Posted by interject79 on February 28, 2004, at 1:08:25
In reply to Re: MDMA (ecstasy) to be studied for use in therapy!!!, posted by djmmm on February 27, 2004, at 23:27:03
> > > http://www.maps.org/mdma/
> > >
> > > About darn time!
>
> > MDMA or some related substance was used decades ago by therapists, so the idea is not novel.
>
> --it was MDMA, because out of all the related ring substituted amphetamines (MDMA, MDA, MDEA, etc) MDMA is completely unique in the it elicits empathy, no other drug does this.
>
> *Good point.
>
> > If this were a prescription drug it would be scheduled, and it would be abused left and right as people would take huge doses if they were low powered pills.
>
> --true, but most scheduled 2,3,and 4 drugs are abused
>
*Not so that I know of. Studies?
> >
> > I think MDMA has gone the way of LSD, and the stigma of its abuse will be too big to overcome.
>
> --true, unfortunately most of the negative neurotoxicity theories were flawed and Methamphetamine was used inplace of MDMA...funny how Methamphetamine is a precription drug...The legality of MDMA has more to do with Patent laws than true science
*The controls were not up to par, but that doesn't mean MDMA isn't neurotoxic. And I think it has much to do with science. At the same time, one can distort matters enough to make tap water appear neurotoxic. I think science can offer some answers about the drug, but so far scientists have provided mostly technically disappointing studies (especially Ricaurte, sp.?).> > Adminstering this drug during therapy will carry a lot of legal issues.
>
> --I disagree... with the majority of flawed neurotoxicity studies, MDMA MAY be a relativly BENIGN drug...
>
> *I don't think it's conclusive that MDMA is at all benign. We may reasonably conclude that studies are inconclusive. We might also infer that MDMA is potentially not (dopaminergically) neurotoxic, but to say it's benign is another story...
> >
> > I saw a piece on TV about a woman who has her clients take E, and they have sessions together. She is somewhere in the Southwest.
> >
> > I think it's a ridiculous idea.
>
> --I believe the Idea is for clients to take 3 moderate doeses of MDMA over the period of a year or so...hardly dangerous, given that drs prescribe methamphetamine for DAILY use to hyperactive kids> *I think MDMA would really be helpful for those needing a 'breakthrough'--in the right environment. As ASV originally mentioned, it might really benefit PTSD sufferers. Further, in cases where individuals are suffering emotional agony due to terminal illnesses, let 'em get in some smiles...but this gets touchy fast.
Methamphetamine is rarely prescribed anymore, especially to children. Amphetamine (d,l) is a different story, but studies DO NOT conclude it's dangerous when prescribed at the right dosage for the right reason. Quite the contrary. Methamphetamine is significantly more dangerous because of the methyl addition. And 3,4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine is probably more dangerous still, at least in vitro. (In vivo data are inconclusive or insufficient or what have you--so far.)
> > Some would argue that it would just point people to the street version.
>
> --Possibly, but that can be said for many abused legal drugs.
I'd hope MDMA is useful in cases of PTSD and others. I think it's ethically unwise to outright deny someone a potential 'lifesaver' because of human error and ignorance. And sometimes it's unwise even when there are no errors and no ignorance. Still I take issue with some of your remarks, in a friendly way.
poster:interject79
thread:318258
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040223/msgs/318435.html