What is MDMA? .MDMA (3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine) is a synthetic drug in the amphetamine class of compounds. It’s often referred to as ecstasy, molly, or X.
The man who popularized MDMA, Alexander Shulgin, first described the drug under the name Window for its ability to strip away our habits and biases — allowing us to see the world more clearly. He believed it would become important in the field of psychotherapy.
He wasn’t wrong.
MDMA was used as a tool by health practitioners as a way to help break down barriers in their patients’ psyche to uncover deeply rooted traumas, foster a stronger patient-practitioner connection, and give patients the ability to take an unbiased look at their life and their emotions to better understand the root of their pain and suffering.
It was considered an important therapeutic drug for the treatment of PTSD, anxiety, depression, and other mental health disorders throughout the 1970s and 80s. After the substance leaked from the clinic and started circulating around in the mainstream public, it was promptly banned and removed from practice.
Only recently has MDMA started to regain its reputation in the medical setting with the development of the expanded access program and an increasing number of promising research programs over the past couple of years (more on this later).
Today, approved clinics are using MDMA in the treatment of PTSD, depression, and couples therapy for its ability to break down biases and promote a sense of empathy and connection between people.
MDMA Specs & Technical Details:
| Chemical Name | 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine |
| Level of Risk | Moderate |
| Street Names | Ecstasy, X, Molly |
| Most Common Side-Effects | Dehydration, Agitation, Excessive sweating, Hyperthermia, Jaw clenching |
| Duration of Effects | 4–6 hours |
| Legality | Illegal worldwide |
california Safe MDMA Guidelines
- ? I understand why psychedelics should be treated with respect
- ⚖️ I’m familiar with the laws for MDMA in my country & state
- ? I’m familiar and confident in the dose I’m taking (50–150 mg)
- ? I’ve tested a sample of the substance I’m using with a drug testing kit
- ? I’m not mixing any medications or other substances with MDMA
- ? I’m in a safe & comfortable environment with people I trust
- ? One of the members of my group is responsible and sober (AKA a trip sitter)
- ⏳ I have nothing important scheduled for after the trip
- ? I’m in a sound & healthy state of mind
- ❤️ I don’t have any underlying health issues — don’t take MDMA if you have underlying heart, neurological, or psychiatric disorders
- ? Use the buddy system — MDMA can remove your inhibition and allow you to make unsafe decisions, always stay with people you trust, and never go out alone
- ? I understand the risk of dehydration — it’s easy to become dehydrated on MDMA, so make sure you’re drinking a cup of water every hour while using molly
- ? Protect your hearing — music can be intoxicating while on molly, but protect your hearing and bring ear protection before you go out to a club or concert
What Does MDMA Feel Like?
The MDMA experience is usually very positive in nature — unlike other psychedelics, which are highly susceptible to the people and environment you spend your time in throughout the trip.
The euphoric effects of MDMA make it less likely for you to experience challenging or scary experiences during the trip — but it’s not impossible.
The effects of MDMA usually begin about an hour after taking the substance. It tends to peak quickly, within about an hour after the effects first start to appear.
You’ll feel a greater sense of euphoria, pleasure, social bonding, connection with the people around you, and your perception of sights and sound will change. MDMA is not a hallucinogen in the traditional sense, but it can make lights and colors appear more vibrant.
The MDMA experience is intensely emotional. Users often feel the desire to hug or touch others, they may feel intense emotions of love and admiration surface towards friends and family, and they may feel a sense of arousal and enhanced sexual desire.
In total, the effects of MDMA last between 4 and 6 hours.
Ecstasy tablets that have been adulterated with other substances may have different effects and may last for a longer or shorter duration overall.
What’s The Dose of MDMA?
The usual dose of MDMA is between 50 and 150 mg. Most people take a dose of 100 mg.
The dose of MDMA can vary depending on factors such as your size, how much food you’ve eaten prior to the session, and your experience using MDMA or other stimulants. Ecstasy is very unreliable as well — some tablets are substantially stronger than others, so even if you’ve used two or three tablets in the past, it’s not wise to assume a new tablet is going to have the same dose.
One of the easiest ways to overdose on MDMA is to take too much because you waited an hour, decided it wasn’t strong enough, and took another. Eventually, both tablets will take effect, and it may be strong enough to result in an overdose.
It’s wise to start with a lower dose for your first session (less than 100 mg) and only take a higher dose if you’re familiar with how the tablet feels and how your body responds.
Microdosing MDMA
Microdosing is a practice that involves taking a dose of a substance that’s too small to feel the effects.
The most common substances people microdose are psychedelics like LSD or magic mushrooms, but some people are microdosing MDMA as well with the goal of improving focus, concentration, creativity, and connection with others.
It’s sometimes used by couples to experience a deeper level of closeness and sexual intimacy.
The usual microdose of MDMA is between 5 and 10 mg per day.
The dose should be taken in the morning to allow it to wear off by the time you’re ready to go to bed. Taking your microdose of MDMA too late in the day could make it difficult to fall asleep.
There are some (theoretical) concerns about using MDMA for long periods of time — even in microdoses.
This compound has a particularly high affinity for activating the 5HT2B receptors — which is a subset of serotonin receptors found primarily in the brain and heart. It’s thought that activating these receptors too much with repeated doses of MDMA could lead to the development of heart valve disorders. This concept first appeared in 2012 after a study was published that found 8 out of 29 patients that were regular users of ecstasy had heart valve defects [5]. The control group (non-MDMA users) had no signs of heart valve defects.
This effect has yet to be proven or disproven, so until more research is available, it’s wise to limit your microdosing of MDMA to just a few days at a time with longer break periods in between.
Many MDMA advocates suggest a different approach — taking what’s called a threshold dose of MDMA instead and spreading the doses out over weeks or months. A threshold dose sits somewhere in between a microdose and a standard psychoactive dose. It’s defined as the minimum dose needed to produce noticeable effects.
For MDMA, the threshold dose is usually around 30 mg. People use it as frequently as once per month or once every few months.
