Biomaterial Database

3,4-Methylenedioxy analogues of amphetamine: defining the risks to humans. 1999

K M Hegadoren, and G B Baker, and M Bourin

Faculty of Nursing, Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. kathy.hegadoren@ualberta.ca

The 3,4-methylenedioxy analogues of amphetamine [MDMA ("Ecstasy", "Adam"), MDA ("Love") and MDE ("Eve")] are recreational drugs that produce feelings of euphoria and energy and a desire to socialize, which go far to explain their current popularity as "rave drugs". In addition to these positive effects, the drugs are relatively inexpensive to purchase and have the reputation of being safe compared to other recreational drugs. Yet there is mounting evidence that these drugs do not deserve this reputation of being safe. This review examines the relevant human and animal literature to delineate the possible risks MDMA, MDA and MDE engender with oral consumption in humans. Following a summary of the behavioral and cognitive effects of MDMA, MDA and MDE, risks will be discussed in terms of toxicity, psychopathology, neurotoxicity, abuse potential and the potential for drug-drug interactions associated with acute and chronic use.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D006213	Hallucinogens	Drugs capable of inducing illusions, hallucinations, delusions, paranoid ideations, and other alterations of mood and thinking. Despite the name, the feature that distinguishes these agents from other classes of drugs is their capacity to induce states of altered perception, thought, and feeling that are not experienced otherwise.	Hallucinogen,Hallucinogenic Agent,Hallucinogenic Drug,Hallucinogenic Substance,Psychedelic,Psychedelic Agent,Psychedelic Agents,Psychotomimetic Agent,Psychotomimetic Agents,Hallucinogenic Agents,Hallucinogenic Drugs,Hallucinogenic Substances,Psychedelics,Agent, Hallucinogenic,Agent, Psychedelic,Agent, Psychotomimetic,Agents, Hallucinogenic,Agents, Psychedelic,Agents, Psychotomimetic,Drug, Hallucinogenic,Drugs, Hallucinogenic,Substance, Hallucinogenic,Substances, Hallucinogenic
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000662	Amphetamines	Analogs or derivatives of AMPHETAMINE. Many are sympathomimetics and central nervous system stimulators causing excitation, vasopressin, bronchodilation, and to varying degrees, anorexia, analepsis, nasal decongestion, and some smooth muscle relaxation.
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D015104	3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine	An amphetamine derivative that inhibits uptake of catecholamine neurotransmitters. It is a hallucinogen. It is less toxic than its methylated derivative but in sufficient doses may still destroy serotonergic neurons and has been used for that purpose experimentally.	3,4 Methylenedioxyamphetamine
D015198	Designer Drugs	Drugs designed and synthesized, often for illegal street use, by modification of existing drug structures (e.g., amphetamines). Of special interest are MPTP (a reverse ester of meperidine), MDA (3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine), and MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine). Many drugs act on the aminergic system, the physiologically active biogenic amines.	Customized Drug,Customized Drugs,Designer Drug,Drug, Customized,Drug, Designer,Drugs, Customized,Drugs, Designer
D018765	Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors	Drugs that block the transport of DOPAMINE into axon terminals or into storage vesicles within terminals. Most of the ADRENERGIC UPTAKE INHIBITORS also inhibit dopamine uptake.	Dopamine Reuptake Inhibitors,Inhibitors, Dopamine Reuptake,Inhibitors, Dopamine Uptake,Reuptake Inhibitors, Dopamine,Uptake Inhibitors, Dopamine