Ecstasy Withdrawal: Symptoms, Timeline & Treatment

For example if you are popping Ecstasy pills on a daily basis, your brain is going to have a more difficult time readjusting its activity back to normalcy. Think about it, if you have a job, getting a dose of Ecstasy could be less than a single hour of earnings. It is typically sold as a semi-synthetic chemical compound and in its purest form, it is a white colored powder. Although it is illegal to manufacture and possess in the United States, there are still plenty of people that struggle with addiction and withdrawal. When people think of drug dependency, they often imagine drugs such as meth or heroin. Though MDMA, also known as Ecstasy or Molly, might have a reputation as a single-use party drug, it also has the potential for long term abuse.

Lifestyle Adjustments

Good forms of exercise include a mix of low- and high-intensity exercises such as walking, running, swimming, cycling, or yoga. However, there are a few medications that have proven to be helpful during the rehabilitation process. Standard outpatient programs are suited to individuals who have just completed an inpatient program and want to continue some form of therapy. Standard outpatient is also ideal for people who may be juggling other responsibilities such as work or school. Long-term treatment also provides an opportunity for the individual to physically withdraw from ecstasy while they focus on their mental and emotional rehabilitation.

Ecstasy Withdrawal: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Serotonin also triggers the release of other hormones that can cause feelings of attraction and intimacy. As a result, users may become more affectionate than usual, and feel a connection with complete strangers. Another survey published in the How Long Does MDMA Stay in Your System same year showed that 1 percent of people aged 19 to 28 years in the United States (U.S.) had used the drug within the last month. MDMA can also be addictive, and research suggests that long-term cognitive problems may develop in some users.

Is Ecstasy Withdrawal Dangerous?

A user who has multiple addictions may also have a more intense and complicated withdrawal, and a user who has co-occurring mental health disorders may also experience additional challenges. After prolonged use, the user’s brain can become dependent on ecstasy to function and experience these positive feelings. When someone quits taking the drug, they’ll go through withdrawal as their brain tries to relearn how to operate properly without it.

• Individuals typically report to a treatment center or clinic 1 or 2 days per week.
• If you’re experiencing severe anxiety or depression, consulting a mental health professional is advisable.
• Always seek your physician’s advice with any questions or concerns regarding a medical condition.
• But even in 2000, by which point MAPS had teamed up with the scientists Dr. Michael Mithoefer and Annie Mithoefer to tackle the FDA’s three-phase clinical-trial process, Doblin still had a ways to go in convincing the average American.
• A medical detox center can also prescribe safe medications to help lessen the severity of withdrawal side effects, and treat an episode of depression.

Increase your access to support by connecting with a substance use treatment provider. They can walk you through the process of examining your needs, building a recovery-focused lifestyle, and shaping connections that promote your health and wellness. The physical symptoms related to ecstasy withdrawal end more quickly than psychological symptoms. The strength and duration of ecstasy withdrawal symptoms is concomitant with the user’s level of dependence on the drug. MDMA (Ecstasy) increases the activity of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin in the brain. After the effects of Ecstasy wear off, the brain will be depleted of serotonin, resulting in withdrawal symptoms.

MDMA (Ecstasy) Abuse Research Report

Ecstasy, or MDMA, is a synthetic drug that’s known for its euphoric effects, yet it’s highly psychologically addictive. Users who are addicted and then stop taking ecstasy undergo withdrawal because their brains have become reliant on the drug for certain feelings. The petition included an account from an anonymous former MAPS PBC employee about an incident where a participant made “a serious suicide attempt during a dosing https://ecosoberhouse.com/ session” that was not reported. Two former MAPS employees who spoke with BI said they had heard about a participant attempting to run out into traffic during a session. Several people told BI that around this time, PBC leaders tried to cut Doblin out of day-to-day operations, fearing he was a liability. Longtime employees were irate about morphing into the so-called Mullette Corporation and begged Doblin to intervene.

Ecstasy Withdrawal Timeline

• For those with extended periods of MDMA use, professional support and rehabilitation can be crucial in managing withdrawal symptoms and paving the way for successful long-term recovery.
• Seek medical attention right away if you think you or someone else using this substance has begun to overdose.
• National surveys have found that 17 million people in the U.S. ages 12 and older have used MDMA at least once in their lives.
• The problem occurs when the brain runs out of neurochemicals and can’t produce them fast enough.
• Although some users may not think so, ecstasy is psychologically addictive drug.

A phase-three study published in Nature in 2021 said 67% of participants who were given MDMA therapy no longer qualified for a PTSD diagnosis two months after treatment. “This is about as excited as I can get about a clinical trial,” Gul Dolen, a Johns Hopkins neuroscientist, told The New York Times. The next year, the PBC hired Michael Mullette, a longtime pharma exec who’d come from Moderna, to be its chief operating officer. The results are included in the company’s application to the FDA seeking approval to market the drug for therapy-assisted PTSD treatment.

Approximate Timeline of MDMA Withdrawal

• While these symptoms mirror those of ecstasy withdrawal, the primary difference lies in their onset.
• While every individual is unique and will have different needs, many centers provide tailored recovery plans.
• Contingency management is another effective treatment for addiction and is based on a reward system.
• You can also instantly check the insurance coverage offered by your health insurance provider.

Once you are medically stabilized and have successfully detoxed from MDMA, the treatment team can transition you to a dual diagnosis program where you’ll receive treatment for you ecstasy addiction and co-occurring depression. Short-term inpatient centers typically start with medical detox and are followed by a program of addiction treatment such as therapy or counseling for 30 to 90 days. These programs range from basic inpatient to luxury options, all varying in terms of their amenities and types of therapy. We have several treatment programs including inpatient and outpatient treatment. The safest way to detox from MDMA is to find a detox program, an inpatient rehab facility, or outpatient rehab.