Posted by Toby on October 21, 1998, at 8:30:35
In reply to Re: Serzone and MDMA, posted by oop on October 16, 1998, at 23:06:17
MDMA has a neurotoxic effect on serotonin nerve cells, causing degeneration of serotonergic cell bodies and axons, decreases in the activity of enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of serotonin, and long-term depletions in serotonin, serotonin metabolites, and serotonin reuptake sites. A single dose of MDMA has been shown to affect central serotonin systems for several weeks and in some cases, neurochemical markers did not return to normal until 1 year after drug administration. It is not clear whether there was actual regeneration of neurons or only compensatory changes in the remaining undamaged neurons. Cells die as part of the aging process, and if exposure to MDMA kills or just weakens a certain proportion of cells, cell loss due to aging could be compounded, producing substantial impariment in the functioning of certain cell groups and/or neurochemical systems. Since serotonin systems have been implicated in the control or modulation of sleep, food intake, sexual behavior, anxiety, and mood, disruption due to cell loss could have major consequences. In other words, if you already have depression and anxiety and need an antidepressant, MDMA will make it worse and kill off the cells the antidepressant is supposed to be working on, making it useless.
poster:Toby
thread:902
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19981201/msgs/927.html