The Serotonin Syndrome

Even the most clueless among us know about “ecstasy” today; thanks to news and the media who have labeled it a “thrill pill” and “love drug,” and proclaimed it America’s newest “drug problem.” Although many therapists are praising it, researchers are also knocking it. All together, they have found that ecstasy, a drug similar to MDMA, has short and long term effects on the brain that vary from person to person.

Ecstasy is a street term for a range of drugs that are similar in structure to Methylenedioxymethamphetamine, also known as MDMA. Ecstasy is similar in structure and affect to amphetamines and hallucinogens. Amphetamines, or “speed”, are stimulants that speed up activity in the nervous system. Hallucinogens, such as LSD, typically affect perception and can cause things to be seen or heard that don’t really exist, or things that are distorted. Ecstasy is illegal, and its ingredients are often hard to get. Therefore, manufactures my substitute a wide range of substances when making the drug. There is a chance that when you buy ecstasy it will contain little MDMA. Like other illegally manufactured drugs, such as speed, there are no controls of factors such as strength and hygiene of the drug. The increases the chances of a person overdosing, being poisoned or experience other adverse reactions after taking the drug.

Swallowing ecstasy is the most common way to use it, even though it can taste foul. Ecstasy tablets can be various sizes, shapes and designs such as playboy bunnies or tulips. The tablets can be crushed and snorted. They may also be inserted into the anus from where the drug is absorbed. This way is often referred to as “shafting” or “shelving”. Today, injecting ecstasy is becoming more popular. The immediate effects usually begin within 20 minutes of taking the drug and may last up to 6 hours. Some people have reported some symptoms persisting for 32 hours after using ecstasy. Many people have experienced effects such as increased heart rate, body temperature and blood pressure. The user also experiences increased confidence and feelings of well being. Jaw clenching, teeth grinding and anxiety are also common. Symptoms on nausea and a loss of appetite are sometimes more likely to occur than thought of. These effects usually come up in a course of three phases: coming up, the plateau and coming down. In comin...

... middle of paper ...

...ral minutes to an hour. The drug's rewarding effects vary with the individual taking it, the dose and purity, and the environment in which it is taken. MDMA can produce stimulant effects such as an enhanced sense of pleasure and self-confidence and increased energy. Its psychedelic effects include feelings of peacefulness, acceptance, and empathy. Users claim they experience feelings of closeness with others and a desire to touch them. Because MDMA engenders feelings of closeness and trust and has a short duration of action, some clinicians claim that the drug is potentially valuable as a psychotherapeutic agent. However, Federal regulators classify MDMA, as a drug with no accepted medical use.

The number of ecstasy-related deaths is low, but it still remains illegal and harmful to the brain of the user. With ecstasy being a drug similar to MDMA, having short and long terms effects on the brain the vary from person to person, the user should think twice about what harm it can actually cause. There are many ecstasy users that don’t realize that the researchers, clinicians, and chemists may be right when they list out the number of things it can do to harm your body and your brain.