One of the most commonly-used drugs for people entering adulthood is MDMA, otherwise known as ecstacy. The effects of the drug are pretty straightforward – it makes you happier. But digging a bit deeper into ecstacy facts, you’ll see just how detrimental its neurotoxic effects can have on a person. Of course, who would expect a word with “toxic” in it to be a positive thing…?
Ecstacy Neurotoxicity
To begin explaining this ecstacy information, it’s best to know exactly what the ecstacy facts are that can help you to understand everything. Ecstacy, at its heart, is a natural antidepressant. Basically, it boosts your mood, hence the combination of “anti” and “depressant.” Although, some ecstacy information to note is that its manufactured form is actually composed of multiple drugs to go along with the pure MDMA.
Aside from the basic ecstacy information, you should also know what the word “neurotoxicity” means; basically, when there is a negative change to the brain’s functionality, such as the decrease in serotonin reuptake, the brain is experiencing neurotoxic effects. In the case of ecstacy neurotoxicity, the drug causes an ecstacy comedown, and during it, the ecstacy neurotoxicity starts to come into effect.
What Ecstacy Neurotoxicity Does
There are several neurotoxic ecstacy facts to know; first of all, there is the biggest effect of all: depression. During what is known as an ecstacy comedown, the side-effects of the drug begin to kick in. Since the main purpose of ecstacy is to make a person happier by means of releasing large amounts of serotonin in the brain, the brain also has to make up for it by keeping its serotonin levels fairly low. And while the drug is a natural antidepressant, depression is a big side-effect of the drug.
But what’s the harm in feeling a little depressed? Well, neurotoxicity isn’t simply temporary side-effects; long-term or short-term, neurotoxicity can be permanently damaging to the brain. While not enough ecstacy information is known to say for sure just how damaging the drug’s neurotoxicity can be, it is believed that ecstacy at least has the power to diminish a few brain cells, much like the effect alcohol has. Don’t take this little, natural antidepressant lightly, however, because it may end up coming back to haunt you.
How to Manage Ecstacy Neurotoxicity
While the negative ecstacy effects may outweigh the positives for some, there are ways to manage the effects. If you wanted to try and decrease the potential effects beforehand, taking supplements, such as Vitamin B-6, Vitamin C, and Magnesium, before taking ecstacy can help. Doing this can help to counteract the neurotoxic effects of the drug, because you’re adding serotonin to your brain, and it can decrease the effect the ecstacy has on your nervous system.
You can also try taking these same supplements after you’re ecstacy trip (except for Magnesium, which has little effect after you’ve taken ecstacy). This can help lessen the neurotoxic effects once you’ve already begun undergoing an ecstacy comedown. You should also make sure to drink plenty of water, which helps to wash out your system.