Comment · Mon, November 12, 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
Amonette · 1 points
Go easy on the melatonin!
It's also worth noting that one of the longer term effects of MDMA is damage to the clock genes - the ones that control your body's time cycles. This is why taking it too frequently can cause insomnia. I don't have a recent source for this but heard it when I was a Biology student studying genetics, it was in a lecture we had from a visiting professor from Germany and that's about all I can remember, I'd be interested to know what the current thinking is on this.
My personal advice is to treat this as an occasional treat rather than a weekend essential, otherwise you're far more likely to do yourself the damage listed in the OP. I've seen far, far too many people use it two nights a week for years and I know some of them now have sleep and depression problems, partly caused by the drugs themselves and partly by their inability to get through the week without sinking into the blues with a comedown that lasts until Wednesday because they spent their weekend awake, wired and not doing any of the other things they needed to get done.
And always, ALWAYS do drugs in a relatively safe environment with good friends, buy from people you trust and look after each other!
(Edited for missing bit)
u/MisterYouAreSoDumb
5-10mg of melatonin the night of MDMA use is safe. I use MDMA once every 3-6 months. People dose too frequently, but I can't really stop them from doing it. They are going to have to be the ones to limit their usage, and some simply just don't care. At least if they take the supplements I said, they will be safer. You have to realize the audience we are speaking to here. Some people have commented that my suggestions are too difficult and stupid. It's unfortunate.