Quimicamente, o ecstasy é a 3,4-metilenodioximetanfetamina (MDMA), um composto sintético com propriedades estimulante central e alucinogênicas. Algumas substâncias análogas à MDMA, já identificadas em comprimidos de ecstasy, são principalmente: 3,4-metilenodioxietilanfetamina (MDEA), 3,4-metilenodioxianfetamina (MDA), metanfetamina e anfetamina. Os adulterantes mais comuns, normalmente encontrados são: cafeína e efedrinas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi a validação de um método analítico para quantificar a MDMA em comprimidos e cápsulas de ecstasy, através da cromatografia em fase gasosa com detector de nitrogênio/fósforo (GC/NPD). Substâncias análogas à MDMA e adulterantes também foram identificados. Amostras de comprimidos e cápsulas de 25 diferentes lotes, apreendidos como ecstasy em São Paulo (SP), foram analisadas pelo método proposto. Desse total de amostras, 21 continham somente MDMA (84%) e apenas 1 delas apresentou MDMA associada com cafeína (4%). A concentração total de MDMA nessas amostras variou entre 30,9 e 92,7mg, resultando em uma média aritmética de 63mg. / Chemically, \"ecstasy\" is 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), a synthetic compound with stimulant and hallucinogenic properties. Some MDMA analog substances such as 3,4-methylenedioxyethylamphetamine (MDEA), 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), methamphetamine and amphetamine have already been identified in \"ecstasy\" tablets. Caffeine and ephedrines are the most common adulterants also found. The aim of this paper is to describe the validation of an analytical method to quantify MDMA in \"ecstasy\" tablets and capsules. Gas chromatography with nitrogen/phosphorus detector was used in the method. Analog substances to MDMA and adulterant compounds were also identified. Samples from 25 lots of tablets seized in the city of São Paulo were analyzed. From that total, 21 showed only MDMA (84%) and just 1 of them presented MDMA plus caffeine (4%). MDMA total concentration in these samples had a variation between 30.9 and 92.7mg, resulting in an arithmetic average of 63mg.

3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, "ecstasy") 3' is a 'psychedelic amphetamine' that has gained popularity over the past 20 years because of its ability to produce strong feelings of comfort, empathy, and connection to others. MDMA analysis in blood and urine samples have been consistently used for clinical pharmacology studies and forensic science cases. However, new developments in clinical toxicology require new analytical approaches and the use of alternative biological matrices for establishing whether individuals have consumed the drug, when and/or if they have been acting under the effect of the drug.It is postulated that MDMA physic-chemical properties: (i) pKa of around 9.9 corresponding to a weak base that facilitates the transfer of MDMA from plasma (pH=7.4) to fluids/matrices with a favourable pH gradient, (ii) high liposolubility with volumes of distribution between 6 and 7 liters per kilogram, (iii) low protein binding, favour its distribution to biological matrices in humans. Several non-conventional biological matrices such as hair, sweat and saliva, because of drug accumulation due to its physico-chemical properties, might be of use for the detection of past and recent exposure to MDMA.Three different studies were set-up. The study 1 investigating the pharmacokinetics of MDMA in saliva after a single oral dose administration of 100 mg to eight healthy volunteers, the second investigating the pharmacokinetics of MDMA in sweat after a single dose administration of 100 mg to eight healthy volunteers, and finally a study on segmental analysis of MDMA in hair of thirteen drug consumers with different patterns of consumption..The first study evidenced that MDMA is excreted in saliva, after a single 100 mg dose administration, with concentrations (range 1728.9-6510 µg/ml at 1.5 h after drug intake) one order of magnitude higher than those observed in plasma (range 134.9-223 µg/ml at 1.5 h after drug intake) and following a time course kinetics which parallels that of plasma and that of subjective effects and psychomotor performance. On-site testing by Drugwipe device proved suitable to detect individuals under the influence of drug effects in the first 6 hours after drug intake by non-invasive and rapid collection of salivary specimens.The second study showed that MDMA appears in sweat and can be quantified already in the first few hours after a single dose administration, when subjective effects are apparent (concentration range 3.2-1326 ng/pacth). This result makes:the sweat patch technology useful for monitoring MDMA accumulation in sweat at least during the 24 hours after a single administration, On-site sweat testing by drugwipe device suitable to detect individuals under the influence of drug effects by non-invasive and rapid collection of minute amounts of sweat.MDMA appears in hair from consumers (concentration range 1.2-12.6 ng/mg hair) and can be detected in hair segments corresponding to the last one, six and twelve month of repeated drug use. For this reason:Hair analysis of MDMA can be used to evaluate exposure or abstinence to the drug in the last months, hair concentration of MDMA in different hair segments can predict levels of drug use(r2=0.92) and can be eventually associated to chronic psychophysical effects induced by the repeated drug use.The measurement of MDMA in saliva is a valuable alternative to determination of plasma drug concentrations both in clinical and toxicological studies A common characteristic of the three different matrices is that the parent drug MDMA was always the principal, most abundant analyte detected, whose concentration could be associated with drug-induced effects and drug history. As already assessed, drug analysis in hair extends the information of drug consumption to a wider time-window than that of other non-invasive biological matrices, such as saliva and sweat. These latter two matrices can account for acute pharmacological effects induced by the drug, while results from hair testing can be used to assess repeated exposure to drug and eventual association with long term drug induced effects, such as neurotoxicity and psychological performance in the specific case of MDMA.

Quimicamente, o ecstasy é a 3,4-metilenodioximetanfetamina (MDMA), um composto sintético com propriedades estimulante central e alucinogênicas. Algumas substâncias análogas à MDMA, já identificadas em comprimidos de ecstasy, são principalmente: 3,4-metilenodioxietilanfetamina (MDEA), 3,4-metilenodioxianfetamina (MDA), metanfetamina e anfetamina. Os adulterantes mais comuns, normalmente encontrados são: cafeína e efedrinas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi a validação de um método analítico para quantificar a MDMA em comprimidos e cápsulas de ecstasy, através da cromatografia em fase gasosa com detector de nitrogênio/fósforo (GC/NPD). Substâncias análogas à MDMA e adulterantes também foram identificados. Amostras de comprimidos e cápsulas de 25 diferentes lotes, apreendidos como ecstasy em São Paulo (SP), foram analisadas pelo método proposto. Desse total de amostras, 21 continham somente MDMA (84%) e apenas 1 delas apresentou MDMA associada com cafeína (4%). A concentração total de MDMA nessas amostras variou entre 30,9 e 92,7mg, resultando em uma média aritmética de 63mg. / Chemically, \"ecstasy\" is 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), a synthetic compound with stimulant and hallucinogenic properties. Some MDMA analog substances such as 3,4-methylenedioxyethylamphetamine (MDEA), 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), methamphetamine and amphetamine have already been identified in \"ecstasy\" tablets. Caffeine and ephedrines are the most common adulterants also found. The aim of this paper is to describe the validation of an analytical method to quantify MDMA in \"ecstasy\" tablets and capsules. Gas chromatography with nitrogen/phosphorus detector was used in the method. Analog substances to MDMA and adulterant compounds were also identified. Samples from 25 lots of tablets seized in the city of São Paulo were analyzed. From that total, 21 showed only MDMA (84%) and just 1 of them presented MDMA plus caffeine (4%). MDMA total concentration in these samples had a variation between 30.9 and 92.7mg, resulting in an arithmetic average of 63mg.

The illegal drug ecstasy, chemically known as 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), sometimes contains additional chemicals which can pose health risks to users. This thesis examines strategies that recreational ecstasy users in Victoria, British Columbia utilize to determine the purity of their ecstasy. It also examines why they use these strategies and if they are concerned about impure ecstasy affecting their health because this information can help explain the use of these strategies. I performed a quantitative analysis of data collected by the Centre for Addictions Research of BC’s survey, the Canadian Recreational Drug Use Survey, to determine the strategies participants utilized to minimize potential harms caused by ecstasy use. This analysis revealed that 73.9% of survey participants discussed purity of ecstasy with friends, 33.3% checked drug information websites, 17.4% used an ecstasy testing kit, 2.9% asked harm reduction services for advice, and 0% owned a testing kit. In addition, the data revealed that the participants were more likely to take ecstasy from a friend than a stranger. Next, I developed an interview guide based on these findings and I interviewed 10 female recreational ecstasy users. I chose to interview women only because recreational drug use by women is underrepresented in the drug literature. The most common strategy the women utilized to determine ecstasy purity was to discuss ecstasy with friends. They preferred this strategy because it was a convenient, practical strategy. Also, they perceived their friends to be a trusted source of ecstasy and ecstasy information. Half the women analyzed how they felt after ingesting ecstasy to determine its purity because they believed different chemicals caused different effects. Others assessed the physical characteristics of their ecstasy to try to determine purity because they believed these characteristics could reveal its chemical contents. One participant used an ecstasy testing kit, but the rest cited multiple barriers to their use. Some women also had negative attitudes towards testing kits and felt no social pressure to use them. I asked the participants about their use of ecstasy testing laboratories, but none used this service because they did not know it existed. Overall, none of the women seemed concerned about ecstasy impurity harms. This could be due to four factors. First, their ecstasy use patterns made them feel safe from harms related to ecstasy use. Second, recreational ecstasy use was “normal” amongst young adults in Victoria who attend parties, raves, or clubs. Third, they primarily obtained ecstasy and ecstasy information from trusted friends. Fourth, they had never suffered significant harm caused by ecstasy impurity, even though all of the women believed they had ingested impure ecstasy. / Graduate

O propósito do estudo realizado foi de investigar o comportamento voltamétrico da 3,4-metilenodioximetanfetamina (MDMA), substância psicoativa do ecstasy, uma droga que tem se tornado cada vez mais popular entre os usuários de drogas. Empregou-se o uso da técnica de cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência, para isolar a substância a partir de amostras de ecstasy obtidas em parceria com a Polícia Científica de Ribeirão Preto, bem como a técnica de espectrometria de massas, para confirmar a presença da MDMA nas mesmas. Os estudos voltamétricos foram realizados utilizando-se um sistema de três eletrodos, sendo o eletrodo de trabalho de carbono vítreo, eletrodo de referência Ag/AgCl e eletrodo auxiliar de fio de platina. O comportamento eletroquímico desta substância foi investigado diante de diferentes modalidades voltamétricas: Voltametria cíclica, de pulso diferencial e de onda quadrada, nas quais se pôde observar um pico anódico em Ep = +1,1 V. Foram otimizados os parâmetros voltamétricos de modo a tornar a análise mais rápida e sensível, sem perda de intensidade e qualidade do sinal voltamétrico. Com os parâmetros voltamétricos otimizados, foram construídas curvas analíticas para o analito em questão nas diferentes modalidades voltamétricas estudadas. Foi possível determinar o teor de MDMA nas cinco diferentes amostras de ecstasy utilizadas, das quais quatro apresentaram MDMA com teores variando de 3 a 10% (m/m) e uma na qual não foi constatada a presença da droga, mas sim de outro fármaco, a lidocaína. / The main purpose of the present study was to investigate the voltammetric behavior of 3,4-methylenedioxymethanphetamine (MDMA), the psychoactive substance of ecstasy, a drug that has become increasingly popular among drug users. The high performance liquid chromatography technique was employed in order to isolate the substance from ecstasy samples obtained in partnership with Polícia Científica de Ribeirão Preto and also the mass spectrometry technique was employed to confirm the presence of MDMA. The voltammetric studies were performed using the three electrodes system, being glassy carbon as the working electrode, Ag/AgCl as the reference electrode and platinum wire as counter electrode. The electrochemical behavior of the substance was investigated using different voltammetric techniques: Cyclic, differential pulse and square wave voltammetry modalities, in which an anodic peak was observed at Ep = +1,1 V. The voltammetric parameters were optimized in order to make the analysis faster and more sensitive, without loss of quality and intensity of the voltammetric signal. With the voltammetric parameters optimized, analytical curves of the studied analyte were built for the different voltammetric techniques. It was possible to determine the content of MDMA in the five different ecstasy samples utilized, in which four showed MDMA with contents ranging from 3 to 10% (m/m) and one in which no MDMA was observed but another drug, lidocaine.

O propósito do estudo realizado foi de investigar o comportamento voltamétrico da 3,4-metilenodioximetanfetamina (MDMA), substância psicoativa do ecstasy, uma droga que tem se tornado cada vez mais popular entre os usuários de drogas. Empregou-se o uso da técnica de cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência, para isolar a substância a partir de amostras de ecstasy obtidas em parceria com a Polícia Científica de Ribeirão Preto, bem como a técnica de espectrometria de massas, para confirmar a presença da MDMA nas mesmas. Os estudos voltamétricos foram realizados utilizando-se um sistema de três eletrodos, sendo o eletrodo de trabalho de carbono vítreo, eletrodo de referência Ag/AgCl e eletrodo auxiliar de fio de platina. O comportamento eletroquímico desta substância foi investigado diante de diferentes modalidades voltamétricas: Voltametria cíclica, de pulso diferencial e de onda quadrada, nas quais se pôde observar um pico anódico em Ep = +1,1 V. Foram otimizados os parâmetros voltamétricos de modo a tornar a análise mais rápida e sensível, sem perda de intensidade e qualidade do sinal voltamétrico. Com os parâmetros voltamétricos otimizados, foram construídas curvas analíticas para o analito em questão nas diferentes modalidades voltamétricas estudadas. Foi possível determinar o teor de MDMA nas cinco diferentes amostras de ecstasy utilizadas, das quais quatro apresentaram MDMA com teores variando de 3 a 10% (m/m) e uma na qual não foi constatada a presença da droga, mas sim de outro fármaco, a lidocaína. / The main purpose of the present study was to investigate the voltammetric behavior of 3,4-methylenedioxymethanphetamine (MDMA), the psychoactive substance of ecstasy, a drug that has become increasingly popular among drug users. The high performance liquid chromatography technique was employed in order to isolate the substance from ecstasy samples obtained in partnership with Polícia Científica de Ribeirão Preto and also the mass spectrometry technique was employed to confirm the presence of MDMA. The voltammetric studies were performed using the three electrodes system, being glassy carbon as the working electrode, Ag/AgCl as the reference electrode and platinum wire as counter electrode. The electrochemical behavior of the substance was investigated using different voltammetric techniques: Cyclic, differential pulse and square wave voltammetry modalities, in which an anodic peak was observed at Ep = +1,1 V. The voltammetric parameters were optimized in order to make the analysis faster and more sensitive, without loss of quality and intensity of the voltammetric signal. With the voltammetric parameters optimized, analytical curves of the studied analyte were built for the different voltammetric techniques. It was possible to determine the content of MDMA in the five different ecstasy samples utilized, in which four showed MDMA with contents ranging from 3 to 10% (m/m) and one in which no MDMA was observed but another drug, lidocaine.

The psychedelic psilocybin and the entactogen 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) are being scientifically studied again after a long hiatus, and especially for their potential in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Their profound effect on cognitive, perceptual, and affective processes have led to several clinical studies during the last decade that have forced the reconsideration of the utility of these substances. The research includes clinical trials with psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for depressive and anxiety symptoms, and MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The results have shown a significant reduction in depressive and anxiety symptoms in psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy, and in PTSD symptoms in MDMA-assisted psychotherapy, with acceptable adverse effects. Moreover, the reductions in symptoms have been shown to be sustained several years later. Given the results indicate short- and long-term safety and efficacy, even for treatment resistant conditions, this suggest that these substances administered with psychotherapy are promising and deserve to be taken seriously as a therapeutic tool. The present thesis provides an overview of the latest clinical studies on the treatment of depression, anxiety, and PTSD with psilocybin and MDMA, respectively, as well as reviews the history, mechanisms of action, the therapeutic process used with psilocybin and MDMA, and any adverse physiological and psychological effects of both substances.

No description available.

No description available.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder that is caused by exposure to traumatic or stressful events in life. 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) has been shown to be an effective agent in drug-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD. In this systematic review, we aim to evaluate the effect MDMA has on functional connectivity in healthy individuals and individuals with PTSD and investigate the potential mechanisms via which MDMA exerts its effects in MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD patients. A total of 134 articles from Web of Science and Medline EBSCO were screened and 5 articles relevant for the systematic review were identified. After MDMA administration, an increase and decrease in functional connectivity in multiple brain areas and networks was observed, such as the thalamus, visual cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, hippocampus, amygdala, prefrontal cortex, default mode network, cerebellar network, sensorimotor network, salience network, and executive network. Notably, MDMA increased amygdala-hippocampal functional connectivity which may link to improved emotion regulation and fear extinction in patients receiving MDMA-assisted therapy. The findings evidence the complex effects of MDMA on brain connectivity and highlight the need for further research in this area, although MDMA-assisted therapy does prove to be a promising alternative for treating PTSD.