MDMA neurotoxicity is a matter of controversial debate since no conclusive studies have been yet conducted on humans. Studies carried on monkeys show that MDMA use can cause brain damage in these animals, but long-term effects of MDMA in humans have yet to be demonstrated. However, there are signs that people that use ecstasy too often can suffer of brain damage on the long run, such effects of MDMA including difficulty to learn and to remember things. Your brain on MDMA The brain activity is based on what the nervous cells are capable of doing; among these functions, release of natural antidepressant is regulated by serotonin receptors that have the role to let out the happiness hormone. MDMA use determines the release of serotonin to occur forcefully, and in a very large quantity, which causes the users to feel euphoric and very energetic. However, since the serotonin receptors are forced to work in overdrive, they are then retracted by the nervous cells and dopamine invades the cells specialized in making serotonin. The immediate effect is oxidation, a process that can cause neurotoxicity on the long run. Also, once the reserve of natural antidepressant is depleted, the brain takes a while until it commands the serotonin receptors to start working again. Effects of MDMA often include depression, paranoia and panic attacks, due to the lack of serotonin in the brain after the drug abuse. Are the serotonin receptors destroyed for good Long-term effects of MDMA may include brain damage, but the ...

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