* This information is here so you understand this drug and its effects should you make the choice to use it. Ignorance is not bliss, and you should not blindly try any substance you know nothing about. We are not advocating the use of or saying you should try this drug. But it’s your life and your choice, if you decide you want to, we want to make sure you understand what to expect so you can be responsible, prepared, and safe.

Drugs are NOT what the rave scene is all about. The rave scene is all about loving and enjoying music and sharing that experience with others who have the same love for it that you do. Drugs, however are still present. And as long as they are we will have this information in our attempt to help reduce the risks of overdoses and deaths due to lack of knowledge and irresponsibility.*

|-Electronic-Life|

WHAT IS ECSTASY?

·                 Ecstasy is MDMA, or 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine. Belongs to a family of drugs called “entactogens,” which literally means “touching within.” Other drugs in this category include MDA, MDE and MBDB.

·                 Before it was made illegal in 1985, MDMA was used by psychiatrists as a therapeutic tool. Studies are currently underway in several countries including the United States and Israel to assess MDMA’s effectiveness in the treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS?

·                 MDMA is a “mood elevator” that produces a relaxed, euphoric state. 

·                 MDMA takes effect anywhere for 30 - 60 minutes after taking a pill, with little rushes of exhilaration which can be accompanied by nausea.

·                 Sensations are enhanced, everything will start to look/sound/feel better.

·                 The effects of ‘real’ ecstasy subside after about 3-6 hours depending on the strength of the pill.

·                 The experience is very pleasant and highly controllable. Even at the peak of the effect, people can usually deal with important matters.

·                 The effect that makes MDMA different from other drugs is that it increases a sense of empathy, or the sensation of understanding and accepting others

WHAT IS THE GENERAL DOSAGE?

·                 E comes in the form of a pill. A normal dose is around 100-125 mg.

WHAT SHOULD I DO WHILE ON ECSTASY TO STAY SAFE?

• Stay hydrated! Being hydrated on ecstasy is very important. Take sips of water frequently to help maintain the water levels in your body, especially if you are dancing or sweating a lot. Sweating lowers your water and sodium levels.
• Also, remember to drink gatorade or powerade, to help maintain the sodium levels in your body.
• Remember not to over drink! Drinking too much can lead to over hyrdation or water intoxication, which can result in death as quickly, if not more so than, dehydration can.
• Take a break if you need to. Sit down, rest, breathe deeply, calm down for a bit. Don’t over exert yourself.

IS ECSTASY ADDICTIVE?

·                 Ecstasy is not physically addictive. You can however become mentally dependent on it, similar to marijuana. But taken too frequently MDMA loses its special effect.

·                 MDMA releases the brain chemical serotonin, elevating mood and acting as a short-term antidepressant. Compulsive users may be unconsciously trying to self-medicate for depression.

BE CAREFUL

·                 Conviction for possession of ecstasy can carry long prison sentences.

·                 Frequent or high doses have been linked to neurotoxic damage in laboratory animals. It is still unknown whether such damage occurs in humans or, if it does, whether this has any long-term, negative consequences.

·                 Some people experience depression after taking MDMA. This is caused by MDMA’s action on certain brain chemicals.

·                 There have been some deaths associated with MDMA. Usually these have been a result of heatstroke from dancing for long periods of time in hot clubs without replenishing lost body fluids.

·                 Much of what is sold as “ecstasy” actually contains other drugs, some of which can be more dangerous than MDMA, like PMA, speed, DXM and BZP. Make sure you get your pills from a reputable and trusted source!

·                 Mixing ecstasy with alcohol or other drugs increases the risk of adverse reactions. You should not mix ecstasy with other drugs.

Ecstasy and Depression 

Many people talk about feeling depressed after taking ecstasy. Most often this depression is mild and lasts only a day or two. However, some regular users report feeling depressed for much longer periods of time after taking E, particularly if they use it frequently or take large doses. At the same time, most people who use ecstasy do not report experiencing any depression at all.

What causes some people to feel depressed after taking Ecstasy? 

MDMA works by releasing from certain brain cells large amounts of the brain chemical, serotonin. This release of serotonin is what causes Ecstasy’s mood elevation effect, as well as the feelings of empathy, self-acceptance, and emotional closeness with others that so many people find valuable and rewarding about the drug.

But in releasing large amounts of serotonin, MDMA also depletes the brain’s supply. It then takes some time for the brain to replenish what was released. How long does it take for serotonin levels to be fully restored after someone takes Ecstasy? This depends on the individual’s diet, general heath, genetic make-up, how much ecstasy the person took, and other random factors. There’s no way to tell for sure, but based on animal studies, scientists say that it could take anywhere from 48 hours to an entire week. The mild depression some people feel after taking E could be related to this temporary depletion of serotonin.

The release of serotonin, however, also causes serotonin receptors in the brain to down-regulate, which basically means turn themselves off for a while. The up-and-down regulation of receptors is one of the primary ways the brain tries to achieve homeostasis, or balance. These receptors work in conjunction with the amount of serotonin around and are just as important in the regulation of mood as serotonin itself. In trying to maintain a balanced mood, these receptors respond to the amount of serotonin around by turning themselves on and off (up-regulation and down-regulation). When they are flooded with serotonin as a result of taking Ecstasy, many of them down-regulate.

The majority of these receptors will up-regulate again as soon as the excess serotonin is metabolized away. However, some of these receptors may stay down-regulated longer, perhaps days, weeks, or even months. The depression some people feel after taking ecstasy may be a result of these serotonin receptors staying down-regulated too long. Whether, how much, or how often this happens may largely be a genetic factor unique to the individual. Some people may simply be genetically pre-disposed towards Ecstasy-related depression.

It Could be Preexisting Depression 

Some ecstasy users who experience depression might have been depressed before they started using ecstasy. Depression is a common illness that often goes undiagnosed and untreated. This is particularly true for teenagers and young adults who suffer from mild to moderate depression. It is likely that many compulsive ecstasy users are unconsciously trying to self-medicate their depression. (Of course, Ecstasy is not an effective daily antidepressant and may actually exacerbate symptoms of depression.)

Are there ways to reduce the risk of depression if using ecstasy?

Yes.

Moderation. There are biochemical reasons (explained above) why frequent MDMA use increases the likelihood of depression. Remember, with Ecstasy, LESS IS MORE.

Eat well. Your body produces serotonin by combining together various amino acids found in proteins. Maintaining a well balanced diet that includes enough complete proteins and the proper vitamins and minerals will help you stay healthy and rebound more easily from serotonin depletion.

Sleep. Many of your brain’s restorative processes take place while you sleep. Not getting enough sleep may significantly lengthen the time it takes for your brain to replenish its serotonin.

Use lower doses. And avoid “booster” doses, or taking more when you come down. Remember, when you come down from MDMA you have already depleted much of your serotonin. Depleting it even more will lengthen the time it takes to be replenished. LESS IS MORE, with ecstasy.

What about 5-htp?

Many ecstasy users report that the amino-acid supplement, 5-Hydroxy-Tryptophan (5-htp), helps reduce post-E depression. 5-htp is the direct precursor to serotonin in the brain. Your body makes it on its own, but it is also sold in most health food stores as an herbal supplement, extracted from Griffonia seeds.

Clinical studies of 5-htp have shown that it successfully relieves symptoms of depression in many people. It does this by increasing the amount of 5-htp in the brain, making it easier for the brain to produce serotonin. Supplementing with 5-htp, therefore, may lessen post-E depression by helping your body restore its serotonin levels more quickly.

A Word of Caution: Taking 5-htp may make you feel normal again more quickly after taking Ecstasy. This may tempt you to take ecstasy more often than you would have otherwise. The beneficial effects of 5-htp supplementation (restoring serotonin) could then be offset by the more frequent depletion of serotonin. In other words, 5-htp is not a substitute for moderation. If you find yourself taking 5-htp in order to enjoy ecstasy more often, consider slowing down. Remember, more frequent use of ecstasy increases your chances of depression regardless of how healthy your brain is. LESS IS MORE.

One more thing: 5-htp works by helping your brain restore itself to a normal state. It is not a drug, and does not simply “mask” or cover-up the after-effects of ecstasy use. Taking other drugs (like downers or speed) in order to mask the symptoms of post-E depression, or the negative effects of coming down, can lead to a physical dependency on these other drugs (especially speed).