Neuroscience For Kids
Moderate Doses of MDMA Can Be Dangerous
August 26, 2014
Many people believe that the drug Ecstasy (Molly or
MDMA) is safe. Although moderate amounts of MDMA in a cool
environment are not fatal, new research in rats shows that these same
dosages of MDMA can be lethal in hot, crowded conditions.
Scientists at the National Institute
on Drug Abuse investigated how moderate doses of MDMA cause increases
in brain and body temperature in a normal room temperature environment
(22.5 degrees C; 72.5 degrees F) and in a warm environment (29 degrees C;
84.2 degrees F). The researchers also monitored these temperatures when
the rat was placed in a cage with another rat.
Rats that received a dose of 9 mg/kg of MDMA in the warm environment or when they were in a cage with another rat had significant increases in brain temperature (hyperthermia). In fact, all of the rats died within 6 hours after they had received the MDMA in the warm environment. These effects were caused by MDMA's interference with the rat's ability to eliminate heat (peripheral vasoconstriction).
These results suggest that amounts of MDMA thought to be safe can actually be dangerous in places that are warm and crowded. Furthermore, the data suggest that treatments to help the body cool itself may prevent hyperthermia caused by MDMA.
References and further information:
- Kiyatkin, E.A., Kim, A.H., Wakabayashi, K.T., Baumann, M.H. and Shaham, Y. Critical Role of Peripheral Vasoconstriction in Fatal Brain Hyperthermia Induced by MDMA (Ecstasy) under Conditions That Mimic Human Drug Use. Journal of Neuroscience, 34:7754-7762, 2014.
- MDMA - Neuroscience for Kids
- MDMA Abuse - National Institute on Drug Abuse
Copyright © 1996-2014, Eric H. Chudler, University of Washington
