*MDMA Use Over Time
For many users, the first few weeks/months of MDMA use feel like the best time in their entire lives. For about the first ten to fifty times, they have a great roll every time, and the after effects are generally negligible. Because most users have an afterglow for a day or two, often they don't connect the negative side effects (like depression) to their use.
Instead, it may seem like life just isn't as good when they aren't rolling. Tuesday through Thursday will crawl by, as they wait for the weekend when they can take more. If they begin to build a tolerance - or get more and more impatient between uses - they don't notice.
Many people say that moderation is the key to enjoying MDMA over long periods of time. The negative side effects tend to be less dramatic if you avoid frequent and/or heavy use. The majority of users, especially those who do not moderate their usage, eventually stop enjoying their rolls as much.
Often, the empathy and euphoria disappear, leaving only the speedy and negative effects. For others, they simply require larger and larger doses, for less effect. Some people find that if they stop using for a period of time, from several months to several years, the "magic" comes back. Many users, however, are never again able to feel the way they once did.
Loss of Magic
(http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/mdma/mdma_effects_lossofmagic1.shtml)
*What are the immediate side effects?
A. Why do my eyes wiggle (nystagmus)?
The temporary eye wiggling experienced by MDMA users seems to be linked to feelings of nausea. Nystagmus can be brought on by feelings of nausea or motion sickness.
B.Why do I get nauseous or vomit?
MDMA-related nausea has a number of causes:
* Inhibited digestion – The more blood your body sends to your muscles to do their work (dancing, running around, etc), the less blood will be sent to your gastrointestinal tract to do its work. This inhibits digestion, meaning that whatever you are eating/drinking is more or less amassing in your stomach.
* Dehydration – Dehydration can trigger queasiness, either because your body is in distress or because the dehydration is exasperating already present problems.
* Bodily distress – When your body senses that it’s in trouble, digestion quickly falls down the list of autonomic priorities.
* Flood of serotonin - The majority of the serotonin receptor sites in your body are located in your digestive system. The flood of serotonin that reaches these sites (5HT3 sites) may cause nausea or vomiting.
C. Why does my jaw clench?
There is a nerve in the jaw called the trigeminal nerve, which is responsible for innervating the jaw. This nerve is especially sensitive to changing levels of (among other things) serotonin.
D. Why do I have trouble urinating?
MDMA promotes the release of anti-diuretic hormone (ADH). ADH is responsible for regulating urination. If more ADH is released, urination will not be as forthcoming.
E. Why do my pupils dilate and my heart race?
MDMA is sympathomimetic, meaning that it stimulates the sympathetic nervous system (think: fight or flight). Two common side effect of this stimulation are pupil dilation and an elevated heart rate. Also consider that if you are dancing or engaged in strenuous activity, this will exacerbate the feeling of heart pounding/racing.
*What are the dangerous side effects?
Caution - The treatments listed for all of these conditions are viable for mild symptoms ONLY. For more severe symptoms, call an ambulance. Every condition listed here can cause death if not properly treated. For all conditions, it is important to stay with the victim until they have recovered or medical assistance arrives.
A. Dehydration
Causes – Dehydration is caused by failure to consume enough fluids to replenish those that have been lost. MDMA-related contributing factors include excessive perspiration, hyperthermia, vomiting, and diarrhoea.
Prevention
* Drink before you are thirsty - thirst is one of the first indicators of dehydration.
* Consume water at a moderate and steady rate – do not pound a bottle all at once or take large gulps.
* Consume drinks that contain sodium, or add table salt to plain water.
Symptoms – Thirst, unusually sunken eyes/cheeks, thick mucous, dry mouth, dark yellow/amber urine, low blood pressure, high heart rate (especially noticeable when resting). Symptoms will often occur in tandem with hyperthermia.
Treatment
* Cease physical activity and find a place to rest.
* Drink 0.5L of water over the next 30mins.
* Continue drinking until fluids have been sufficiently replenished and symptoms cease
.
* Be sure to not drink too much too quickly. If you become nauseous and vomit, the situation will become much worse.
* Treat for hyperthermia as necessary.
B. Hyponatremia (water intoxication)
Defenition – Hyponatremia is the condition of having a low blood sodium concentration. This is bad because osmotic pressure will cause water to enter brain cells, causing swelling. This swelling can become severe enough to cause cerebral haemorrhage and death.
Causes – Excessive fluid intake or rapid loss of sodium. Rapid water intake in combination with excessive perspiration and/or vomiting will hasten the onset of hyponatremia.
Prevention – Consume fluids that contain sodium, or couple plain water with salty foods (crackers, pretzels, etc).
Symptoms – Muscle cramps/spasms, confusion, nausea, fatigue, pale skin, impaired response.
Treatment – For mild symptoms, consume sodium via salty foods or drinks (no, that doesn’t mean you can have a margarita).
