Comment · Sat, November 10, 2012
Research Suggests no Neurotoxicity in MDMA
Original post in this thread
PuffyCheek · 194 points
In partial response to what I've been reading in the bestof'd thread here at /drugs, I think it would be good to start a discussion about the neurotoxicity in MDMA.
I feel as if the harmful effects discussed in the thread were overblown. According to a research done by the Harvard Medical School last year in 2011, users who were asked to use MDMA under a controlled setting over a certain period of time showed no signs of cognitive impairment nor decreased mental ability.
So the question remains, why do we have so much evidence from past research studies that show otherwise? The researchers at Harvard Medical School responded by saying that past research studies lacked a proper control environment. What that means is that past research studies did not control their test group to make sure they didn't engage in unhealthy activities after ingesting MDMA (i.e. going to a rave and dancing for 8 hours straight).
No research since 2011 has proved Harvard Medical School's conclusion wrong, that MDMA is actually harmful to your brain. No other research studies that I could personally find had settings as controlled as the one conducted by HMS.
That being said, research was done…
What they were answering
blahblah15 · 1 points
Thanks! Can you give a brief rundown of what each of these does & why you're taking it? I can google it, but it's not so clear.
u/MisterYouAreSoDumb
Noopept is a dipeptide derivative of piracetam, that is 1000 times stronger. This means that my dose is literally 10mg instead of 1.6 grams with piracetam. I dose it sublingually. It is an AMPA and NMDA positive allosteric modulator, that enhances the transmission of calcium and glutamate through your ion channels. It is also voltage-dependent, so it protects from excitotoxicity by closing the channels when too high a voltage is reached. Noopept also stimulates the release of nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). This increases the length and density of dendrites, as well as the creation of neuronal synapses.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19240853
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12596521
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Oxiracetam is another derivative of piracetam that is much stronger. It's not as strong as noopept, and is still water soluble. However, it crosses the blood brain barrier easier.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3594458
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Bacopa monnieri is an herb that contains high levels of bacosides. They inhibit the activity of acetyl-choline sterase. This slows the breakdown of acetyl-choline, which helps memory and long term potentiation. It also has anti-anxiety and neurorotective roles.
http://jcbsc.org/journal/Paper/Vol_1_I_2_2011/V1I2_JCBPS_13.pdf
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L-theanine is an amino acid that helps lower anxiety. This goes very well with caffeine, and take away the jitters associated with it.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17182482
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Ginkgo Biloba is actually a tree, who's extract promotes blood flow to the brain, as well as increasing serotonin level in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. This promotes memory formation.
http://www.ane.pl/pdf/6924.pdf
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You know what caffeine is, haha.