Psychopharmacology
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3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) administration to rats produces acute hyperthermia and long-term neurotoxic damage to 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin, 5-HT) neurones. ⋯ MDMA administration to rats housed at 30 degrees C produces a more severe hyperthermic response than that seen in rats housed at 19 degrees C. A prior neurotoxic dose enhances the response further in animals housed at 30 degrees C. Binge dosing produces a higher final peak response than a similar non-divided dose. This effect is more marked in animals housed at high room temperature. These data may have implications for recreational users of MDMA in hot environments, particularly those who may have damaged serotoninergic neurones because of prior heavy or frequent use of the drug.
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3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and methamphetamine (METH) are illicit drugs that are increasingly used in combination. The acute and long-term effects of MDMA/METH combinations are largely uncharacterised. ⋯ These results suggest that MDMA and METH in combination may have greater adverse acute effects (head-weaving, body temperature) and long-term effects (decreased social interaction, increased emergence anxiety, dopamine depletion) than equivalent doses of either drug alone.