Ecstasy history

Soar K, Turner JJD and Parrott AC (2001). Psychiatric disorders in recreational Ecstasy (MDMA) users A literature review focusing upon personal predisposition factors and drug histories. Human Psychopharmacology, 16, 641-645. 

Ketamine is often taken with other drugs, such as cocaine, marijuana, alcohol, and Ecstasy, which greatly increases the risk for overdose. Ketamine tends to be taken by people with a history of experimenting with numerous other drugs. Ketamine is also occasionally taken by physicians and veterinarians, who have easy access to the drug and want to experiment with its psychedelic effects. 

Cloud, John. The Lure of Ecstasy. Time, June 5,2000, pp. 62-68. Describes the background on ecstasy (MDMA), a drug that was actually developed about 80 years ago and today is widely used in clubs and raves. The history of psychiatric use of the drug is also recounted, and advocates for therapeutic use of the drug are again being heard. The author concludes that the... 

Although there are federal guidelines for sentencing of drug possession, the penalties imposed are a bit more subjective. There is a particular offense level based on the amount of ecstasy or number of pills in possession, and a penalty associated with that offense level. The penalty for first offense possession of a small (personal) amount of ecstasy is a maximum of one year in prison and a fine. Someone with one prior conviction is subject to a term of 15 days to two years in prison, and two or more prior convictions to a term of 90 days to three years, both with increasing fines. Along with the base offense level, courts also take into account the offender s history of drug offenses, whether another crime was committed, and circumstances at the time of the arrest. 

A 38-year-old man developed Parkinsonism that progressed to Hoehn and Yahr stage 5 within 4 years of onset (44). Treatment with ropinirole resulted in further deterioration, levodopa was not tolerated, and subthalamic nucleus stimulation provided only partial relief. The patient reluctantly reported heavy use of ecstasy through most of his twenties and thirties. He had a family history of Parkinsonism, but other investigations to determine the underlying cause, such as urine copper and heavy metals, were non-contributory. 

A 23-year-old man with no prior psychiatric history developed panic disorder after taking a single dose of ecstasy (56). 

An 18-year-old woman took an unknown quantity of ecstasy and the next day became confused and had seizures, loss of consciousness, and respiratory arrest. At autopsy, no cause of death was found. There were no specific findings on histology except visceral hyperemia. MDMA, moclobemide, and some alcohol were found in the blood. There was no history of mental illness or evidence of prescription drugs. 

A 19-year-old man with no significant past history of medical problems took PA tablets of ecstasy and some alcohol. Within 2-4 days, he developed tiredness, nausea, malaise, and vomiting and on the fifth day weakness and anorexia 12 days later, he was admitted... 

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