Re: MAPS: Anybody up for some MDMA neurotoxicity tests on humans?

[Bob Wallace <bobw@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

cyrano@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

> Concerning neurotoxicity,what happened to those non-neurotoxic derivatives
> invented by Nichols et al.? Why not replace MDMA by the non-neurotoxic
> derivatives? Are they psychotropically inactive?

For example, MBDB (aka Methyl-J, PIHKAL #128) is the alpha-ethyl version
of MDMA. My understanding is Nichols invented this, and found it has less
neurotoxic potential than MDMA. It does seem to have much of the empathy,
heart-opening, trusting effects of MDMA. However, it does not have much of
the stimulation or elation/joy actions of MDMA. I think it would work as well
as MDMA for psychotherapy, but you can't dance to it ;) at least not late into
the evening.

But MDMA has had a lot of research, including preclinical tox testing and
lots of both formal and informal use for therapy and other uses. Starting over
with a new compound would require a lot of ground-work already done with
MDMA.

I've been part of a number of late-night discussions about the relative merits
of continuing to work with MDMA vs. starting over with a new compound such
as MBDB (perhaps limited to one of the MBDB optical isomers). Personally,
I would go with a new compound (especially given the excess public opinion
baggage and legal problems with MDMA), but this is an area where smart
people disagree...


- Bob Wallace (just my opinion);  reply to bobw@xxxxxxxxxxx
Books on psychedelics, Mind Books: http://www.promind.com



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