Comment · Thu, November 22, 2012
MDMA Neurotoxicity Part 1 (Metabolites)
Original post in this thread
MisterYouAreSoDumb · 77 points
This is probably going to be the first in a series of discussions I start about MDMA. There's just too much information for one post. Therefore, I am going to start with one that is very interesting to me: MDMA's metabolites and their role in neurotoxicity. I pre-appologise for the length and terminology used.
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First off, let's discuss how MDMA is metabolized. The human cytochrome CYP450 is responsible for the metabolism of MDMA. The primary enzyme responsible is CYP2D6, using O-demethylation. This process adds two hydrogen atoms to the two open oxygen atoms in MDMA to create HHMA. Let's look at the structure for a minute.
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MDMA is 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine
HHMA is 3,4-dihydroxy-N-methylamphetamine
So your CYP2D6 enzyme added two hydrogen atoms to the methylenedioxy structure to create a dihydroxy structure. Once it's been o-demethylated to HHMA, it is no longer active like MDMA is. HHMA can then be 0-methylated further to HMMA, or 4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-N-methylamphetamine. Here is an image to help you visualize this process.
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What they were answering
levelboss · 7 points
What does neurotoxity actually do ? Does your memory suffer then ? Less motor skills ? Harder to be happy and stuff like that ?
I always hear people say be careful for neurotoxity but I never quite understood what the effects of it are..
Good read though, very informative !
u/MisterYouAreSoDumb
The type I am speaking to in this post is 5-HT, or serotonin system neurotoxicity. It can cause memory loss and emotional issues. Serotonin is involved in memory formation and storage in your hippocampus. Unfortunately, that's a part of your brain damaged a lot by the toxicity. It also damages your frontal cortex, which is your emotions and decision making. So depression and memory loss are going to be the main ones here. Other drugs have different neurotoxicity, like dopamine. That has different effects.