BRAIN DAMAGE AND MDMA Two studies were used as evidence to support the emergency placement of MDMA into Schedule I effective July 1, 1985. These were Woolverton et al. and Ricaurte et al. (See references). The latter study was not even done with MDMA, but rather with MDA. The DEA also recieved a study from another group (Schmidt, Wu, and Lovenberg) done using MDMA. I have not yet looked up the MDA paper, but I did find the Schmidt, Wu, and Lovenberg paper (actually, it's only an abstract) and I have some information on the still unpublished Woolverton et al. paper from another reference (Shulgin, A.T.). The Woolverton et al. paper should come out this year in a book. In the Schmidt, Wu, and Lovenberg study rats were given single injec- tions (s.c.) of MDMA and killed 3 hours later to measure concentrations of brain metabolites. From previous studies they knew that serotonin levels decline and reach their minimum concentrations at 3 hours. Rats given 2.5, 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg MDMA had striatial serotonin concentrations that were 97%, 40%, 25%, and 25% of control rats 3 hrs. later. One week after injection rats given 10 or 20 mg/kg MDMA still had "significantly depressed" levels of serotonin. They don't say what the levels were, though. Rats in the Woolverton et al. study were either injected twice daily for four days with MDMA and killed two weeks later, or they were given one dose and killed two weeks later. The dosages were 10, 20, 30, or 40 mg/kg. Rats that went on the MDMA binge all had "extensive decrease" of hippocampal serotonin. A single injection at 40 mg/kg lowered sero- tonin levels to 76% of just-say-no rats two weeks later. What does this mean to those of us who are not rats? Well, if you are a Rhesus monkey, it means that if you take twice the lethal dose of MDMA (LD 50 in Rhesus monkeys is 22 mg/kg) and survive, you will only have serotonin levels that are 76% of your friends' who told you not to do it. If you are sort of like a Rhesus monkey (like me) then it means you can probably safely take 2.5 mg/kg of MDMA (orally, please) and suffer only a 3% or so temporary drop in your serotonin levels. For a 150 lb. human, 2.5 mg/kg is 170 mg. Most street doses are about 100 to 150 mg. Anyway, these studies will probably turn out to be poorly done just like the ones done on LSD several years ago that concluded that LSD caused chromosome damage. It turned out that if you leave heavy amphetamine users out of the study, there is no evidence of chromosome damage. Yes, I know, MDMA is an amphetamine. It just means that you shouldn't overdo it. Even peanut butter has mutagens in it (aflatoxins). Hugs and Kisses, Betelnut (Wierdo7) REFERENCES Ricaurte, G.; Bryan, G.; Strauss, L.; Seiden, L.; and Schuster, C. 1985. Hallucinogenic amphetamine selectively destroys brain serotonin nerve terminals. Science Vol. 229:986-988. Schmidt, C.J. and Lovenberg, W. 1986. (+/-) Methylenedioxymethamphet- amine (MDMA): A potentially neurotoxic amphetamine analog. (Abstract 5264). Federation Proceedings Vol. 45: 1059. Shulgin, A.T. 1986. The background and chemistry of MDMA. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs Vol. 18(4): 291-304. Woolverton, W.L. et al. 1985. Behavioral and neurotoxic effects of MDMA and MDA. Abstract from the American College of Neuropsycho- pharmacology Meeting, Honolulu. From Lunatic Labs UnLtd. 415-278-7421 Press a key... /////////////////////////////////////////////////////// // The PIRATES' HOLLOW // // 415-236-2371 // // over 12 Megs of Elite Text Files // // ROR-ALUCARD // // Sysop: Doctor Murdock // // C0-Sysops: That One, Sir Death, Sid Gnarly & Finn // // // // "The Gates of Hell are open night and day; // // Smooth is the Descent, and Easy is the way.." // ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////