6 replies to this topic

[doug123]

BBC: News source


Half a million Britons are believed to take ecstasy each week

Small ecstasy use 'harms brain'

Even small amounts of the illegal drug ecstasy can be harmful to the brains of first time users, researchers say.

The University of Amsterdam team took brain scans and carried out memory tests on 188 people with no history of ecstasy use but at risk in the future.

They repeated the tests 18 months later, and found for the 59 people who had used ecstasy there was evidence of decreased blood flow and memory loss.

Long-term ecstasy use is already known to be harmful.

The class A drug is used by about 500,000 people in the UK, mostly on the club scene.

We know long-term use has a lasting impact so it makes sense that damage starts as soon as someone starts to use the drug
Dr Fabrizio Schifano, of the University of Hertfordshire 

Lead researcher Maartje de Win said: "We do not know if these effects are transient or permanent.

"Therefore, we cannot conclude that ecstasy, even in small doses, is safe for the brain, and people should be informed of this risk."

Research has shown that long-term or heavy ecstasy use can damage neurons and cause depression, anxiety, confusion, difficulty sleeping and decrease memory.

However, no previous studies have looked at the side-effects of low doses of the drug on first time users.

The study, presented to the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America, said there was no evidence of damage to the neurons or alteration to mood and it was unclear whether the effect of early use of the drug was permanent.

Blood provides the brain with energy, and decreased flow can lead to memory loss and attention problems.

Of the people who were tested who had taken ecstasy, the average use was six tablets.

Dr Fabrizio Schifano, professor of pharmacology at the University of Hertfordshire, said it was clear that early use of the drug did have some effect, but what there was not a consensus on was how long that would last.

He said: "We know long-term use has a lasting impact, so it makes sense that damage starts as soon as someone starts to use the drug.

"But we cannot say exactly how much damage is sustained at the start and need more research to be categorical about this."


Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.u...lth/6190538.stm

Published: 2006/11/28 09:34:38 GMT

© BBC MMVI

[doug123]

There is this peer review:

Also:

The 37-year-old still had trouble with short-term memory problems seven years after he stopped taking the drug.

Doctors at St George's Hospital, London said Mr A's case was extreme, but showed ecstasy's long-term effects.

It is possible to become psychologically dependent on the feelings associated with ecstasy but heavy daily use is extremely rare and it is not thought that people can become physically dependent
Martin Barnes, DrugScope

The doctors said it was the largest reported ecstasy lifetime consumption by one person, the previous being around 2,000 tablets.

Writing in Psychosomatics, they say Mr A reported he had used ecstasy between the ages of 21 and 30.

For two years, he took five tablets every weekend, rising to an average of 3.5 tablets per day for the next three years, then soaring to 25 tablets a day over the next four years.

After "collapsing" three times at parties, Mr A stopped taking ecstasy.

The team say that, while much of the information on Mr A's drug use was self-reported, and therefore could have been affected by his memory problems, his history was confirmed by medical notes taken just after he stopped taking the drug.

'Behavioural consequences'

Writing in Psychosomatics, the medical team led by Dr Christos Kouimtsidis, said: "For a few months, he felt as if he was still under the influence of ecstasy and suffered several episodes of 'tunnel vision'.

"He eventually developed severe panic attacks, recurrent anxiety, depression, muscle rigidity (particularly at the neck and jaw levels)."

Mr A also experienced hallucinations and paranoid ideas.

When he saw doctors at the addiction centre at St George's Hospital, Tooting, south London, he was still using cannabis, and said he had previously taken solvents, benzodiazepines, amphetamines, LSD, cocaine, and heroin.

There was no mental illness in his family and no previous psychiatric history.

When the doctors carried out tests on Mr A it was found he had memory impairment and "major behavioural consequences of his memory loss" such as repeating activities several times.
This meant that he could not concentrate well and had very poor short-term memory, forgetting the time or what he had put in his supermarket trolley.

However, he seemed unaware he had these problems.

Reducing his cannabis use meant Mr A's paranoia and hallucinations disappeared, and his panic attacks were reduced, but his other symptoms persisted.

He had no family history of psychiatric problems, and his medical record showed he had not had any difficulties prior to his drug use.

A brain scan failed to show any obvious damage or atrophy in his brain, but Dr Kouimtsidis said such a scan was "not sensitive enough".

'Extreme case'

He told the Guardian: "This is probably an extreme case so we should not blow any observations out of proportion.

"But if this is what is happening to very heavy users, it might be an indication that daily use of ecstasy over a long period of time can lead to irreversible memory problems and other cognitive defects."

Mr A discharged himself before doctors were able to complete their assessment and, although they continued to support him, he started to use cannabis again and dropped out.

They tried to regain contact with him, but lost touch about a year ago.

Martin Barnes, chief executive of the charity DrugScope, said: "It is possible to become psychologically dependent on the feelings associated with ecstasy but heavy daily use is extremely rare and it is not thought that people can become physically dependent.

"The short-term effects - in terms of impaired memory, sleep problems and the 'mid-week hangover' - are well documented, but less is known about the longer-term effects, particularly of prolonged use."

Story from BBC NEWS:
[url="http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/health/4874938.stm"">

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/heal...lth/4874938.stm[/url]

Published: 2006/04/04 10:07:30 GMT

© BBC MMVI

And:

[doug123]

Whoops, double post -- please delete.

[rhakshasa]

Actually in that report I read on NewScientist I think they don't mention it has being permanent damage -- still harm the brain nonetheless. (I don't do MDMA btw ;-P, I have done it a few time). Some people report a strong crash, some say it's a calm day after it. Everytime I did it, I felt an intense crash and I felt tired for the following week.

[ikaros]

I know a friend who does ecstasy time to time and he says he never experiences depression and anxiety after it. It's wierd how drug after-effects vary among individuals.

[purerealm]

it is common for an afterglow to follow mdma usage for around 2 days, so anxiety and depression issues won't be strongly linked to using mdma