The origin of MDMA (ecstasy) revisited: the true story reconstructed from the original documents*

Freudenmann, Roland W.; Oxler, F; Bernschneider-Reif, Sabine

doi:10.1111/j.1360-0443.2006.01511.x

Cited by 133 publications

(91 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, Ecstasy) is a phenylethylamine that was first synthesized by Merck in 1912, although it was not pursued at that time as a potential therapeutic agent (Freudenmann et al, 2006). As a synthetic amphetamine derivative, MDMA exhibits both psychostimulant and mild hallucinogenic properties (Shulgin, 1986).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Actions of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) on cerebral dopaminergic, serotonergic and cholinergic neurons

Gudelsky

Yamamoto

2008

Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior

122

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Abstract3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is an amphetamine derivative and a popular drug of abuse that exhibits mild hallucinogenic and rewarding properties and engenders feelings of connectedness and openness. The unique psychopharmacological profile of this drug of abuse most likely is derived from the property of MDMA to promote the release of dopamine and serotonin (5-HT) in multiple brain regions. The present review highlights primarily data from studies employing in vivo microdialysis that detail the actions of MDMA on the release of these neurotransmitters. Data from in vivo microdialysis experiments indicate that MDMA, like most amphetamine derivatives, increases the release of dopamine in the striatum, n. accumbens and prefrontal cortex. However, the release of dopamine evoked by MDMA in each of these brain regions appears to be modulated by concomitantly released 5-HT and the subsequent activation of 5-HT2A/C or 5-HT2B/C receptors. In addition to its stimulatory effect on the release of monoamines, MDMA also enhances the release of acetylcholine in the striatum, hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, and this cholinergic response appears to be secondary to the activation of histaminergic, dopaminergic and/or serotonergic receptors. Beyond the acute stimulatory effect of MDMA on neurotransmitter release, MDMA also increases the extracellular concentration of energy substrates, e.g., glucose and lactate in the brain. In contrast to the acute stimulatory actions of MDMA on the release of monoamines and acetylcholine, the repeated administration of high doses of MDMA is thought to result in a selective neurotoxicity to 5-HT axon terminals in the rat. Additional studies are reviewed that focus on the alterations in neurotransmitter responses to pharmacological and physiological stimuli that accompany MDMA-induced 5-HT neurotoxicity.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Actions of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) on cerebral dopaminergic, serotonergic and cholinergic neurons

Gudelsky

Yamamoto

2008

Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior

122

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“…MDMA was first synthesised in 1912 by a German pharmaceutical company trying to develop haemostatic (anti-bleeding) medication (Freudenmann et al, 2006). MDMA remained relatively unused and out of the public eye until 1978, when the first reports of its psychopharmacological effects in humans were published in the United States (Benzenhöefer and Passie, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

New psychoactive substances: reducing the harm caused by untested drugs and an unregulated market

Wodak

2014

Medical Journal of Australia

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“…Although MDMA was first synthesized at Merck in 1912 (Freudenmann, Öxler, Bernschneider-Reif, 2006) its use as recreational drug was virtually unknown in Europe before the late 1980s but increased rapidly during the 1990s (EMCDD, 2010). In São Paulo, Brazil, the first significant shipments of ecstasy were noticed in 1994 (Almeida, Silva, 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Association of ecstasy seizure rates with district Human Development Index in the municipality of São Paulo, Brazil, from 2000 to 2007

Lapachinske

Moreau

2014

Braz. J. Pharm. Sci.

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This study aimed to analyze whether ecstasy consumption is associated with the socioeconomic status in the Municipality of São Paulo, Brazil, from 2000 to 2007. We used an official, reliable and unbiased source supplied by the Department of Narcotics of the State of São Paulo (Denarc) database and the Human Development Index of the districts (HDId) where the seizures occurred. A Spearman correlation test between the average number of ecstasy seizures per million of inhabitants with the HDId was used. There were 190 seizures (totaling 47,934 tablets) spread out in 53 of the 96 districts and 51.6% were concentrated in only 8 districts. The higher rates of ecstasy seizures were directly associated with districts with high HDId that confirmed the association of ecstasy consumption with the socioeconomic status. Itaim-Bibi, Jardim Paulista and Moema were the top three districts with the highest HDId. In these districts, the number of tablets per seizure ranged from as few units to thousands, revealing that not only consumption but also traffic coexist at the same place. Districts with many nightclubs can also influence the incidence of seizures. This knowledge can be useful to help the police from other Brazilian cities to combat ecstasy trafficking.

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The origin of MDMA (ecstasy) revisited: the true story reconstructed from the original documents*

Abstract: A systematic analysis of the original documents in the company's archive revealed that uncritical copy-paste procedures may have contributed to the famous myth that MDMA was patented as an appetite suppressor in 1912.

Cited by 133 publications

References 17 publications

Actions of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) on cerebral dopaminergic, serotonergic and cholinergic neurons

Actions of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) on cerebral dopaminergic, serotonergic and cholinergic neurons

New psychoactive substances: reducing the harm caused by untested drugs and an unregulated market

Association of ecstasy seizure rates with district Human Development Index in the municipality of São Paulo, Brazil, from 2000 to 2007

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