Pharmacology of MDMA in Humans
Rafael de la Torre, Magı́ Farré, P. N. Roset, Cándido Hernández López, Manuel Mas, Jordi Ortuño, E. Menoyo, Nieves Pizarro, Jordi Segura, Jordi Camı́
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences September 1, 2000 DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2000.tb05199.x via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractRecreational doses of MDMA (50 to 150 mg) in healthy volunteers cause pupil dilation, increases in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, and pupillary diameter. Oral temperature changes are biphasic: a slight decrease at 1 hour followed by increases at 2 and 4 hours. Psychomotor performance shows slight dose-dependent impairment. Plasma cortisol and prolactin concentrations rise markedly. The drug's elimination half-life is about 8-9 hours. Peak drug concentrations and physiological effects occur between 1 and 2 hours and return to baseline 4-6 hours after administration.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Healthy volunteers |
| Intervention | MDMA |
| Dose | 50 to 150 mg |
| Topics | MDMA |
| Keywords | Mydriasis Heart rate Blood pressure |
| Citations | 178 |
| Key finding | MDMA at recreational doses produces dose-dependent increases in blood pressure, heart rate, pupil diameter, and hormonal measures, with peak effects at 1-2 hours and a biphasic temperature response. |
Abstract
Abstract MDMA given at recreational doses (range tested 50 to 150 mg) to healthy volunteers, produced mydriasis and marked increases in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, and pupillary diameter. MDMA induced changes on oral temperature. The time course of this observation was biphasic, as a slight decrease at 1 h and a slight increase at 2 and 4 h were observed. MDMA induced a slight dose‐dependent impairment on psychomotor performance. MDMA produced a marked rise in plasma cortisol and prolactin concentrations. The elimination half‐life of MDMA was about 8‐9 h. Drug concentrations increased, and a parallel increase in physiologic and hormonal measures was observed. Both peak concentrations and peak effects were obtained between 1 and 2 h and decreased to baseline values 4‐6 h after drug administration.