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MDMA (Ecstasy)

Published on February 11, 2026 at 3:00 / Updated on February 26, 2026 at 8:00
Common names Terms commonly used to refer to the substance:
  • Adam, Beans, Clarity, E, Eve, Hug drug, Love drug, Molly, X, XTC.
Classification Central nervous system disruptor (stimulant and hallucinogenic effect):
  • Agent that causes users to see, hear or feel things that do not exist, stimulates mental functions and increases the brain's overall alertness.
Mechanism of action
  • The emotional and prosocial effects of MDMA are likely caused by the release of hormones (oxytocin and vasopressin) playing an important role in love, trust, sexual arousal and other social experiences.
Routes of administration
  • Ingested (the most common route), smoked, injected or snorted.

Effects sought out by the user

  • Desire to communicate with others
  • Distorted perception of time
  • Euphoria
  • Extraversion
  • Heightening and distortion of sensory perceptions
  • Intensification of emotions
  • Lowered inhibitions
  • Reduced fatigue
  • Self-confidence

Common adverse effects

  • Anxiety
  • Blurred vision
  • Confusion
  • Dehydration
  • Depressive symptoms (when coming down from the high)
  • Dilated pupils
  • Emotional instability
  • Exhaustion
  • Sweating
  • High blood pressure
  • Impulsivity
  • Increased heart rate
  • Insomnia
  • Jaw tension
  • Loss of appetite
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Memory and attention problems
  • Muscle pain and tension
  • Sexual dysfunction
  • Teeth grinding
  • Urinary retention or urgent need to urinate

Overdose effects

  • Abnormal increase in body temperature
  • Agitation
  • Cardiac arrhythmias
  • Convulsions
  • Death
  • Kidney failure
  • Liver problems
  • Panic
  • Psychosis
  • Stroke

Tolerance (need to increase the dose to feel the same effect)

Yes. Tolerance to MDMA appears to develop quickly. It then becomes increasingly difficult, if not impossible, for users to experience the initial effects.

Addiction

Yes. Frequent or prolonged use can cause psychological dependence.

Withdrawal

  • Agitation
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Exhaustion
  • Intense desire to use (craving)
  • Irritability
  • Nightmares, insomnia
Onset and duration of action
Route of administrationOnset of actionDuration of action
Ingestedless than 1 hour4 to 6 hours

Intoxication management

  • No antidote available.
  • Treatment is mainly symptomatic.
Many different street drugs are sold under the same name. Furthermore, nothing guarantees the quantity, purity or even the content of a street drug in spite of the fact that it may, in some cases, look like medication.

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