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 Once it's been o-demethylated to HHMA, it is no longer active like MDMA is.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
Mentran · 1 points
Can memory impairment and figural fluency decrease etc. be stopped by your suplements?
u/MisterYouAreSoDumb
Yes. The cognitive impairments arise because of the neurotoxicity in your serotonin system; mainly in the hippocampus and frontal cortex. My supplementation prevents much of the metabolism to the neurotoxic compounds, as well as adding a lot of good antioxidants to scavenge any that does get created. There is no way to completely stop the metabolism, so the antioxidants are key. Also, magnesium glycinate to protect your calcium channels. Excitotoxicity is completely separate from 5-HT neurotoxicity. It arise from increased extracellular glutamate. Magnesium will modulate your NMDA receptors to protect your neurons.