she has the right to call every1 on this board a n00b..

___________________
http://thesoundofeco.com

quote:

Originally posted by Mommy420 Just finished taking your survey although it was long, I hope some insight comes from it. Oh, and by the way, have you ever taken it? Just curious. Also, it said you had to be 18 to 25 will my survey still count i'm 41 and have been rolling for 11 years. And yes my brain still works just fine LOL. Any thing else you want to know just ask.

Thanks for taking the time to take it. I won't be able to use the data because you are not in the age range, but that's no big deal. I appreciate the feedback. That will be helpful! Thanks for the offer of help. I may have a few questions for ya down the road. I have never taken ecstasy. I personally have concerns about the link with depression. For some people, they only experience the high but others also have the low Genetics appears to play a role, and of course what you're actually taking. I have concerns that a lot of what is sold as ecstasy is not MDMA. I love to dance and go to clubs. I have some friends who use it and love it without any problems. It's an individual thing. Our bodies all react differently

Here's some recent research on the link between MDMA and depression. If ya have any questions or would like me to post other research I have come across, let me know. I have to review all of the latest articles as part of my research. I'd be happy to post em if you'd like.

A recent study was conducted by Roiser, J.P., Cook, L.J., Cooper, J.D., Rubinsztein, D.C., and Sahakian, B.J. (2005) which examined the association between ecstasy use and subsequent depression. Specifically, the focus of the research was to assess the contribution of a functional polymorphism in the gene encoding serotonin transporter to changes in emotional processing following chronic ecstasy use. Based upon the results of their study, the authors hypothesize that chronic ecstasy use may cause long-term changes to the serotonin system, and that ecstasy users carrying the s allele may be at particular risk for emotional dysfunction. Therefore, findings suggest that an individual’s risk of developing chronic depression as a result of taking ecstasy depends significantly on one’s genes.

Association of a Functional Polymorphism in the Serotonin Transporter Gene With Abnormal Emotional Processing in Ecstasy Users. Roiser, Jonathan P.; Cook, Lynnette J.; Cooper, Jason D.; American Journal of Psychiatry, Vol 162(3), Mar 2005. pp. 609-612.

___________________
ECSTASY SURVEY: $50 Lottery 1/20/06
http://cgi.umd.edu/survey/display?UMD/SURVEY
Carpe Diem
There is only one happiness in life: to love and be loved. (Chinese Fortune Cookie)
Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly. -anonymous
Rítmicamente las ondas suben y caen como el latir de mi corazón. Paz que ha sido hallada -me

I take 5-HTP before and after I take the X. And then I take another in the morning when I wake up. Also, I take a One-A-Day vitamin before sleeping. I wake up and feel completely normal the next day.

I have only started doing this recently, and before I started loading with the vitamins, I would feel completely drained the next day.

But... I don't know if it's really the 5-HTP that's causing the normality or if it's just the placebo effect.

___________________
*can't imagine it feelin' much better...
i wish it would just last forever.
and so, to feel like that?
i'd pay any price just to get that back.*

quote:

Originally posted by UMD Gradstudent A recent study was conducted by Roiser, J.P., Cook, L.J., Cooper, J.D., Rubinsztein, D.C., and Sahakian, B.J. (2005) which examined the association between ecstasy use and subsequent depression. Specifically, the focus of the research was to assess the contribution of a functional polymorphism in the gene encoding serotonin transporter to changes in emotional processing following chronic ecstasy use. Based upon the results of their study, the authors hypothesize that chronic ecstasy use may cause long-term changes to the serotonin system, and that ecstasy users carrying the s allele may be at particular risk for emotional dysfunction. Therefore, findings suggest that an individual’s risk of developing chronic depression as a result of taking ecstasy depends significantly on one’s genes. Association of a Functional Polymorphism in the Serotonin Transporter Gene With Abnormal Emotional Processing in Ecstasy Users. Roiser, Jonathan P.; Cook, Lynnette J.; Cooper, Jason D.; American Journal of Psychiatry, Vol 162(3), Mar 2005. pp. 609-612.

Wow. Where are my nerd glasses?? That research sounds really intriguing. MDMA works on the brain similar to the way antidepressant drugs work on the brain yes? Did Rubinsztein and Sahakian take into account that users may be unconsciously self medicating for pre-existing depression?


... I'll take your survey.

___________________
Awesome House Music Blog: http://thegoodmorningpost.wordpress.com/

quote:

Originally posted by Blake Wow. Where are my nerd glasses?? That research sounds really intriguing. MDMA works on the brain similar to the way antidepressant drugs work on the brain yes? Did Rubinsztein and Sahakian take into account that users may be unconsciously self medicating for pre-existing depression? ... I'll take your survey.

Put those nerd glasses back on
Here's a copy of the abstract. You have a really impt point that is hard to tease out in a research study. Which comes first, chicken or the egg Only way to do it would be to assess people prior to ecstasy use and following use and control drug use. Doesn't mean much that ecstasy users are depressed if they are also taking who knows what else. Is it the Ecstasy or the other drugs. And how much E? So many variables ... That is one of the biggest problems with memory studies. Most of the study participants were polysubstance users. So they really don't know what was affecting memory. Marijuana affects memory and so does many others. So you really don't know what was causing what. Notice the researchers' use of "MAY." We really don't know.

Association of a Functional Polymorphism in the Serotonin Transporter Gene With Abnormal Emotional Processing in Ecstasy Users
Jonathan P. Roiser, B.A., Lynnette J. Cook, Ph.D., Jason D. Cooper, Ph.D., David C. Rubinsztein, M.D., Ph.D., and Barbara J. Sahakian, Ph.D.
OBJECTIVE: The long-term effects of the use of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, or Ecstasy) in humans are controversial and unclear. The authors’ goal was to assess the contribution of a functional polymorphism in the gene encoding serotonin transporter to changes in emotional processing following chronic Ecstasy use. METHOD: They investigated Beck Depression Inventory scores and performance on the Affective Go/No-Go test, a computerized neuropsychological test sensitive to emotional processing, in Ecstasy users and comparison subjects, stratifying the results by serotonin transporter genotype. RESULTS: Ecstasy use was associated with higher Beck Depression Inventory score and abnormalities in the Affective Go/No-Go test in individuals with the ss and ls genotype but not those with the ll genotype. CONCLUSIONS: Ecstasy users carrying the s allele, but not comparison subjects carrying the s allele, showed abnormal emotional processing. On the basis of a comparison with acute tryptophan depletion, the authors hypothesize that chronic Ecstasy use may cause long-term changes to the serotonin system, and that Ecstasy users carrying the s allele may be at particular risk for emotional dysfunction.


Memory performance in polyvalent MDMA (ecstasy) users
who continue or discontinue MDMA use
Euphrosyne Gouzoulis-Mayfrank a, ∗, Thomas Fischermann a, Markus Rezkb,
Bastian Thimmb, Gernot Hensen b, Joerg Daumanna
Drug and Alcohol Dependence 78 (2005) 317–323

Abstract
Background: The popular dance drug ecstasy (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine =MDMA) is a serotonergic neurotoxin in animal studies. Several cross-sectional investigations reported low memory and learning performance in ecstasy users, particularly in those reporting heavy patterns of drug use. Since, serotonin has a recognized role in memory processes, these findings were mostly interpreted as evidence for ecstasy-related neurotoxicity in humans. However, studies with user populations and controls suffer from many inherent methodological problems. Moreover, longitudinal data on memory performance after continued or discontinued ecstasy use are scarce.

Methods: In the present longitudinal study, we examined memory performance in 38 MDMA users over the course of 18 months.
Results: Subjects who stopped MDMA use after the baseline examination (n = 17) did not improve, and subjects who continued MDMA use (n = 21) did not deteriorate in terms of test performance.

Conclusions: Our data do not support, but they also do not rule out memory decline following use of the serotonergic neurotoxin MDMA. In light of the popularity of ecstasy among young people, further investigations are needed. In our view, research strategies should now move to prospective designs in order to shed more light on the course of possible adverse cognitive effects of ecstasy use.

A FEW THOUGHTS:
Notice the small the number of participants, only 38. Hard to draw solid conclusions from such a small sample size. There are always confounding variables (What other substances were participants using before and during the study? What other drugs did the ecstasy pills contain? How do you know that the memory performance is related the MDMA use or other drugs? Basically, it says that we still don't know and more research is needed

___________________
ECSTASY SURVEY: $50 Lottery 1/20/06
http://cgi.umd.edu/survey/display?UMD/SURVEY
Carpe Diem
There is only one happiness in life: to love and be loved. (Chinese Fortune Cookie)
Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly. -anonymous
Rítmicamente las ondas suben y caen como el latir de mi corazón. Paz que ha sido hallada -me

Last edited by UMD Gradstudent on Jan-15-2006 at 23:12

Here's a summary of research that I've read about MDMA and Neurotoxicity. I am still going through some 2004 and the 2005 articles so my summary is not up to date.

Neurotoxicity of MDMA

The heated debate regarding the classification of Ecstasy as a neurotoxin continues as a result of limitations in research methodology (Cole, Bailey, Sumnall, Wagstaff, & King, 2002; Green, Mechan, Elliott, O'Shea, & Colado, 2003; Murray, 2001). Alarmingly, MDMA has been found to produce dose-dependent hyperthermia in rodents, primates, and humans that is potentially fatal (Kalant, 2001; Mechan, O'Seah, Colado, & Green, 2001). Studies of MDMA have also detailed serotonin neurodegeneration that lasts for months in rats and years in primates (Malberg, & Seiden, 1998; Ricaurte et al., 1987). Furthermore, research of MDMA administration in mice has found evidence of a selective long-term loss of dopamine in nerve endings (Stone, Merchant, Hanson, & Gibb, 1987). However, some argue that these studies are not representative of human consumption, particularly of recreational users of MDMA (Cole et al., 2002). Notably, Ricaurte, Yuan, Hatzidimitrious, Cord, and McCann (2002) recently retracted a study in which they reported dopamine neurotoxicity in primates injected repeatedly with doses of MDMA thought to mimic those often taken by ecstasy users at rave parties. As reported by the journal, Science, the labels on the drugs supplied to the researchers were incorrect; the animals were given methamphetamine rather than MDMA (Ricaurte, Yuan, Cord, & McCann, 2003).

Human studies of MDMA use are also problematic. Potential confounds may result from using subjective reports of drug use, variability in MDMA composition and simultaneous use of other drugs (Cole et al., 2002; McCann, Ricaurte, & Molliver, 2001; Rivas-Vazquez, & Delgado, 2002). Several studies have examined memory deficits in recreational users of ecstasy (Morgan, 1999; Parrott, 2000; Parrott, Buchanan, Schooley, Heffernan, Ling, & Rodgers, 2002; Taffe, Davis, Yuan, Schroeder, Hatzidimitrious, Parsons, et al., 2002; Thomasisus, Petersen, Buchert, Andresen, Zapletalova, Wartberg et al., 2003; Verkes, Gijsman, Pieters, Schoemaker, de Visser, & Kuijpers, 2001; Zakzanis, & Young, (2001). However, to date, researchers have yet to conduct a study in which the amount of MDMA or other concomitant substances were quantified (Cole et al., 2002; Green et al., 2003).

Here are a bunch of the Ricaurte articles. I have a few choice words that I will refrain from saying

Ricaurte, G., & McCann, U. D. (2001). Assessing long-term effects of MDMA (Ecstasy). The Lancet, 358(9296), 1831-1832.
Ricaurte, G. A., Forno, L. S., Wilson, M. A., DeLanney, L. E., Irwin, I., & Molliver, M. E. (1988). (+/-)-3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine selectively damages central serotonergic neurons in nonhuman primates. Journal of the American Medical Association, 260(51-55).

Ricaurte, G. A., Hatzidimitrious, G., Cord, B. J., & McCann, U. D. (2002). Severe dopaminergic neurotoxicity in primates after common recreational doses regimen of MDMA ("Ecstasy"). Science, 297(2260-2263).

Ricaurte, G. A., Irwin, I., Forno, L. S., DeLanney, L. E., E., L., & Langston, J. W. (1987). Aging and 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-induced degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Brain Research, 403(1), 43-51.

Ricaurte, G. A., Yuan, J., Hatzidimitrious, G., Cord, B. J., & McCann, U. D. (2003). Retraction. Science, 301(5639), 1479.

Thomasius, R., Petersen, K., Buchert, R., Andresen, B., Zapletalova, P., Wartberg, L., Nebeling, B., & Schmoldt, A. (2003). Mood, cognition and serotonin transporter availability in current and former ecstasy (MDMA) users. Psychopharmacology, 167, 85-96.

Rivas-Vazquez, F., & Delgado, L. (2002). Clinical and toxic effects of MDMA ("Ecstasy"). Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 33(4), 422-425.

Schifano, F. (2000). Potential Human Neurotoxicity of MDMA ("Ecstasy"): Subjective self-reports, evidence from an Italian drug addiction centre and clinical case studies. Neuropsychobiology, 42(25-33). (So no will say I'm biased and only post the American research) =D

___________________
ECSTASY SURVEY: $50 Lottery 1/20/06
http://cgi.umd.edu/survey/display?UMD/SURVEY
Carpe Diem
There is only one happiness in life: to love and be loved. (Chinese Fortune Cookie)
Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly. -anonymous
Rítmicamente las ondas suben y caen como el latir de mi corazón. Paz que ha sido hallada -me

Last edited by UMD Gradstudent on Jan-15-2006 at 23:40

___________________
TRY TO UNDERSTAND

quote:

Originally posted by Tranz

so is the rediculous clothes called : BAPE

quote:

Originally posted by UMD Gradstudent A recent study was conducted by Roiser, J.P., Cook, L.J., Cooper, J.D., Rubinsztein, D.C., and Sahakian, B.J. (2005) which examined the association between ecstasy use and subsequent depression.

i dont need 10 doctors to tell me that i can feel it after taking like 10 pills. feel like shit lol

___________________

quote:

Originally posted by Halcyon+On+On OOKA-OOKA ME NACHOS ME PRESS KEYS ON COMPUTER GOOD

I'm real glad that I could be of some help. But some recent surveys have suggested that ecstacy use has declined in the age group that you are referring to (not the 40 yr olds) LOL. The main reason why that is is because most of that age group has found their parents medicine cabenet and decided to take percocet and oxycontin instead. Which in my eyes is a real shame. And lets not forget the heroin use among teenagers has doubled. Seems a big waste to me. Also, the studies that MAPS is doing seems to be going well as far as I can tell. Have you gotten the chance to read any of their findings on their website? If you do, I'm sure that you will find it very helpful. I would rather be a crackhead for one day after doing E than an addict addicted to something that comes from your local pharmacy or the street corner. I hope you do well in your search for answers to this survey. But let us not forget E was legal till 1985 when the DEA overrode the FDA in court. So my question is "Why doesn't anyone want us to be happy if only for 6 to 7 hours?" Oh, and I forgot to mention the fact that there used to be a non-profit organization called Dancesafe that used to go to the clubs and test your pills for free. And also, on the back end of Megan's law they (the govt.) passed the anti-rave bill. Which holds promotors accountable at shows. Which means binkies are drug paraphanalia glow sticks and so on. Just thought I would throw that in.

Last edited by Mommy420 on Jan-16-2006 at 00:22

quote:

Originally posted by Mommy420 I would rather be a crackhead for one day after doing E than an addict addicted to something that comes from your local pharmacy or the street corner.

You should try what I mentioned. It definitely works for me. I took X last night and felt 100% today.

___________________
*can't imagine it feelin' much better...
i wish it would just last forever.
and so, to feel like that?
i'd pay any price just to get that back.*

quote:

Originally posted by Miss Bliss After always posting a while ago about how you never go out, you're partyin an awful lot lately

Yes. Quite alot, actually. My friend and I are the only ones in "the crew" that do not have girlfriends. So, we make up for it by taking each other on dates to clubs. We look at girls then, when they come near us, we run away.

___________________
*can't imagine it feelin' much better...
i wish it would just last forever.
and so, to feel like that?
i'd pay any price just to get that back.*