Re: MAPS: Psychedelic Related Scientific Publications

["earth" <earth@xxxxxxxxxx>]

On Thu, 29 Apr 1999 10:31:18 -0700 (PDT), Matthew Baggott wrote:

>supports the theory that MDMA belongs to a separate pharmacological
>class of compounds. Although MDMA-induced anxiety has been reported,
>decreased anxiety appears to be a more typical effect of MDMA in humans.
>Therefore, I found it surprising that MDMA appeared anxiogenic in this and
>a previous study.  One possible explanation is that the measurements of
>rodent behavior in this experimental paradigm are insensitive to
>serotonergic drugs which affect anxiety. 

  Hmm.. I would have said this is -exactly- what human subjective data
shows.  I have spoken to a large number of MDMA users and would
say that the dose response recorded in this study is typical of human
experience.  

  MDMA Underdose - the threshold of this varies radically by person (perhaps 
correlated to MDMA metabolism?), but in the "underdose" experience, people 
feel highly agitated, nervous, anxious, etc etc.  Often a small increase
in dosage of MDMA or 'boost' will dramatically change the subjective
experience.

  I have been with people who were taking MDMA for their first time who
started with a low attack dose (30-50mg oral) to gauge their own sensitivity, 
planning to take a strong boost (60-100mg) at T+75mins.  In two cases I 
witnessed, they experienced uncomfortable jitters, coldness, tension, and a 
strong desire for the effects to stop.  Although they had been told beforehand 
to expect these effects, one of the people I spoke to said they were extremely 
reluctant to take more, extrapolating that more MDMA = more anxiety.  In these
instances, additional boosts of MDMA caused the anxiety to disappear 
completely and the euphoric, empathic, happy effects kicked in.

  In more experienced users, I have seen similar, but less dramatic 
effects.  Sometimes a user will take MDMA and after 60-90 mins realize
that they are not experiencing the desired effects.  Often the 'not quite
enough' MDMA experience is pretty yucko.  Many users find that
a small boost of MDMA (15-25mg) or possibly a small amount of some
other psychoactive (cannabis, lsd, mushrooms, 2cb, etc) shifts the
person out of the anxio-genic into the anxiolytic.

  I would also say that in most (but not all) users, increased lifetime total 
usage increases the anxiogenic effects and reduces the euphoric-empathic
effects.

  But, overall, this study is a confirmation of a dose-response experience
that I was told about long before I had ever seen MDMA use in person.

earth
www.erowid.org



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