Appearance of ecstasy
Ecstasy can come in a capsule or powder, but tablets or ‘pills’ are the most common form. Each pill is individually named depending on its colour, logo or shape.
Effects of ecstasy
The effects of ecstasy depend on what substances are in the pill (the drug), your mood and expectations (the environment), and your body weight and general health (the individual). Common immediate effects of ecstasy, a stimulant drug, include an increase of heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature, jaw clenching, teeth grinding, talkativeness, feelings of well-being and a closeness to others, loss of appetite, and sometimes nausea. These effects usually start 30 to 60 minutes after an ecstasy pill has been swallowed, and can last anywhere from three to eight hours depending on the contents of the pill. During the comedown, a person can feel physically exhausted (especially after dancing all night), depressed, irritable, and have difficulty sleeping and concentrating. These effects can last for several days.
Long-term effects of ecstasy
Long-term effects of ecstasy use are currently unknown. Research indicates that few people use ecstasy for a long time, possibly due to the severity of the comedown effects which tend to increase with longer use while the pleasurable effects tend to diminish as tolerance develops. MDMA affects serotonin levels in the brain which are related to mood, memory, aggression, appetite, sexual function and sleep. It is unclear but possible that changes to the brain produce long-term problems, like depression and anxiety.
When to avoid using ecstasy
Ecstasy can place additional strain on the liver, so if you have hepatitis A, B or C, be wary about using ecstasy and discuss it with your GP if possible. Methadone and some HIV anti-retrovirals use up the liver enzymes that break down ecstasy. Take 10% of your normal dose in these cases. Death has resulted in these combinations, with blood tests revealing ten times the normal levels of MDMA from only one pill. A small percentage of the population have a slow metabolic rate due to low levels of a liver enzyme, P450 2D6. First time users should exercise caution with ecstasy as this group will have a very high sensitivity to MDMA.
If you are depressed or have a history of depression, you can feel fine while high, but the comedown can be very nasty. It’s better to wait until you’ve got your head sorted before using ecstasy. The same applies for temporary illnesses such as the flu.
Comedown from ecstasy
Unfortunately, the higher you fly, the further you fall. Generally there is a softer comedown with ecstasy compared to amphetamines, but some will still take other drugs to ease the come down. ‘Downers’ like valium are popular, but as with anything, be aware of possible complications.
A lot of bad drug experiences happen at home when people are coming down, and indulging further. Your body has had a big night, your brain is slightly fried, and all you want is to feel better. The longer you put off sleep, the worse you’ll feel in the long run.
Some smoke pot which is a safer comedown drug than valium. But once again, be careful for complications. A possible side effect of both cannabis and ecstasy is paranoia so your head could wind up in a nasty place without due caution.
Tips for safer use of ecstasy
Unknown content is the biggest problem. A handy website, www.pillreports.com, provides a user-based database of the types of ecstasy doing the rounds in Australia.
You can buy pill tester kits for around $25 to $60. The basic models will tell you if there is MDMA in the pill, but you may need the better ones to tell you if there are other substances as well. These kits are still only a rough guide. Find out as much as you can before you buy, either from someone who has tried the same pill or from the dealer. When there’s any doubt, take a small amount first to test the effects – you can always have more later. If you get bad pills, let the dealer know. People sell dodgy pills because people buy dodgy pills. Stand up for your rights as a consumer.
Take breaks when dancing to avoid overheating and drink water to avoid dehydrating (500ml per hour if active; 250ml per hour if inactive). Don’t overdo the water as it can lead to hyponatremia, with diaorrhea, vomiting, muscle tremors and frequent urination. Mixing ecstasy with other drugs increases your risk of drug toxicity and overdose, and the comedown is even more severe. For instance, ecstasy can override the effects of alcohol, so you may be drinking and not feel drunk, and anti-depressant drugs, such as Prozac, Aropax, Zoloft, Nardil, Parnate and Marplan, can interact dangerously with ecstasy.
Try to ensure you are in a safe environment and you are with friends who know which drugs you've taken.
Copyright © 2007 Safer Injecting: harm reduction for injecting drug users.