Acute medical problems due to Ecstasy use. Case-series of emergency department visits.
October 29, 2005 Matthias E. Liechti, Isabelle Kunz, Hugo Kupferschmidt 58 citations
Ecstasy (MDMA) toxicity often involves multiple substances, complicating the clinical picture. Among 52 patients presenting to an emergency department, most had also consumed alcohol (51.9%) or other illicit drugs (71.1%). Common reasons for seeking care were collapse or loss of consciousness (36.5%), palpitations (19.2%), dizziness or weakness (15.4%), and anxiety (13.5%). Co-use of cocaine was linked to panic reactions (30.7% vs. 7.7% without cocaine). Deep coma occurred in 68.8% of patients who also used GHB or opiates, but in none who took Ecstasy alone. Severe complications included cardiac arrest, hyperthermia, rhabdomyolysis, and one death.