Party Vibe

in the 90’s I really luved e’s all sizes, shapes,colours althought I do just remeber sledging on a big blue disco biscuite in the Quad warehouse one night. Not much fun when you can hear the music but your legs can’t hold you. After about 8 yrs on the little fellas I sorted my head out and went to uni and it was only then that I realised how much they fuck with your head and body. I do miss the buzz but not the come downs.

m8, after two days of no sleep and no food, with 10 pills and coke anyone is bound to feel a bit sketchy, even when taken pills (i didnt take pure md that night).

that was from 10 good(ish) pills, from a batch of 40 that i bought and dropped on various occasions. in all instances i was fine on them (doing about 5 or 6 – and they were good) but this one time i did 10, 8am in the morning i was just completely fucked. my guess is is that all the other shit they cut the pills with was fuckin’ me up more than the mdma that was in it (which was good mdma, done them before, and after, this particular occasion and they were good!). lack of sleep and longevity does take its toll.

Easy

Its worrying how much some people take drugs wise from what i have read. In my opinion if you get 1 decent pill then 1 or 2 should see you through quite nicely, Its more of a myth to say taking anymore than that will either get you higher or prolong your buzz as good as it first was, Instead your competely depleating your serotin more than what it can recoup itself.

And to have a best buzz fuck the booze and all the other shit off n be pure;)

heres a good read up for all this complete and utter nonsense about holes in ya brain and other media hypes
I. General Information

A. What is MDMA?
MDMA is 3,4 Methlynedioxymethamphetamine, commonly known as Ecstasy. Ecstasy is the street name for MDMA, and any drug being sold as MDMA could be called Ecstasy. This document will deal primarily with the chemical MDMA, and secondarily with the phenomenon of the street drug Ecstasy.

B. What is MDMA’s method of action? (How does it work?)
MDMA primarily causes an increase in the concentrations of three neurotransmitters. They are serotonin (5HT), norepinephrine (NE), and dopamine (DA). The effects sought by most MDMA users result from the massive increase in the presence of 5HT in the certain synapses.

The two leading theories for how this happens are:
1. MDMA enters the axon terminal via the 5-HT reuptake transporters, and then prompts vesicles to flood the synapse with serotonin.
2. MDMA causes the 5-HT reuptake transporters to work in reverse, simultaneously stopping reuptake and dumping serotonin into the synapse.

Regardless of how the serotonin gets there, it then binds with 5HT receptors and causes the effects that it does.

See the Dancesafe slideshow for pictures and a more detailed description of how MDMA works.

C. How much should I take?
MDMA is commonly sold in pill form, and it is difficult to know how much of the drug it actually contains. From this Erowid page:

Quote:
Trying to calculate dosages from tablets containing unknown quantities of MDMA can be difficult, but a good quality tablet of street ecstasy generally contains an average of between 75 and 100 mg MDMA.

The studies done by Dr. Shuglin indicate that 100-120mg will work for almost anyone, although Erowid claims that some people may require upwards of 200mg in order to have a full-blown MDMA experience.

Most beginners would be best off starting with a dose in the 100mg range (ie: a single pill).

D. How stable is MDMA?
MDMA is very stable. There are no know cases of MDMA “going bad,” and Erowid seems to confirm this sentiment:
http://www.erowid.org/ask/ask.cgi?ID=1768

E. What is the best way to store it?
Any dry, well-hidden place will do. Think pill bottles, only less conspicuous.
II. What does Ecstasy/MDMA look like?

A. MDMA Powder
In his book PIHKAL, Dr. Alexander Shulgin describes MDMA as a “fine, white crystal” but mentions that various factors can have an effect on the form it takes when it is made. An image of MDMA powder can be viewed at this Erowid page .

MDMA powder is sometimes referred to as “molly” which is short for molecule.

B. Capsules
Occasionally, MDMA powder is measured, placed in gelatine capsules and sold without being pressed into a pill. The powder in the capsules may be cut or uncut.

C. Tablets
By far the most common form of MDMA, the pressed pill or tablet appears in many shapes, sizes, and colours. You can view hundreds of images at these pages:
University of Bonn – Poison Control
Erowid Images
Ecstasydata Images

To see global reports on the contents of pills and people’s reactions to them, please visit pillreports.com.

Pills contain a significant amount of binders and fillers in addition to any active substance(s) they may contain. Weighing a pill will not give an accurate indication of how much of an active substance it contains.

1. Brands
Because pills appear in so many variations, they are often given a “brand name” based on their colour, logo, etc. For instance, a pill may be referred to as a “white Euro.” Many people attempt to judge a pill by its brand name, rather than using a testing kit. Making a judgement based on brand names is not a reliable method for determining whether a pill is safe to take.

However, this can be an effective way to get the word out about a dangerous pill that contains toxic adulterants or simply isn’t MDMA.; since copycats of bad pills are rarely made.

1.1 Stamps or Logos
The presses that manufactures use to make the powder MDMA into a pill often have a stamp inside that places a logo on each pill as it is pressed. Often these logos are cartoons, or the logos and trademarks of well known corporations. A pill that was popular for a long time was called the “Mitsubishi” and had a picture of Mitsubishi Motors logo stamped on it.

1.2 Bevelled Edge
Some pills are pressed with a stamp that places a bevel on the edge. This just means there is an indented ring around the edge of the pill.

1.3 Domed
Pills can be domed on neither, either or both sides.

1.4 Scored
It is not uncommon for a pill to have a break line down the middle of one or both sides. Usually the score is on the side opposite the logo. Sometimes the score will get thicker towards the middle of the pill. This is referred to as a “cat’s eye”. It is not unheard of for a pill to have a double-score (a cross) on either or both sides.

2. Copycats
When a pill of a specific brand begins to be sold on the market, other pill manufacturers will often begin to press pills that appear similar or identical. This is done especially if the original pill gains a reputation of being potent or of high quality. These copycats can contain no drug, a drug other than MDMA, a combination of drugs (sometimes dangerous combinations), or poor quality MDMA. Copycats are the reason that even brands of high repute should not be trusted, and always tested.

3. Double/Triple Stack
Ecstasy users and dealers sometimes refer to a pill as double or triple stacked in order to make it sound like it is especially good. While this is supposed to mean that a pill is twice or three times the thickness of an “average” ecstasy pill (and therefore more potent), it actually means nothing. First, there is no such thing as an “average” sized ecstasy pill. They vary widely in size. Second, a pill’s size has little to do with how much MDMA it contains, as the majority of most pills size is made up of various binders and fillers. A quick search on ecstasydata.org would turn up many pills of the same size with different contents, or of different sizes, but with the same contents.

III. What gets sold as Ecstasy that isn’t MDMA?

Note – Many of these adulterants illustrate the dangers involved when taking multiple pills with unknown contents. While a single dose may just result in a bad trip, multiple/combined doses can result in serious and possibly fatal health complications.

All of these adulterants are potentially dangerous in their own right. The main purpose of this section is to give you an idea of how to recognise when you have taken a bad pill and provide the most common adverse effects of the given adulterants. For more information on any given adulterant, start by checking other Bluelight FAQs, Erowid or Lycaeum.
Bluelight FAQs
Erowid
Lycaeum

The Marquis, Mandelin, and Mecke reagents are all capable of distinguishing between MD__ and other substances, thus saving you the hassle of having to worry so much about this section. All of these kits are discreetly and internationally available from EZ Test.

A. MDA/MDE
MDA and MDE seem to produce effects that are very similar to MDMA. Many people report MDA to be “speedier” and MDE to de “dopier” than MDMA. Erowid indicates that relative to MDMA, MDE requires a slightly larger dose and MDA is effective in a slightly smaller dose. Simon’s reagent will discriminate between MDA and MDMA.
Bluelight MDA FAQ
Erowid MDA Vault
Erowid MDE Vault

B. Amphetamine, Methamphetamine
(Meth)Amphetamine will produce stimulatory effects that are noticeably different from MDMA. Large oral doses of methamphetamine may produce an intense empathy (and other “loved up” feelings) very similar to that of MDMA. CNS and cardiopulmonary excitement will probably be more noticeable. Higher doses of (meth)amphetamine can produce uncomfortable skittishness, elevated vitals, irritability and nausea.
Erowid Amphetamine Vault
Erowid Methamphetamine Vault

C. Ephedrine
Ephedrine will produce stimulant effects that are not as intense as amphetamines, but are greater than those of caffeine. Ephedrine alone will not produce auditory or visual hallucinations. High doses of ephedrine have caused anxiety, uncomfortable hyperactivity and hyperthermia.
Erowid Ephedrine Vault

D. Caffeine
Caffeine-tainted pills will produce some stimulatory effects, but will not be hallucinogenic or empathogenic (“loved up). Depending on your tolerance and recent consumption, unpleasant effects from caffeine may be felt at doses as low as 50mg.
Erowid Caffeine Vault

E. PMA
PMA is an amphetamine-derived stimulant. At low doses, the effects of PMA may feel very similar to the initial effects of MDMA, producing a stimulatory feeling and mild visual effects. However, doses of 60-80mg have been associated with dangerous increases in heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature.
Bluelight PMA FAQ
Erowid PMA Vault

F. AMT
AMT is a chemical that can produce effects which may be difficult to distinguish from MDMA, including the empathogenic effects and jaw clenching. Many trip reports have said that AMT produces a “like rolling” experience.

AMT’s effects are distinguished from MDMA by stronger visuals and a more delayed onset, rise and peak. AMT is effective in much smaller doses than MDMA. Lycaeum and Erowid both peg effective doses as being around 15mg, but there are several trip reports claiming doses of 80mg or more.
Erowid AMT Vault

G. 2CB
Straight from Erowid: “The effects of 2CB have been described as a cross between the effects of LSD and MDMA, but that it is nothing like a combination of the two. It is mildly psychedelic, much less mind-expanding or dissociative than mushrooms or LSD, but much less directed than MDMA.” Basically, distinguishing 2CB from MDMA is not difficult.

Also of note is that 2CB’s onset and rise to peak are more drawn out than MDMA; and that 2CB is effective in much smaller doses (10-20mg). In addition to health risks, high doses of 2CB may provide a very unpleasant psychedelic experience.
Erowid 2CB Vault

H. DXM
DXM became a popular adulterant in pills because it is legal, sometimes produces effect that a newcomer could deem “Ecstasy-like,” and produces a result with the Marquis reagent that can be confused with MD__. However, oral DXM doses are much greater than those for MDMA. At higher doses, DXM can produce hyperthermia, nausea, vomiting, and unpleasant hallucinations.
Bluelight DXM FAQ
Erowid DXM Vault

I. 5-MEO-DIPT
5-MEO-DiPT has been described as a mildly psychedelic chemical that has a penchant for inducing gastrointestinal distress. Although it is being placed on Schedule 1 in the US, its availability in other countries means that DEA scheduling will not make this a less common adulterant.
Erowid 5-MeO-DiPT Vault

J. Ketamine
Ketamine is a dissociative anaesthetic. Large enough oral doses can lead to a K-hole, but the amount required (350+mgs) makes this somewhat unlikely. More likely is that the user will experience an unpleasant disconnected and confused sensation. Perhaps the best non-health reason to be concerned about ketamine is that is produces an effect that is very unlike MDMA.
Bluelight’s Ketamine Dangers FAQ
Erowid Ketamine Vault

Related Myths
Note – Sometimes people send “bogus” pills to analytical testers. Basically someone will add an adulterant to press up a single bogus pill with the intention of creating or furthering a myth (sort of like people who put razor blades or needles in Halloween candy).

1. Ecstasy contains heroin
Status: Basically a myth
There have only been one or two pills that tested positive for heroin. A search on ecstasydata.org would confirm this. If someone says they felt ‘smacky’, and blames this on heroin in the pill, they are mistaken. The effects were caused by another drug, possibly ketamine or MDE.

2. The colour/appearance of a pill is indicative of its contents.
Status: Untrue
The colour/appearance of the pill means absolutely nothing. A quick search on ecstasydata.org would turn up many pills of different appearances with the same contents; or with the same appearance, but different contents.

3. Ecstasy contains mescaline
Status: Untrue
No pills have ever been tested and shown to contain mescaline. A search on ecstasydata.org would confirm this.

Mescaline is incredibly hard to get hold of – there is absolutely no way that someone would waste it by selling it as Ecstasy. If someone had mescaline, they would sell it to people who wanted to buy mescaline. Furthermore, an active dose of mescaline would not fit in a pill.

4. Ecstasy contains LSD
Status: Untrue
A search on ecstasydata.org returns no hits for LSD. This suggests that, if LSD is ever found in pills, it is found very rarely. Hallucinations are possible on high doses of MDMA. However, major hallucinations are more likely to be due to the presence of some adulterant in the pill – MDA is a strong possibility.

5. Pills contain crushed glass
Status: Untrue
Source: various, including Time Out and Mix Mag (UK magazines).
No pills have ever been tested and shown to contain glass. A search on ecstasydata.org would confirm this. When the root source for this claim was tracked down, it turned out to be a dodgy and self proclaimed manufacturer who produced zero evidence to support his claim.

6. Ecstasy is a mixture of heroin and cocaine
Status: Untrue
True Ecstasy is MDMA. It’s a completely separate chemical; it has nothing to do with either heroin or cocaine either chemically or in its effects. Pills sold as Ecstasy may contain substances which aren’t MDMA. PMA, ketamine, DXM, caffeine, speed, MDA, and MDEA are all found in pills sold as Ecstasy. Heroin and cocaine are almost never found in pills sold as Ecstasy, and have never been found in the same pill. See ecstasydata.org for more.

7. Ecstasy contains rat poison
Status : Almost a myth
Source : Various, including Time Out and Mixmag.
One pill in Holland was tested and found to contain rat poison, although this was probably a result of contamination. Reports that large numbers of pills have been found with rat poison in them are a myth. The root source for this myth was the same as for the crushed glass myth. See this thread for more.

IV. Methods of Administration
Bluelight MoA FAQ

Caution – Some time ago, the absorption rates for various methods of MDMA administration were published on Bluelight. They went along the lines of:
Oral = 40-60%
Nasal = 60-70%
Rectal = 80-90%

Since the original posting, these figures have been quoted as gospel on Bluelight and other reputable sites.

These figures are inaccurate. Diligent searching babydoc_vic, Catch-22, fairnymph, and Simon revealed these numbers to be almost total fabrications and the work of another Bluelighter’s imagination.

A. Oral
This is the most commonly used method and involves placing the pill in your mouth and swallowing. Oral administration is the safest method of consumption, as the body was designed to consume nutrients orally and has some natural filters in place (ie. Liver, GI tract, etc.)

Oral Variant – Bombing or Parachuting
Bombing/parachuting a pill means crushing a pill into powder and placing it in a small amount of tissue paper or a cigarette paper before swallowing. Because the pill is already broken up, stomach acids wont have to break the pill down so the effects begin more quickly and sometimes more intensely. A pill that has been broken down into powder can also be placed in a capsule for similar effect.

B. Sublingual
Sublingual administration involves placing the pill beneath your tongue and leaving it there as it dissolves. Sublingual administration is sometimes preferred because the drug will initially bypass your digestive system. By denying your body its customary “first pass” metabolism, the effects will be stronger. Due to the nasty taste this may leave in your mouth, most people seeking the effects of sublingual administration will opt for rectal administration (plugging).

C. Plugging
Plugging is rectal administration, or putting it up your bum.

Plugging is more effective than swallowing or snorting, because the inside of the anus is lined with a thin membrane. The drug is quickly absorbed through the membrane directly into the bloodstream.

There are two ways to plug: a pill can be crushed and placed in a capsule or plugged as it is. Powder in a capsule usually absorbs more quickly as pills can be hard pressed and not break down as easily.

Most users only find plugging slightly uncomfortable. Once inside the anus, the pill should slide up easily. It will be less effective if it doesn’t go as far as the second knuckle on the index finger. Users should go to the toilet before hand. Plugging may cause an urge to use the bathroom. It needs to be held until the pill has taken effect. Placing a condom over the finger is a very effective way of plugging as the lube from the condom helps and it’s also more hygienic.

D. Insufflation (Snorting or Railing)
This is sniffing the drug. The pill is first crushed into a very fine powder, and then cut into lines. The size of the lines will vary depending on how the user wants to do it. When an entire pill is being snorted, it is generally cut into several small lines, and they are alternated between nostrils. This aids absorption, and helps prevent the burning sensation from becoming too severe

It is common to use rolled up paper money for snorting, although any tube which fits in your nose and is fairly short will do (e.g. a bit of a straw). Please know that sharing snorting devices carries the risk of transmitting Hepatitis C. This method has a better absorption rate than swallowing, with a quicker come-up and more intense peak, but it does not last as long.

E. Injecting
Injected MDMA may provide an overwhelming experience. More importantly, there is much greater risk involved as all forms of built in protection that your body has have been bypassed. You have kidneys and a liver for a reason: to protect you from harmful substances. Never consider injecting anything unless you are sure of its content. Also, injecting may increase the likelihood of neurotoxicity.

WARNING: DO NOT inject crushed up pills unless you have used a pill filter. Straining them through anything else will not remove binders and fillers. If you inject binders and fillers blood clots and infections could result. An increasing amount of people are having arms and legs amputated because they have injected pills without properly filtering them. If you are considering injecting MDMA, try to use pure powder where possible; but even then take all precautions.

V. Different Stages of Effects
For most people, the MDMA experience is a long slow arc, building up slowly, reaching a plateau, with a long gradual comedown. Other people have nearly instant come-ups and comedowns, peaking almost as soon as the drug takes effect, then suddenly sobering up.

1. Comeup
When someone takes MDMA there is a period of time where he/she gradually comes up. The speed with which this process happens is affected by many variables, including method of ingestion, how the pill was pressed, the user’s metabolism, and whether or not the user has eaten.

A come up could start after 15 minutes or it could be over an hour. The user will gradually start to feel the effects spread throughout his/her body. It is not uncommon for people to be nauseous during this time or even vomit.

2. Peak
The peak is when MDMA’s effects are at their most intense. For some users this is a long plateau, for others it is a series of “rushes” in which they come up, then back down again.

3. Comedown
As the effects of MDMA wear off, the users will find themselves feeling tired, sore and sometimes grouchy. For some users, there will be an urge to take more. What the user did during their experience, how they took care of their body, and how much they consumed will have some effect on how they comedown.

4. Afterglow
Some users find that for up to several days after an MDMA experience, they feel happy and in a good mood. This is more common in occasional users, and those who have not used more than a few times.

Some people, however, experience a “crash” when they come down from MDMA. Crashing is a term referring to all the negative feelings that some users feel after coming down from the drug. This can include lack of energy, weak or sore muscles, depression, nausea, mental fuzziness and being overly sleepy or unable to sleep. For some users the crash is immediate, and such a dramatic change in mood that it overwhelms them. Such users may find themselves weepy, or frightened.

VI. Effects of MDMA

A. Empathy
One of the main reasons people use MDMA is to experience the empathy it creates. Empathy is the ability to share the feelings of another person. For many users, this creates a feeling of deep bond, or love. Because of its nature as an empathogen, MDMA will often help users deal with problems in their relationships and personal lives, especially in the beginning. This can create an illusion that everything is perfect, even when it isn’t.

B. Euphoria
Most users get feelings of extreme happiness, a sense that everything is right in the world, and often feelings of love for everyone around them. The latter is also referred to as being “loved-up.”

C. Physical Effects
People feel different things when on MDMA. Some get a tingling, that begins behind their ears and spreads all over their bodies. For others, it is like becoming made of gelatine, they “puddle” wherever they are, utterly relaxed and loose. Most people get stimulated, often feeling bursts of energy racing through their bodies. Because MDMA raises the body’s temperature, it is common to feel warm, or even hot and flushed.

VII. MDMA Use Over Time

For many users, the first few weeks/months of MDMA use feel like the best time in their entire lives. For about the first ten to fifty times, they have a great roll every time, and the after effects are generally negligible. Because most users have an afterglow for a day or two, often they don’t connect the negative side effects (like depression) to their use.

Instead, it may seem like life just isn’t as good when they aren’t rolling. Tuesday through Thursday will crawl by, as they wait for the weekend when they can take more. If they begin to build a tolerance – or get more and more impatient between uses – they don’t notice.

Many people say that moderation is the key to enjoying MDMA over long periods of time. The negative side effects tend to be less dramatic if you avoid frequent and/or heavy use. The majority of users, especially those who do not moderate their usage, eventually stop enjoying their rolls as much.

Often, the empathy and euphoria disappear, leaving only the speedy and negative effects. For others, they simply require larger and larger doses, for less effect. Some people find that if they stop using for a period of time, from several months to several years, the “magic” comes back. Many users, however, are never again able to feel the way they once did.

VIII. How often can I use MDMA?

There is no firm data, as we can’t cut open human brains to check serotonin levels. By averaging a number of rat and lower primate studies, Emmanuel Sferios came up with two weeks as being the amount of time it takes for serotonin to replenish itself. Many users have agreed that this “feels right” and for a long time it has been accepted as gospel. However, taking MDMA at this rate over a length of time would result in a “loss of magic” for most users and could result in permanent damage.

Most people agree that using MDMA two nights in a row is a very bad idea. Articles on Erowid seem to indicate that one ought to wait at least a week between doses, and that waiting 4-6 weeks may make more sense. In large part, this is to allow your body to return to its natural balance. Also, neurotoxicity seems to increase with larger and more frequent doses.

IX. What are the immediate side effects?

A. Why do my eyes wiggle (nystagmus)?
The temporary eye wiggling experienced by MDMA users seems to be linked to feelings of nausea. Nystagmus can be brought on by feelings of nausea or motion sickness.

B. Why do I get nauseous or vomit?
MDMA-related nausea has a number of causes:
Inhibited digestion – The more blood your body sends to your muscles to do their work (dancing, running around, etc), the less blood will be sent to your gastrointestinal tract to do its work. This inhibits digestion, meaning that whatever you are eating/drinking is more or less amassing in your stomach.
Dehydration – Dehydration can trigger queasiness, either because your body is in distress or because the dehydration is exasperating already present problems.
Bodily distress – When your body senses that it’s in trouble, digestion quickly falls down the list of autonomic priorities.
Flood of serotonin – The majority of the serotonin receptor sites in your body are located in your digestive system. The flood of serotonin that reaches these sites (5HT3 sites) may cause nausea or vomiting.
C. Why does my jaw clench?
There is a nerve in the jaw called the trigeminal nerve, which is responsible for innervating the jaw. This nerve is especially sensitive to changing levels of (among other things) serotonin. More information can be found here.

D. Why do I have trouble urinating?
MDMA promotes the release of anti-diuretic hormone (ADH). ADH is responsible for regulating urination. If more ADH is released, urination will not be as forthcoming. Read two excellent threads on this from Health Q&A:
Urination and Methamphetamines
What drugs are diuretic?

E. Why do my pupils dilate and my heart race?
MDMA is sympathomimetic, meaning that it stimulates the sympathetic nervous system (think: fight or flight). Two common side effect of this stimulation are pupil dilation and an elevated heart rate. Also consider that if you are dancing or engaged in strenuous activity, this will exacerbate the feeling of heart pounding/racing.

X. What are the dangerous side effects?

Caution – The treatments listed for all of these conditions are viable for mild symptoms ONLY. For more severe symptoms, call an ambulance. Every condition listed here can cause death if not properly treated. For all conditions, it is important to stay with the victim until they have recovered or medical assistance arrives.

A. Dehydration

Causes – Dehydration is caused by failure to consume enough fluids to replenish those that have been lost. MDMA-related contributing factors include excessive perspiration, hyperthermia, vomiting, and diarrhoea.

Prevention
Drink before you are thirsty – thirst is one of the first indicators of dehydration.
Consume water at a moderate and steady rate – do not pound a bottle all at once or take large gulps.
Consume drinks that contain sodium, or add table salt to plain water.
Symptoms – Thirst, unusually sunken eyes/cheeks, thick mucous, dry mouth, dark yellow/amber urine, low blood pressure, high heart rate (especially noticeable when resting). Symptoms will often occur in tandem with hyperthermia.

Treatment
Cease physical activity and find a place to rest.
Drink 0.5L of water over the next 30mins.
Continue drinking until fluids have been sufficiently replenished and symptoms cease.
Be sure to not drink too much too quickly. If you become nauseous and vomit, the situation will become much worse.
Treat for hyperthermia as necessary.
B. Hyponatremia (water intoxication)

Defenition – Hyponatremia is the condition of having a low blood sodium concentration. This is bad because osmotic pressure will cause water to enter brain cells, causing swelling. This swelling can become severe enough to cause cerebral haemorrhage and death.

Causes – Excessive fluid intake or rapid loss of sodium. Rapid water intake in combination with excessive perspiration and/or vomiting will hasten the onset of hyponatremia.

Prevention – Consume fluids that contain sodium, or couple plain water with salty foods (crackers, pretzels, etc).

Symptoms – Muscle cramps/spasms, confusion, nausea, fatigue, pale skin, impaired response.

Treatment – For mild symptoms, consume sodium via salty foods or drinks (no, that doesn’t mean you can have a margarita).
Bluelight Hyponatremia FAQ
SportsMed Web Articles
eMedicine Article

C. Hyperthermia

Causes – Overheating can be caused by physical activity, environment temperature, or an inability of the body to regulate heat as well as usual. One of the possible side effects of MDMA is cutaneous vasoconstriction – this means that the blood vessels closest to the surface of the body constrict. This seriously diminishes the body’s ability to rid itself of excess heat.

Prevention – Proper hydration and period breaks from activity.

Symptoms – Elevated body temperature, lightheadedness, blurred/tunnel vision. Symptoms will often occur in tandem with dehydration.

Treatment
Cease physical activity.
Apply cool (but not cold) cloths, packs, or fluids to the forehead, chest, and groin.
DO NOT USE COLD CLOTHS/PACKS – cooling down the body is good, sending it into shock is bad.
Treat for dehydration as necessary.
D. Seizures

Causes – It seems that MDMA-related seizures are a symptom of other MDMA-related problems, usually hyperthermia.

Prevention – Follow prevention guidelines for other dangerous side effects.

Treatment – Basically, just wait it out. Most seizures will be over in less than 2 minutes.
If the person is standing/sitting when the seizure begins, position yourself to catch them if they fall/collapse.
Do not try to restrain or confine the person.
Do not try to administer any medication unless otherwise specified (as with diabetics).
If the person vomits, attempt to position them such that the vomit does not block their airway.
Clear the area around the person of anything that could cause them injury – sharps, glass, protruding objects, etc.
Medline’s Seizure page

XI. What is the risk of death?

The risk of death is real. Assessing the magnitude of that risk is not easy. At the time of this writing, there was no source that provides a reliable total of the number of deaths for which the root cause was MDMA.

Part of the problem is that MDMA is often taken in combination with other drugs. In such a scenario, one cannot say that MDMA was the cause of death because it was the results of the combination that killed the person.

Another issue is that not everyone makes a clear distinction between MDMA and Ecstasy – this is the main reason that estimates from the likes of DAWN are unreliable. When view with a perspective that includes the plethora of bunk pills that have flooded the market, this lack of clarity makes one question the nature of Ecstasy-related deaths.

Another major note about death statistics is that nobody seems to be able to provide accurate information on the number of deaths or serious incidents had by people who were employing harm reduction techniques.

Nicholas Saunders wrote the following in his book E is for Ecstasy, first published in 1993:

Quote:
Taking the worst figure of seven deaths in 1991 and assuming there were only 1 million users, the risk of dying from using Ecstasy would have been 7 in a million or 1 in 143,000 per year. If users take an average of 25 Es a year, then the risk of death on each occasion is 7 in 25 million or 1 in 3.6 million.

To put this into perspective, if you take five rides at a fun fair you run a risk of 1 in 3.2 million of being killed through an accident. Some sports are obviously dangerous, such as parachuting which kills 3 in 1000 participants per year. Even skiing in Switzerland is risky – 1 in 500,000 are killed. If you play soccer, every year you run a risk of 1 in 25,000 of being killed. But if you stay at home instead of going out you still aren’t safe, since the risk of being killed through an accident at home is 1 in 26,000 a year!

To put the words of Saunders in perspective, it is important to note that patterns of use have changed a great deal since his book was written. For example, copycat manufacturing and people taking multiple pills are two trends that were not nearly as prevalent when his book was written as they are today.

All told, the side effects of MDMA can be lethal. Employing harm reduction techniques will reduce the risk of unhealthy side effects coming to fruition.

Myth: You will die if you take more than five pills in a night
Status: Incorrect
Source: poster on bolt.com
You are putting yourself at greater risk by taking more pills. However, you are still very unlikely to die from taking five pills in a night. This statement is meaningless anyway, as the strength of pills varies so much. There are pills which are tested as containing 20-30mg of MDMA, and others which contain 150mg. So one of the 150mg pills would be as strong as 5 30mg pills.

The LD50 of MDMA is 80mg/kg of bodyweight. (The LD50 is the dose at which half the experimental subjects died). So if you weigh 70kg, you would need to take 5600mg to be in serious danger. This is at least 50 or 60 good pills.

It should be remembered that even one pill can lead to death by dehydration, or overheating, or water intoxication.

Also, higher consumption of MDMA is likely to lead to greater problems with depression or memory loss. It’s more likely that heavy use will lead to these problems, rather than to actual death

XII. What are the temporary after effects?

A. Why do I have a loss of appetite?
According to the National Institute of Health (US), serotonin curbs the appetite and plays a large role in the eating disorder anorexia nervosa.
Full article: National Institute of Health

Because Ecstasy floods the brain with serotonin, it is likely that MDMA users will suffer a loss of appetite both during their experience and for up to several days afterwards.

B. Why am I depressed?
Many users report feeling depressed after using MDMA. Often, users of MDMA will find themselves to be depressed beginning on the second day after their experience and lasting up to a week. A small percentage of users report feeling depressed for several weeks afterwards.

Some studies have indicated a link between chronic MDMA use and long-term depression. Serotonin, a chemical in the brain closely tied to mood, floods the brain during MDMA use. Several studies have found that MDMA use results in serotonin depletion.

Low levels of serotonin have been tied to depression.
(http://www.biopsychiatry.com/serotonin.htm )
A paper published by Doctors Finnegan, Ricaurte, Ritchie, Irwin, Peroutka, and Langston in 1988 concluded that ecstasy caused a depletion of serotonin in the brains of rats.

See the Journal of Psychopharmacology, 15 Sept. 2001, p.181-6, for a semi-recent article on long-term depression. Link:
http://mdma.net/longterm/depression.html

Another link to information on MDMA-related depression: http://www.erowid.org/references/pdf…finnegan_1.pdf

As with studies of MDMA-related memory loss; studies linking MDMA to long-term depression have come under fire from critics who question the methods, motives and meaning of the results.

At present we are unsure as to why most people recover within a week or so. It is possible that the serotonin levels are restored to normal, or that the brain adapts to the lower levels. Many people find the use of a pre or post-load reduces or eliminates the depression.

Myth: Taking MDMA just once makes you depressed; and the only way to feel normal is taking more of it.
Status: Partially true
It’s very unlikely that anyone has had this effect from taking MDMA once. However, many of us have reached this point after taking large amounts over a long time. Abuse can lead you to the point where it seems that the only way to feel normal is to keep taking more. It would take a lot of MDMA abuse to reach this point.

C. Why do I get acne or rashes after using Ecstasy?
There are a couple of possibilities.

The first is that ecstasy users often engage in acne causing behaviour. Dancing produces sweat, which can lead to clogged pores. The menthol vapour rub that many users smear on their face can also cause acne. Many users go to sleep immediately after a night of MDMA use, and do not shower or wash their faces.

The second, more serious possible cause, is what has been labelled “ecstasy pimples”. This is an acne-like rash that can appear on some users. There is reason to believe it may be linked to a damaged liver, or a liver deficient in the enzyme that metabolizes MDMA. Dr. Uwe Wollina suggest that high levels of serotonin may enhance blood flow to the face, boosting the activity of glands that produce spots when blocked. He suspects that people who break out in spots after taking ecstasy will be more prone to other negative side-effects.
(MAPS Article ).

The third possibility is that the acne results because of norepinephrine-related stimulated production of sebum, a greasy substance that clogs pores and causes break outs.

D. Why can’t I sleep afterwards?
MDMA causes a release of both norepinephrine (NE) and dopamine (DA). The stimulatory effects of many drugs are closely tied to NE and DA concentrations. In this case, the release of NE and DA is largely responsible for the “speedy” effect of MDMA.

MDMA also causes a massive release of serotonin. Among other things, serotonin is a neurotransmitter that regulates your circadian (sleep/wake) rhythm. As serotonin concentration increases, sleepiness decreases. This link has some easily decipherable graphs:
http://dubinserver.colorado.edu/prj/…ncircadian.htm

E. Why am I getting these headaches?
Many users complain of headaches either during the MDMA experience or shortly afterwards. There are a number of factors that could be causing them.

First, serotonin may play a role in the cause of migraines. Serotonin releasing/depleting drugs like reserpine can induce a migraine. So it follows that MDMA, which causes the brain to be flooded with serotonin, could cause headaches.

Second, MDMA is a stimulant, and stimulants raise blood pressure. Increased blood pressure is known to cause headaches.

Third, the muscle and jaw tension caused by MDMA’s stimulant effects can cause or contribute to a headache.

Fourth, nystagmus could possibly cause a headache, especially if a user was attempting to focus his/her eyes.

XIII. What are the long term after effects?

Note – Each of these issues could really be a FAQ by themselves. Many other sources have already covered these questions with accuracy and depth. Links are provided those documents; followed by quick summations of the documents referenced.

General link:
http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/mdma…angover1.shtml

For the brave:
http://maps.org/research/mdma/protocol/litreview.html

Neurotoxicity
Neurotoxicity encompasses damage done to the central nervous system as a result of MDMA use. This can manifest itself in several ways, such as impaired thinking, memory loss, long term depression and ‘loss of magic.’

The concerns about neurotoxicity are genuine, and are not strictly scare tactics put forth by anti-drug groups. Much of the reason that neurotoxicity is even under debate within the harm reduction community is because the effects are real; and have been mentioned by real users – not lab rats or government puppets.

Think about it – nobody debates whether there is cocaine or heroin in pills anymore, because we all know that it’s BS. Nobody takes Terrence P Farley seriously, because we know he’s spewing lies. Please don’t gaff this off as just another myth about Ecstasy.

Although we can make some educated guesses; nobody seems to know exactly what causes neurotoxicity, how to combat it, or how quickly it happens. The most reasonable opinion appears to be the such knowledge is obtainable, but that a new study or series of studies will be needed before definitive conclusions can be reached.

These links discuss if, when and how neurotoxicity happens:
Baggot/Mendelson article
Bluelight thread – by zorn
Novartis Foundation press conference
Ricaurte/O’Callaghan interviews

A. Memory loss
Damage to certain parts of the brain is known to cause memory loss. There are studies which indicate that MDMA use can cause the requisite amount of damage for memory loss to occur. However, the results are debatable. The methods used in the studies, the motives of the researchers and the significance of the data are all frequently called into question.

Other points of contention are what effects (if any) harm reduction techniques have on memory loss, and whether the loss is permanent.

For more information on memory loss, please consult the following:
MDMA memory loss study with commentary
Reneman MDMA Memory Study

B. Anxiety, paranoia, insomnia, etc
Anxiety, paranoia, insomnia, headaches, confusion, dizziness and other negative effects have all been reported to accompany MDMA use. These effects seem to be most apparent after the peak positive effects have been reached. Here’s a nice bit from Erowid that goes into greater detail:
Short-term Side Effects of MDMA

C. Losing the magic
“Loss of magic” refers to the apparent diminishment of the effects of MDMA with repeated use. Although no formal studies have been conducted, numerous reports from individuals seem to confirm that this is a bona fide side effect. For some people, the effects of MDMA have faded enough to cause them to abstain from use.

For more information on losing the magic, please consult Erowid’s article:
MDMA Loss of Magic

Several theories exist about why this happens. One is the loss of novelty. When you do something fun the first few times, it is exciting, and pleasurable. After you have done it too many times, or too often, it can become simply routine, or worse, unpleasant. For instance, many people enjoy a steak once or twice a month. It is something they look forward to. But if they had steak every single night they would quickly become sick of it. Unfortunately, this can’t explain the tolerance that appears to develop, nor the fact that some people can never get the good effects to come back.

The other theory that gets a lot of attention is that there might be changes in the brain responsible for this. If this is true, it probably causes other problems like depression, memory loss, etc. For now, the best way to hang on to the magic is to take care of yourself by using moderately.

Related Myths
1. Ecstasy drains your spinal fluid.
Status: Untrue
Source: Oprah among others.
Discussion: A total myth. One of the ways of measuring the effects of MDMA is to take measures of serotonin production. Serotonin is produced in your brain, but also in your spinal fluid. Therefore, researchers have measured serotonin levels in spinal fluid, to determine whether MDMA usage was affecting them. See for example:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=247182 4&dopt=Abstract
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=246305 9&dopt=Abstract
Ecstasy does not actually drain your spinal fluid.

See also Erowid’s MDMA FAQ: http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/mdma/mdma_faq2.shtml

The second misapprehension concerned the fact that MDMA causes some sort of drainage of spinal fluid. This misconception somehow resulted from a misunderstanding of research into the effects of MDMA on levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin, which are accessed through spinal taps. It’s the spinal taps that drain the fluid, NOT the MDMA.

It’s also possible that the myth spread because ecstasy users, having danced all night, woke up with sore backs, and the story went around that this was due to spinal fluid loss. Of course, it was just backache from overexertion.

2. Ecstasy burns holes in your brain.
Status: Untrue
Source: Oprah; MTV’s Special on Ecstasy, 11/28/2000.
Rebuttal: Rick Doblin, PhD – see http://www.maps.org/media/mtvclarify.html
MTV presented a brain scan of a woman named Lynn Smith, who had consumed a large amount of MDMA. This brain scan was described as showing ‘holes in her brain’, similar to the brain of an elderly woman who had had many strokes. However, the scan actually measures the amount of blood flow in the brain. The ‘holes’ merely demonstrate a lower blood flow in some regions of her brain. These lower figures are relative, not absolute – they are lower relative to her own brain, not to anyone else’s. Not to a “normal” standard. In other words, you could scan anyone’s brain and get the same results, if you wanted to.

Another study, which used more sophisticated techniques to compare MDMA users and non-users, found no significant difference in brain blood flow between the two groups.
More information at the above hyperlink.

3. Ecstasy makes the cells of your brain stem break off and they travel down your spine.
Status: Untrue
Source: Raver who claimed his doctor told him this
No idea where this one came from. There is absolutely no evidence to suggest it is true. See http://www.dancesafe.org/slideshow/ for details of how MDMA affects your brain.

4. Ecstasy makes your brain bleed.
Status: Untrue
Source: Unknown, appeared as a question on Bluelight
No idea who started this rumour. There is absolutely no evidence to suggest it is true. See http://www.dancesafe.org/slideshow/ for details of how MDMA affects your brain.

5. Ecstasy will increase your risk of having a deformed baby
Status: No evidence exists to support this claim.

XIV. How much and what should I drink while using MDMA?

You should drink water, sports drinks, and juice. At the same time, be careful about drinking too much (which can lead to hyponatremia).

The overheating brought on by MDMA (particularly in combination with vigorous physical activity) requires users to constantly replenish lost fluids while still being wary of not consuming too much water and not enough sodium.

If you are unsure of how much to drink, follow these guidelines:
When active (dancing, etc), consume ~ 250-500ml (8-16oz) of fluids per hour
Try to consume fruit juice, sports drinks, or other sodium-rich fluids
If sports drinks, etc. are unavailable, try adding table salt to plain water
When inactive, consume ~ 250ml (8oz) of fluids per hour
Drink before you become thirsty – the onset of thirst is an indication of dehydration
For more information, please consult the following links:
http://www.emedicine.com/EMERG/topic275.htm
http://www.hhp.ufl.edu/keepingfit/AR…omuchwater.htm
http://www.bluelight.ru/vb/showthrea…threadid=52831

After reading the above, er……………….. no!

the article is about a study of 6 individuals who were all examined to verify their health/blood counts fell within normal limits for people their age. They were all male and all but one were smokers
:groucho:
the gist of the study is that MDMA and alcohol [together and individually] have a disruptive influence on the function of the immune system [white blood counts and their related chemicals]

:crazy: the results show:

MDMA and MDMA+alcohol [but not alcohol alone] produce an increase in cortisol levels, peaking 2 hours after the dose was administered [cortisol is a natural steroid – synthetic version is called hydrocortisone]; levels return to normal after 24 hours more or less
cortisol does suppress the immune system and also the inflamations which result from the immune system attacking joints, etc and allergies which may be why those with, for example, athritis or eczema experience some relief from symptoms for a while after taking ecstasy [note i am not advocating taking the drug to obtain this relief – just commenting on reported experiences of people i have known who have taken the drug and suffer from these conditions]

MDMA and MDMA+alcohol [not alcohol alone] causes a rise in the number of natural killer cells circulating in the blood which attack cells infected by microbes. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_killer_cell%5D

MDMA+alcohol disrupt the CD4/CD8 balance and the number of CD4 helper cells the most, then MDMA then alcohol in order of decreasing disruption [this is a disruption to the function of the immune system function] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CD4, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CD8%5D

B lymphocytes [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lymphocytes, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B_cell%5D are most initially reduced by the consumption of alcohol by MDMA and alcohol and least by MDMA

i am not going to go into the rest of the results – :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: read them yourselves :crazy: :crazy: :crazy:
:groucho: most values are returned to a near normal level after 24 hours [not all] and almost all values of the cytokines are worst affected by alcohol+MDMA [MDMA causes less disruption without the addition of alcohol]

what does this mean for people who drink and take MDMA?

from the results shown in the pharmacological report it would be advisable not to drink alcohol while taking MDMA if you dont want to disrupt the function of your immune system [TBH if you dont want to disrupt your immune system dont take drugs !] as MDMA alone is less disruptive than MDMA+alcohol overall

it is certainly likely, based on this report, that raver’s flu is a real condition rather than a myth.

Please bear in mind that raving is not done, like this experiment, in temperature controlled conditions and no notable activity levels ; it is done in all weathers and for long periods of time of strenuous activity with little rest which causes exhaustion and sometimes exposure – this alone would depress your immune system even without the drugs:crazy:

i would like to see further studies of this kind done with bigger study groups and also over a longer period to see what the real long term effects of the currently illegal drugs are , alone and in combinations in which people take them:weee:

hope this helps :groucho: :groucho: :groucho: