r/Drugs AMA series: MDMA (aka "ecstasy," "E," "X," "molly")
Pill Reports <-- Have a look to see reports on certain pill "brands"
Ecstasy Data <-- Same idea as above
We now move from one exceptionally famous drug to another on day five in our series of community AMA's based on our poll of redditors. Today's AMA subject, MDMA, is a favourite of club, festival and party goers but has recently been given quite a bad name by inexperienced/unversed users and the news agencies that report on them.
First synthesis: 1912 by Anton Köllisch while working for yet another pharma company, Merck.
Intended use: No legal uses as of yet. The only widespread use is as a recreational entactogen.
Current research into medical applications: Showing great potential in treating PTSD and anxiety due to cancer in American and Swiss studies (with researchers in Jordan, Israel and Canada waiting on approval for their own studies). Currently, MDMA is one of the most, if not THE most, studied illicit drug. It's impending illegality in the late 80's was the main reasons MAPS was created.
Legality: Illegal in almost every country, though several of those allow for possession with a license. A handful of countries (The Netherlands, The Czech Republic, Portugal) have decriminalized possession under a certain amount.
Dependence vs. Active Dose/Lethal Dose
A concise guide for first time users. If you still have specific questions afterwards, please ask!
So you've decided to take MDMA. Good for you! It is a very safe, enjoyable drug when used responsibly and can catalyse the growth of some incredible friendships.
Here at r/drugs we're passionate about people enjoying themselves while also staying safe. We get a lot of people asking about what to do and what to expect and we can't answer everyone in the same detail so we've tried to put together a "one-stop" guide which is both concise and informative. It won't cover everything, but it should give you a good basis on which to ask the "right" questions for things you want more detail on.
- What is MDMA?
MDMA is a stimulant drug which creates powerful feelings of love, happiness and social openness. Users remain very lucid and in-control with moderate doses, easily able to walk, talk and dance.
- Getting it safely:
MDMA is typically a grey or slightly tan crystalline powder, but many other drugs also look like this. The best way to be sure what you have is MDMA and not meth or or something else is to use a marquis kit, which can be bought online.
MDMA also comes in pressed pills which can be adulterated too. You can check your pills using a marquis kit or on pillreports.
- Using it:
MDMA is quite a safe drug but regular use causes irreversible tolerance after 5-10 uses, suggesting some damage to the parts of the brain it affects. Suggested first doses are between 110 - 160mg. It is highly recommended that you find a friend with some scales or buy some for under $15.
You should drink an normal amount of water for the activity you are doing. MDMA does not cause dehydration but dancing in a busy rave can. Drinking alcohol, a depressant, can dull the effects, cause dehydration, nausea and other unpleasant problems. Being tipsy is fine but getting drunk is definitely worth avoiding.
- Overdoing it: (
MDMA is a very safe drug when not mixed with other drugs, so serious injury is unlikely, but it's certainly not good news. Too much is characterised by extreme sweating/overheating, difficulty reading, realistic hallucinations, nausea and confusion. If you are feeling unwell and you cannot quickly find a friend, seek medical help. MDMA users are quite pleasant for first aiders to treat because they are so compliant so don't hang around worrying about being a nuisance. Nothing is more important than your health.
- Afterwards:
As your experience comes to an end you will want to redose. Nobody ever wants it to end. Unfortunately it won't get you back to where you were, will stave off sleep, will increase the comedown from near-nothing to something and increases the small amount of damage we mentioned before.
MDMA is not toxic like alcohol so you will not have a hangover, but if you spent the night dancing when you'd usually be asleep you will be tired and drained. If you have a lot you will feel a little low because you have used up your brain's supply of serotonin. This effect tends to peak 3 days after rolling and then disappear quickly.
- I LOVED IT, when can I do it again?
Just like taking too much, too often also seems to produce an irreversible loss of effects suggesting some sort of damage. It is recommended that you leave at least a month between uses, ideally 2-3. the more you take, of course, the larger your breaks ought to be. Having MDMA as a "special occasions only" sort of thing makes it surprisingly easy to use sparingly.
Previous AMA's (ask questions, help answer those without a reply):
Posted Jul 29, 2011, 7:51 PM UTC · edited