Comments by Earth
Positron emission tomographic evidence of toxic effect of MDMA ('Ecstasy') on brain serotonin neurons in human beings,
by U. D. McCann; Z Szabo; U Scheffel; R.F. Dannals; G. A. Ricaurte
The Lancet Vol 352, Oct 31, 1998, 1437
We are trying to collect responses and analyses of the Ricaurte study, so please let us know about any further information or media about this study :)
I took a look at the ricaurte study in thelancet and it looks like he's doing some good work. A lot of what he's doing is way over my head in terms of how reasonable it is to extrapolate from '5HT transporter ligands' to 5HT neuron health (see the Neurotoxicity section of YAMF and lamont's response to the study), but this is yet another study by Ricaurte which has been reported as 'showing brain damage' from MDMA use.
What makes me uncomfortable about Ricaurte's studies in general (including this one) is that he goes from good quality data about '5HT Transporter ligands' to 'neurotoxic when used the way most users use MDMA recreationally'.
I think the data so far does give a reasonable person pause before they choose to use it, but there are a number of ways of talking about this that are less sensational than saying "MDMA causes brain damage in everyone who uses it."
First this study was on 15 users who reportedly used between 70 and 400 times in 1.5 to 10 years. The reported 'usual' dose of MDMA was 150-1250 mgs (!!).
There are a couple of points here:
In case anyone doesn't know it: high doses of MDMA have been shown to cause -damage- to rat brains. There is strong reason to believe it does the same in humans. Low doses of MDMA have not been shown to cause this same damage and using an SSRI immediately after MDMA may reduce the negative effects. Antioxidants may also help. [see lamont's YAMF, Neurotoxicity section]
Ricaurte's study provides a little more data showing that MDMA can cause changes in neurochemistry in humans who use it, but the data is far from convincincg [see my Interpretation of Data]. There is no evidence so far of negative effects from these changes.
Time will tell.
We are trying to collect responses and analyses of the Ricaurte study, so please let us know about any further information or media about this study :)
I took a look at the ricaurte study in thelancet and it looks like he's doing some good work. A lot of what he's doing is way over my head in terms of how reasonable it is to extrapolate from '5HT transporter ligands' to 5HT neuron health (see the Neurotoxicity section of YAMF and lamont's response to the study), but this is yet another study by Ricaurte which has been reported as 'showing brain damage' from MDMA use.
What makes me uncomfortable about Ricaurte's studies in general (including this one) is that he goes from good quality data about '5HT Transporter ligands' to 'neurotoxic when used the way most users use MDMA recreationally'.
I think the data so far does give a reasonable person pause before they choose to use it, but there are a number of ways of talking about this that are less sensational than saying "MDMA causes brain damage in everyone who uses it."
First this study was on 15 users who reportedly used between 70 and 400 times in 1.5 to 10 years. The reported 'usual' dose of MDMA was 150-1250 mgs (!!).
There are a couple of points here:
- 70-400 times is a very high amount of use, but it is reasonable
to test folks who've used a lot to look for damage.
- The dosages were based on 100 mgs average per 'hit' of MDMA. The paper at thelancet.com doesn't have the raw data available so its impossible to figure out what is going on here. Those familiar with MDMA know that 'street' E is often shit, cut with all sorts of things, with the average dose falling well below 100 mgs [see Saunders]. Perhaps the study subjects are sophisticated users who always use only pure samples at known doses.
In case anyone doesn't know it: high doses of MDMA have been shown to cause -damage- to rat brains. There is strong reason to believe it does the same in humans. Low doses of MDMA have not been shown to cause this same damage and using an SSRI immediately after MDMA may reduce the negative effects. Antioxidants may also help. [see lamont's YAMF, Neurotoxicity section]
Ricaurte's study provides a little more data showing that MDMA can cause changes in neurochemistry in humans who use it, but the data is far from convincincg [see my Interpretation of Data]. There is no evidence so far of negative effects from these changes.
Time will tell.