Everything That You Need to Know About Microdosing MDMA
Commonly known as Molly, ecstasy, or X, they are all names for the same drug: methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). MDMA is a synthetic drug that acts as a hallucinogen and stimulant. It can be taken in many ways, including orally as a pill or capsule or as a powder that can be snorted or mixed into drinks. However, many users have begun to take it in small doses every three days to help them relax and ease symptoms of depression and anxiety. This method, called microdosing, is becoming more popular nowadays.
Considering that microdosing involves taking limited amounts of a drug, it can be quite easy to believe that microdosing comes with no downsides. This simply isn’t true and is an oversimplification of unfettered drug use and its hazards. To help you gain a better understanding of this, we thought it would be useful to put together a discussion on this subject. If this is something that you’re interested in learning more about, read on as we break down everything you need to know about microdosing MDMA.
What Is MDMA?
MDMA (4-Methylenedioxy-methamphetamine) is a psychoactive drug that has stimulant and hallucinogenic effects. It was first synthesized in 1912 in an attempt to create a different pharmaceutical and was subsequently patented by Merck in 1914 due to its potential as a medicine. MDMA was used for a short time in therapy sessions in combination with psychotherapy before being banned in 1985 due to concerns about the growing rate of recreational use.
Pure therapeutic-grade MDMA is largely different from the street drug ecstasy or molly. The term molly was originally coined to reference a pure crystalline form of MDMA, but street ecstasy more commonly refers to a pill that may not contain any trace of MDMA whatsoever. Street pills are adulterated with other substances and have not been tested for purity. Although the street drug is called an empathogen due to its ability to create a state of heightened awareness and openness, it has also been referred to as an entactogen due to its tendency to increase self-awareness and diminish inhibitions. MDMA functions by stimulating the release of serotonin in the brain, then blocking reuptake, typically resulting in a state characterized by euphoria, social openness, and a sensation of emotional well-being.
Studies are looking into how MDMA can be used in conjunction with psychotherapy towards treating PTSD, depression, and helping people with damaged relationships. If it passes Phase III clinical trials, it might become FDA-approved as a method of treatment for a variety of conditions.
What Is Microdosing?
Taking small amounts of a drug is referred to as microdosing. When it comes to MDMA, people usually take 125 mg or more of the drug in order to experience euphoria, energy, and mind-altering effects. However, some people only consume small amounts of the drug in order to test or benefit from the effects of the drug while limiting the side effects.
When Molly is taken in doses of 125 milligrams or smaller, it increases the activity of neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. It also blocks the reuptake of these chemicals, forcing them to linger in the synaptic gap between neurons for a longer period of time. The result is a flood of these chemicals, which produces side effects like increased alertness, elevated mood, euphoria, and hallucinations. This is why people feel the need to do strange things when they’re on Molly. As of recently, more people are claiming that microdosing enhances their moods and reduces depression symptoms. People falsely assume that microdosing is a “safe” way to do MDMA. And while it is true that the downsides are muted, calling it safe is a stretch. So what are the risks of microdosing MDMA?
What Are the Risks of Microdosing MDMA?
Many people believe that microdosing MDMA is a healthy way to reap the benefits of this drug, but this isn’t necessarily true. Not only is this drug addictive, but it’s also often created in a lab by people with little or no medical experience. Because of these factors, it’s hard to exactly determine what kind of chemicals are in MDMA and safely use it in “microdoses.” Furthermore, long-term use of MDMA, however small these doses may be, can also lead to tolerance, dependence, and addiction. On top of that, while many people claim that microdosing has benefits for mental health when taken responsibly in small doses, it actually increases the activity levels of a few neurotransmitters and inhibits their reuptake, which is similar to the action of other addictive drugs like cocaine and methamphetamine. Thus, it’s safe to say that chronic misuse can lead to dependence on another substance and actually worsen the symptoms of mental illness.
Additionally, side effects of microdosing Molly include:
- Increased alertness
- Elevated mood
- Energy
- Enhanced sociability
That’s also not to say that taking small doses of Molly every so often is proven to have any benefits. Some studies have found that taking small doses of Molly every few days may actually inhibit the usage of the drug in the long run: after its psychedelic effects wear off, this may decrease activity in certain regions of the brain, including both the mPFC and the ACC. One study, in particular, found that microdosing Molly created intense psychedelic effects associated with reductions in neural activity in both the mPFC and the ACC.
It’s also important to note that it is difficult to determine how potent the dose of the drug purchased is because it is sold on the black market. In addition to this, users may develop physical dependence-in other words, their body will crave the drug and feel ill when it is not around. This may lead to addiction. These are some (but certainly not all) of the reasons that taking MDMA or psychedelics recreationally is not something that should be considered.
MDMA (or “ecstasy”) is addictive because its effects on the brain promote compulsive and continual drug-taking behavior. The brain becomes less sensitive to the drug, so users must take more to feel its effects. After a few times, you need more MDMA to get high. People tend to keep doing this until they get addicted to the drug.
What Are the Dangers of Using MDMA?
MDMA is believed to prevent the reuptake of serotonin by neurons, enhancing the release of serotonin in the brain. Because serotonin plays an important role in pain, mood, sexual desire, and sleep, low levels of serotonin can have severe psychological effects and impair people’s abilities to think clearly.
People who regularly use MDMA long-term may also suffer from enduring effects:
- Bouts of confusion
- Impaired ability to focus
- Increased impulsiveness
- Instances of memory loss
- Lowered sex drive
- Aggressive and erratic behavior
Conclusion
We hope this article proves to be useful when it comes to furthering your understanding of microdosing MDMA. As you can see, taking small amounts of MDMA still poses a serious threat to one’s physical and mental health. If you are struggling with drug addiction, it’s best to seek out professional help as soon as possible.
Source: https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/mdma-ecstasymolly