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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2002 >> ECSTASY
        
(Message started by: JIM on Feb 18^th, 2002, 10:49pm)

Title: ECSTASY
Post by JIM on Feb 18^th, 2002, 10:49pm

Since this drug is said to increase the seratonin level do you think it would have a beneficial effect at low doses also? JIM

Title: ECSTASY: From the O.U.C.H. Library
Post by Ted on Feb 18^th, 2002, 11:01pm

Ecstasy Use Depletes Brain’s Serotonin Levels

ST. PAUL, MN – Use of the recreational drug Ecstasy causes a severe reduction in the amount of serotonin in the brain, according to a study in the July 25 issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

The study examined the brain of a 26-year-old man who had died of a drug overdose. He had been using Ecstasy for nine years, and in the last months of his life had also started using cocaine and heroin. His brain was compared to those from autopsies of 11 healthy people.

"The levels of serotonin and another chemical associated with serotonin were 50 to 80 percent lower in the brain of the Ecstasy user," said study author Stephen Kish, PhD, of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, Canada. "This is the first study to show that this drug can deplete the level of serotonin in humans."

Ecstasy, which is known chemically as methylenedioxymethamphetamine, or MDMA, is structurally related to the hallucinogen mescaline and the stimulant amphetamine. MDMA causes neurons, or nerve cells, to release serotonin, a neurotransmitter that controls mood, pain perception, sleep, appetite and emotions. Ecstasy users report an increased awareness of emotion and a heightened sense of intimacy.

"Some of the behavioral effects of this drug are probably due to the massive release and depletion of serotonin," Kish said. "And the depression that people feel after going off the drug could also be explained by the depletion of serotonin in the brain."

The low levels of serotonin were found in the striatal area of the brain, which plays a key role in coordinating movement. In addition to serotonin, the level of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, also known as 5-HIAA and a major breakdown product of serotonin, was also low in the brain of the Ecstasy user.

"Of course, these findings should be confirmed through additional studies," Kish said. "Conclusions based on a single case can only be tentative."

Researchers confirmed the man’s drug use through analysis of his brain, blood and hair. The analysis also confirmed that he had been using cocaine and heroin in the last months of his life. Kish said other research has shown that those drugs do not affect serotonin levels.

The man started using Ecstasy once a month at age 17. His usage increased, and in the last three years of his life he used it four to five nights a week at "rave" clubs, usually including a three-day weekend binge during which he took six to eight tablets. On the day after these binges, his friends said he appeared depressed and had slow speech, movement and reaction time.

Kish said research should also be done to determine whether increasing serotonin levels in people who are going off the drug would help eliminate some of the behavioral problems that occur during withdrawal.

Title: Re: ECSTASY
Post by pinksharkmark on Feb 19^th, 2002, 2:33am

I get a lot of e-mails from people that don't want to post on the message board.

According to all the reports I have received, MDMA (ecstasy) will kill a CH in progress every bit as effectively as an imitrex shot, and will keep the CH from recurring as long as the MDMA is still in the system... 12 to 18 hours at the most.

Problem is, as soon as the Ecstasy clears the system, the headaches return, so it is no more effective than a triptan with a long halflife, such as Amerge (naratriptan).

As Ted's article points out, longterm Ecstasy use is EXTREMELY dangerous, possibly fatal, so it is of no use to a clusterhead. Amerge will work just as well, it is legal, you KNOW what you are getting, it is non-toxic, it is cheaper, and it is covered by insurance.

Bottom line: leave Ecstasy to the Ravers.

pinky

Title: Re: ECSTASY
Post by murphysmom on Feb 20^th, 2002, 2:13pm

Here, here Pinky!!! mmom ;D

Title: Re: ECSTASY
Post by don on Feb 20^th, 2002, 5:01pm

You tell me? What is a low dose? Seeing how it is a designer drud and the compounds and amounts are up to the lamebrain home chemist, how do you know the true dosage? Also, Ketamine is often marketed as Ecstasy, how do you know your getting the right drug?

Ecstasy for Ch? Forget it.

Title: Re: ECSTASY
Post by Jodi on Feb 20^th, 2002, 6:29pm

I'll take the Imitrex shots anyday over that stuff. It's bad enough I had a doctor tell me that my younger years caught up with me and that what is what caused the headaches.
:-X

Title: Re: ECSTASY
Post by Cheryl on Feb 20^th, 2002, 9:09pm

Ya know it almost pisses me off to hear a doc or someone try and say that all the problems that we are having is because of our younger/faster/wilder days. As an ex partier myself. What the hay, I was going to grow old and die anyway.

Sorry not tooooo upbeat, not in the mood to smile much tonight but I am a firm believer in A GOOD NIGHTS SLEEP!!! It may be what I need.

Love
Cheryl 8)

Title: Re: ECSTASY
Post by JIM on Feb 20^th, 2002, 9:15pm

Thanks for the feedback I thought it might be effective I think if I'm in the peak of my next cycle I'll give it a try It's gotta beat going through a couple of imitrex injections half a dose at a time. I wasn't thinking about taking it on any sort of regular basis anymore than I'd take Imitrex Thanks again for the Help JIM

Title: Re: ECSTASY
Post by don on Feb 21^st, 2002, 7:20pm

Ask anyone in a rehab from ecstacy if they PLANNED on taking it on a regular basis.

Title: Re: ECSTASY
Post by Elaine on Feb 23^rd, 2002, 10:39pm

A good friend of mine died from taking it. I wish she was here again. She left four children behind.

Title: Re: ECSTASY
Post by tsol75 on Feb 26^th, 2002, 11:04pm

I started getting cluster headaches at age 15...although far from innocent, I was not out smoking crack or anything at that age...maybe drinking too much but I had no idea it would trigger the headaches...don't think anyone's "wild" days is the cause...I'm just jealous you guys got to live pain free throughout your twenties and go down and have a beer every now and then...when I saw mean age for getting the headaches was 30 I was really pissed...I really could have used those 15 years!

Title: Re: ECSTASY
Post by Jayne on Feb 28^th, 2002, 9:14pm

I had my day with ecstasy years ago...played with it for about 4-6 months...i always wondered if that caused my clusterheadaches, but now realise that many people started getting hit at a young age and the worst they had done to themselves was drink.

Title: Re: ECSTASY
Post by BobG on Mar 2^nd, 2002, 5:27pm

Ecstasy can be a killer.
My step-cousin Luke used to take that stuff. I say "used to" cause he's no longer with us. He took so much it fried his brain cells and made him believe he was a dog. One day he was in the street lickin' his balls when the garbage truck ran over him.
Moral of the story is: Either you have to stay away from Ecstasy of find a safer place to lick yourself.

Title: Re: ECSTASY
Post by justin on Mar 8^th, 2002, 2:28pm

i started CH's before any drug use or cigarette use. my advice is stay away from E.....long live imitrex. we need to fight the insurance companies to give us more than 8 shots a month. BS i say

jd

Title: Re: ECSTASY
Post by justin on Mar 8^th, 2002, 2:29pm

i started CH's before any drug use or cigarette use. my advice is stay away from E.....long live imitrex. we need to fight the insurance companies to give us more than 8 shots a month. BS i say

jd

Title: Re: ECSTASY
Post by chjohn on Mar 8^th, 2002, 7:59pm

Drugs are baadd. Don't take drugs, cause drugs are baadd. (Southpark). And severe penalties if caught in possession of. And if you don't know your dealer he could be a cop. And your mother wouldn't aprove. And EVEN IF you have taken Ectasy before you could still die with one dose, it not a wise choice, other treatments available, with less of a risk factor,
But that's just my opion. From an ex hippy veiwpoint.
John