task. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study, 18 recreational MDMA users took 75 mg MDMA, 20 mg methylphenidate, or placebo. During the intoxication phase (3–5 hours after dosing), both MDMA and methylphenidate improved road-tracking performance, reducing the standard deviation of lateral position by about 2 cm compared to placebo. However, MDMA impaired car-following performance, causing subjects to overcorrect in response to speed changes of a leading vehicle. No driving impairments were observed during the withdrawal phase (27–29 hours after dosing).