Erowid References Database
Saunders N.
“Ecstasy and neurodegeneration. No Evidence of Neurotoxicity Exists”.
BMJ. 1996 Aug 17;313(7054):423.
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Abstract
In their editorial on ecstasy (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) and neurodegeneration A Richard Green and Guy M Goodwin state that young people who misuse ecstasy should be fully informed of the risks, which they claim are considerable in the long term.1 The authors cite animal studies indicating that recreational use of ecstasy can cause neurotoxicity to the serotoninergic systems of the brain. The fact that the United States Food and Drug Administration recently (in May) approved dexfenfluramine for daily long term use could, however, imply that ecstasy is similarly safe for long term use. This is because much evidence of neurotoxicity, based on markers in animal studies, applies to research on both drugs. In this context G A Ricaurte (whose evidence is cited in the editorial) believes that neurotoxicity produced by dexfenfluramine is identical with that produced by ecstasy (personal communication, October 1995). Indeed, Green himself, with colleagues, has implicitly equated the neurotoxic effects of ecstasy with those produced by fenfluramine.
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