Ecstasy (MDMA ,3,4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine) is a synthetic, psychoactive drug chemically similar to the stimulant methamphetamine and the hallucinogen mescaline. Street names for MDMA include Ecstasy, Adam, XTC, hug, beans, and love drug. Ecstasy is an illegal drug that acts as both a stimulant and psychedelic, producing an energizing effect, as well as distortions in time and perception and enhanced enjoyment from tactile experiences
Ecstasy exerts its primary effects in the brain on neurons that use the chemical serotonin to communicate with other neurons. The serotonin system plays an important role in regulating mood, aggression, sexual activity, sleep, and sensitivity to pain. That's why it's the most common drug of choice used in date rapes.
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Effects of Ecstasy Use
1) Poor performance in cognitive or memory tasks. Some of these effects may be due to the use of other drugs in combination with Ecstasy, among other factors.
2) Physical Effects: In high doses, Ecstasy can interfere with the body's ability to regulate temperature. On rare but unpredictable occasions, this can lead to a sharp increase in body temperature (hyperthermia), resulting in liver, kidney, and cardiovascular system failure, and death.
3) Because Ecstasy can interfere with its own metabolism (breakdown within the body), potentially harmful levels can be reached by repeated drug use within short intervals.
4) Users of Ecstasy face many of the same risks as users of other stimulants such as cocaine and amphetamines. These include increases in heart rate and blood pressure, a special risk for people with circulatory problems or heart disease, and other symptoms such as muscle tension, involuntary teeth clenching, nausea, blurred vision, faintness, and chills or sweating.
5) Psychological Effects: These can include confusion, depression, sleep problems, drug craving, and severe anxiety. These problems can occur during and sometimes days or weeks after taking Ecstasy.
6) Neurotoxicity: Research in animals links Ecstasy exposure to long-term damage to neurons that are involved in mood, thinking, and judgment. A study in nonhuman primates showed that exposure to Ecstasy for only 4 days caused damage to serotonin nerve terminals that was evident 6 to 7 years later. Ecstasy reports withdrawal symptoms, fatigue, loss of appetite,and trouble concentrating; While similar neurotoxicity has not been definitively shown in humans, the wealth of animal research indicating Ecstasy's damaging properties suggests that Ecstasy is not a safe drug for human consumption.
7) Hidden Risk - Drug Purity: Other drugs chemically similar to Ecstasy, such as MDA (methylenedioxyamphetamine, the parent drug of Ecstasy) and PMA (paramethoxyamphetamine, associated with fatalities in the U.S. and Australia) are sometimes sold as ecstasy. These drugs can be neurotoxic or create additional health risks to the user. Also, ecstasy tablets may contain other substances in addition to MDMA, such as ephedrine (a stimulant); dextromethorphan (DXM, a cough suppressant that has PCP-like effects at high doses); ketamine (an anesthetic used mostly by veterinarians that also has PCP-like effects); caffeine; cocaine; and methamphetamine. While the combination of Ecstasy with one or more of these drugs may be inherently dangerous, users might also combine them with substances such as marijuana and alcohol, putting themselves at further physical
Because, you're a first time user, I'm sure aside from the sleepiness and trouble remembering; you'll be fine. However for a worry- free and peace of mind, I strongly suggest that you stay away from such a dangerous drug; as fashionable as it is!.
2007-11-13 08:12:37
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answer #1
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answered by rosieC 7
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First of all you are quite stupid to even take xtc, secondly the side effects could be a stroke, a heart attack, seizures, or a serious impairment that cannot be fixed! Or you could just be really horny...Either way you could end up killing yourself every ones different don't let anyone tell you different!
2007-11-13 07:56:24
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answer #2
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answered by Jocelyn J 2
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