Skip to main content
Advertisement

Main menu

  • Home
  • Articles
    • Current Issue
    • Fast Forward
    • Latest Articles
    • Special Sections
    • Archive
  • Information
    • Instructions to Authors
    • Submit a Manuscript
    • FAQs
    • For Subscribers
    • Terms & Conditions of Use
    • Permissions
  • Editorial Board
  • Alerts
    • Alerts
    • RSS Feeds
  • Virtual Issues
  • Feedback
  • Submit
  • Other Publications
    • Drug Metabolism and Disposition
    • Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
    • Molecular Pharmacology
    • Pharmacological Reviews
    • Pharmacology Research & Perspectives
    • ASPET

User menu

  • My alerts
  • Log in
  • My Cart

Search

  • Advanced search
Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
  • Other Publications
    • Drug Metabolism and Disposition
    • Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
    • Molecular Pharmacology
    • Pharmacological Reviews
    • Pharmacology Research & Perspectives
    • ASPET
  • My alerts
  • Log in
  • My Cart
Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics

Advanced Search

  • Home
  • Articles
    • Current Issue
    • Fast Forward
    • Latest Articles
    • Special Sections
    • Archive
  • Information
    • Instructions to Authors
    • Submit a Manuscript
    • FAQs
    • For Subscribers
    • Terms & Conditions of Use
    • Permissions
  • Editorial Board
  • Alerts
    • Alerts
    • RSS Feeds
  • Virtual Issues
  • Feedback
  • Submit
  • Visit jpet on Facebook
  • Follow jpet on Twitter
  • Follow jpet on LinkedIn
Research ArticleArticle

Cardiovascular and Neuroendocrine Effects and Pharmacokinetics of 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine in Humans

Marta Mas, Magí Farré, Rafael de la Torre, Pere N. Roset, Jordi Ortuño, Jordi Segura and Jordi Camí
Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics July 1999, 290 (1) 136-145;
Marta Mas
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Magí Farré
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Rafael de la Torre
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Pere N. Roset
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Jordi Ortuño, Jordi Segura
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Jordi Camí
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • Article
  • Figures & Data
  • Info & Metrics
  • eLetters
  • PDF
Loading

Abstract

The cardiovascular and neuroendocrine effects and pharmacokinetics of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, “ecstasy”) were assessed in a double-blind, randomized, crossover, and controlled (placebo and amphetamine) clinical trial. Eight men with experience in the recreational use of MDMA participated in four 10-h experimental sessions with a 1-week washout period. Single oral doses of 125 mg and 75 mg of MDMA, 40 mg of amphetamine, and placebo were given. Both MDMA doses significantly increased blood pressure (increases of 40 mm Hg in systolic blood pressure), heart rate (increases of 30 beats/min), and pupillary diameter (mydriasis) as compared with placebo. Oral temperature did not show significant changes in any drug-active condition. Plasma cortisol levels showed a statistically significant increase after MDMA administration. Prolactin levels only increased after high dose of MDMA. Cmax values for 125-mg and 75-mg MDMA doses were 236.4 and 130.9 ng/ml, andTmax was observed at 2.4 and 1.8 h, respectively. Elimination half-life was 8.6 h and 7.7 h for high and low MDMA doses, respectively. Amphetamine half-life was 15 h. Between 8 and 9% of the doses of MDMA appeared in plasma in the form of 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine. The important cardiovascular effects observed after MDMA administration in laboratory conditions at rest (increases of 40 mm Hg in systolic blood pressure and 30 beats/min in pulse rate) could be relevant in terms of toxicity in real-life conditions (e.g., crowded places and physical activity).

Footnotes

  • Send reprint requests to: Jordi Camı́, Institut Municipal d’Investigació Mèdica, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Carrer Doctor Aiguader 80, E-08003 Barcelona, Spain. E-mail:jcami{at}imim.es

  • ↵1 Supported by Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria Grant 97/1198, Comissió Interdepartamental de Recerca i Tecnologia Grant 97-SRG-0077, Instituto de Salud Carlos III Grant 97/4344, and Plan Nacional sobre Drogas.

  • Abbreviations:
    AMPH
    amphetamine
    CV
    coefficient of variation
    GH
    growth hormone
    5-HT
    serotonin
    MDA
    3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine
    MDMA
    3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine
    SBP
    systolic blood pressure
    DBP
    diastolic blood pressure
    AUC
    area under the concentration-time curve
    • Received November 30, 1998.
    • Accepted March 5, 1999.
  • The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
View Full Text

JPET articles become freely available 12 months after publication, and remain freely available for 5 years. 

Non-open access articles that fall outside this five year window are available only to institutional subscribers and current ASPET members, or through the article purchase feature at the bottom of the page. 

 

  • Click here for information on institutional subscriptions.
  • Click here for information on individual ASPET membership.

 

Log in using your username and password

Forgot your user name or password?

Purchase access

You may purchase access to this article. This will require you to create an account if you don't already have one.
PreviousNext
Back to top

In this issue

Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics: 290 (1)
Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
Vol. 290, Issue 1
1 Jul 1999
  • Table of Contents
  • About the Cover
  • Index by author
Download PDF
Article Alerts
Sign In to Email Alerts with your Email Address
Email Article

Thank you for sharing this Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics article.

NOTE: We request your email address only to inform the recipient that it was you who recommended this article, and that it is not junk mail. We do not retain these email addresses.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
Cardiovascular and Neuroendocrine Effects and Pharmacokinetics of 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine in Humans
(Your Name) has forwarded a page to you from Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
(Your Name) thought you would be interested in this article in Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Citation Tools
Research ArticleArticle

Cardiovascular and Neuroendocrine Effects and Pharmacokinetics of 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine in Humans

Marta Mas, Magí Farré, Rafael de la Torre, Pere N. Roset, Jordi Ortuño, Jordi Segura and Jordi Camí
Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics July 1, 1999, 290 (1) 136-145;

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero

Share
Research ArticleArticle

Cardiovascular and Neuroendocrine Effects and Pharmacokinetics of 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine in Humans

Marta Mas, Magí Farré, Rafael de la Torre, Pere N. Roset, Jordi Ortuño, Jordi Segura and Jordi Camí
Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics July 1, 1999, 290 (1) 136-145;
Reddit logo Twitter logo Facebook logo Mendeley logo
  • Tweet Widget
  • Facebook Like
  • Google Plus One

Jump to section

  • Article
    • Abstract
    • Experimental Procedures
    • Results
    • Discussion
    • Acknowledgments
    • Footnotes
    • References
  • Figures & Data
  • Info & Metrics
  • eLetters
  • PDF

Related Articles

Cited By...

More in this TOC Section

  • PST3093 Stimulates SERCA2a and Improves Cardiac Function
  • CRV431 Decreases Liver Fibrosis and Tumor Development
  • Mechanisms of 5-Hydroxytryptamine2A Receptor Activation of the Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Pathway in Vascular Smooth Muscle
Show more Article

Similar Articles

Advertisement
  • Home
  • Alerts
Facebook   Twitter   LinkedIn   RSS

Navigate

  • Current Issue
  • Fast Forward by date
  • Fast Forward by section
  • Latest Articles
  • Archive
  • Search for Articles
  • Feedback
  • ASPET

More Information

  • About JPET
  • Editorial Board
  • Instructions to Authors
  • Submit a Manuscript
  • Customized Alerts
  • RSS Feeds
  • Subscriptions
  • Permissions
  • Terms & Conditions of Use

ASPET's Other Journals

  • Drug Metabolism and Disposition
  • Molecular Pharmacology
  • Pharmacological Reviews
  • Pharmacology Research & Perspectives
ISSN 1521-0103 (Online)

Copyright © 2023 by the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics