Ecstasy: A Narrative Of Amphetamine

Ecstasy (known as MDMA) is a derivative of amphetamine that acts on several neurotransmitters. It mainly increases serotonin by causing release and blocking reuptake. In the past, it was considered a safe sensation enhancer, but now it is found to impair cognitive abilities (language tasks), cause depression, and specifically poison neurons through a process known as neurotoxicity.
Subjective Effects: MDMA is classified as a stimulant and psychedelic drug causing mild hallucinations, along with an intense euphoric, energizing feeling (Ecstasy, 2005). Users will report a powerful experience of increased happiness, sociableness, self-confidence, empathy and sensation to touch (Ecstasy, 2005). The primary effects will last up to four hours…show more content…
They do this, either to be protected from over stimulation damage or so the brain may maintain a chemical balance (Sferios, 2002). This is what is known as down-regulation and can lead to longer feelings of depression even after serotonin levels have been restored (Sferios, 2002). People who have taken MDMA for a long period of time have reported depression lasting for up to a year (Ecstasy, 2005). Another negative long term effect of MDMA use is called Neurotoxicity (Ecstasy, 2005). This leads to the oxidation of neurons when dopamine accidentally enters the serotonin axons through reuptake transporters (Sferios, 2002). This occurs because serotonin is heavily depleted from the synapse while dopamine levels are still high (Sferios, 2002). After dopamine enters the presynaptic neuron cells, it is broken down by Monoamine Oxidase (MAO) into hydrogen peroxide (Sferios, 2002). Both dopamine and hydrogen peroxide are toxic to the cell and cause this oxidation effect (Sferios, 2002). Usually these neurons die and regrowth is unlikely. The damage to serotonin neurons will consequently cause long-term memory and vocabulary impairment (The Neurobiology of Ecstasy, 2007). The degree of impairment is linked to the degree of MDMA use during one's lifetime and the resulting low levels of serotonin. The areas of the brain that are…show more content…
References

Halpern, J.H., Sherwood, A. R., Hudson, J.I., Gruber, S., Kozin, D., Pope, H.G. Jr., (February 15, 2011). Residual neurocognitive features of long-term MDMA users with exposure to other drugs. Addiction, 106(4), 777 - 786. doi:1360- 0443.2010.03252.x.
Sferios, E. (2002). MDMA Slideshow (This is Your Brain on MDMA). Retrieved from: http://dancesafe.org/drug-information/MDMA- slideshow
Stolerman, I. P. (2010). MDMA. Encyclopedia of psychopharmacology (pp. 750 - 761). Berlin: Springer. (December, 2010). MDMA (Ecstasy). Retrieved from: http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/infofacts/mdma- MDMA (January 10, 2011). What Does MDMA Do to the Brain?. Retrieved from: http://alcoholism.about.com/cs/MDMA/f/mdma_faq05.htm (2000). MDMA. Retrieved from: http://www.drugs.com/MDMA.html
(2005), Ecstasy, Retrieved from: http://www.drugs.com/ecstasy.html (2008). Ecstasy Effects. Retrieved from: http://www.thegooddrugsguide.com/ecstasy/effects.htm
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