What is Molly? A Guide to MDMA’s Origins, Effects & Safety

Scientific study has resulted in the general agreement that, although it is physically safe to try in a responsible context, the administration of repeated or high dosages of MDMA is most certainly neurotoxic in some form. Some people who use MDMA do report symptoms of addiction, including continued use despite negative consequences, tolerance, withdrawal, and craving, according to the NIH. Because use promotes trust, closeness, empathy, and enhances sexual desire, the risk of unsafe sexual practices may increase, resulting in HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, or other sexually transmitted diseases. It is also available as a powder and is sometimes snorted, taken as a liquid, and it is occasionally smoked but rarely injected. As the rave and club scene expanded to metropolitan and suburban areas across the country, MDMA use and distribution increased as well. Today, the drug is still used by a broader group of people who more commonly call it Ecstasy or Molly.

• Research shows drugs such as cocaine are more likely to cause addiction than ecstasy.
• As a result, consumers often feel very thirsty and crave lots of fluids.
• But, buried underneath the hype lies an ocean of unexplored potential—an ocean that Dr. Sisley has only just begun to traverse.
• For example, a metabolite of MDMA called alpha-Methyldopamine (α-Me-DA, which is known to be toxic to dopamine neurons7518) was thought believed to be involved in the toxicity of MDMA to serotonin receptors.
• In addition to harming the body’s ability to regulate temperature, MDMA can cause other adverse effects, and the risk of these effects increases at higher doses.
• The adage “start low, go slow” is a golden rule when experimenting with any psychoactive substance.

That can lead to serious difficulties in your daily life, such as at your job, in your relationships, and in maintaining your emotional well-being. It’s important to know that the effects of ecstasy will be different from person to person. Your health, weight, the amount you’ve taken, and other drugs used with ecstasy can all play a role.

• Starting in the 1970s, it was briefly explored for use in psychiatry.
• Therapy is typically directed by a substance use clinic or health care provider and involve supportive care and behavioral and group therapy.
• On average, those who take Molly the most are between the ages of 12–17.
• Ecstasy is a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act, which means you could face jail time if caught in possession of this drug.
• This involves taking ecstasy along with the hallucinogenic drug LSD.

How does MDMA make you feel?

This is especially true if MDMA is combined with other stimulants, such as cocaine. When taken together, these substances increase the user’s rush but also put them at risk of heart attack or stroke. Taking MDMA in combination with a sedative drug (like alcohol, benzodiazepines, or opioids) can also be harmful, and increases the likelihood of adverse effects or overdose.

MDMA’s notoriety as a party drug has meant that it is commonly abused with other substances such as marijuana and alcohol. As with all polydrug use, combining the drug molly, MDMA, or ecstasy with another substance increases the risk of overdose as well as additional health complications. As with most abused drugs, MDMA and ecstasy interfere with the brain’s pleasure receptors, increasing the levels of the biochemical dopamine and serotonin which produces the euphoric high. The MDMA high usually begins within 45 minutes of taking the drug and can last anywhere between 3 and 8 hours; depending on the user’s weight, gender, dose, and method of administration. The comedown, or ‘crash’, from MDMA and ecstasy abuse can last for several days and normally includes feeling tired, depressed, or irritable. Current evidence suggests that ecstasy may increase the likelihood of developing serotonin syndrome, which can occur with spikes of the neurotransmitter serotonin.

Can I overdose or die from MDMA use?

When ecstasy use is followed by vigorous physical activity, it can lead to a potentially dangerous rise in body temperature known as hyperthermia. People with MDMA-induced euphoria who dance or exert themselves in hot or confined areas, such as at a rave, club, or dance party, are at risk of experiencing heatstroke. Hyperthermia, a dangerous spike in molly drug wiki body temperature, is one of the most common and serious side effects of MDMA use.

How is MDMA used in medicine?

The drugs frequently found in Molly are Methylone, MDPV, 4-MEC, 4-MMC, Pentedrone and MePP. Therapy is typically directed by a substance use clinic or health care provider and involve supportive care and behavioral and group therapy. Research in animals indicates that MDMA is neurotoxic and may affect the brain. Clinical studies suggest that MDMA may increase the risk of long-term or permanent problems with memory and learning. Edmund has an extensive background in addiction research and medical writing, working collaboratively with doctors, substance use disorder specialists, and clinical experts across all content on Recovered.

Is MDMA addictive?

Please consult your healthcare provider if you think that using ecstasy or “molly” is right for you. MDMA — also known as ecstasy or molly — is a psychostimulant drug with effects similar to both stimulants and hallucinogens. Often considered a party drug, MDMA is one of the most widely used psychostimulants in the world. In Australia, MDMA was rescheduled on 1 July 2023 as a schedule 8 substance (available on prescription) when used in the treatment of PTSD, while remaining a schedule 9 substance (prohibited) for all other uses.

MDMA (often called ‘Molly’ or ‘ecstasy’) has become one of America’s favorite drugs since the 1980s, when it ‘escaped’ from the world of profesional MDMA therapy and became popular among partiers. Since it strips away emotional defense mechanisms and encourages socialization and bonding, some scientists have dubbed the drug an “empathogen.”  Among young adults (ages 19-30), about 14% have taken MDMA. MDMA is being explored as a treatment for certain medical conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. Researchers are studying how drugs with psychedelic properties, including MDMA, can be used to treat mental health conditions. The molly or ecstasy sold on the street is rarely pure MDMA — and may even contain little or no MDMA. Illegally sold products might be tainted with dangerous or poisonous chemicals such as cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl, ketamine, or “bath salts” (synthetic cathinones, which are stimulant drugs related to the khat plant).

While the Molly drug and Ecstasy are similar, they aren’t the same. Molly often comes in a powder that’s easy for people to combine with other substances. Despite becoming extremely popular over the last decade, MDMA has been around since 1990.

Permits for research uses on humans must be approved by a recognized ethics committee on human research. Know the symptoms of an overdose and ask for help right away if you believe you or someone you’re with is having one. Keep in mind that you’ll likely feel some unpleasant side effects as part of the ecstasy experience, such as nausea and vomiting, racing heartbeat, and sweating. Using alcohol or other drugs along with ecstasy makes it more likely to harm yourself and end up in the hospital. While you may not get addicted to ecstasy, using it does increase your risk for substance use disorder, especially if you struggle to control your use of ecstasy.

Like most drugs, MDMA is detectable in urine, hair, blood, and saliva toxicology tests. The rates at which the substance is detectable can vary depending on multiple factors. Read on to find out how long ecstasy, MDMA, and molly stay in your system.