Parties also go on without taking drugs. It's a nonsense, that techno-dancing needs the influence of drugs. But we don't make any illusions. This page shows the actual informations about Ecstasy and is made to prevent damages and help to estimate risks.
XTC, Ecstasy, E, Adam, Cadillac or simple MDMA is a synthetic drug belonging to the group of Metamphetamines and it acts directly to the brain. XTC is distributed as pills or capsules and is about CHF 40-60 ($ 35-55). Manufacturing, consumation and distribution is forbidden worldwide.
The effects start about 30 to 60 minutes after consumation and lasts about 4 to 6 hours. You feel awake, excited, openhearted and you believe to feel everything more intensivly. Your heartrate and blood-pressure increases. This means stress for your body! The effects of XTC are also depend on your physical health and the general atmosphere.
The side-effects can be uncomfortable, but most users find that these do not spoil the experience. Dry mouth and loss of appetite are almost universal, and various muscular side effects are common, as though some muscles react to the drug's demand to let go. These include holding the jaw tightly clenched, flickering eyes, twiches, nausea and cramps, especially as the drug takes its first effects. Generally these side-effects don't last for a long time. Side effects are more pronounced with increased use. Another more common, but less serious problem, with MDMA is that many people resist to the effect of the drug. This is unconfortable, often manifesting in a strong headache.
People often feel tired after taking Ecstasy. This 'hangover' is hardly surprising considering that the mind and usually the body have been so much more active than normal, and is similar to that experienced by users of LSD and amphetamine. Drinking enough water and getting a good night's sleep after taking MDMA are best ways to avoid a hangover, and vitamins may also help. For ravers, the strongest after-effect is often stiffness and aches from the physical excercise. The most unpleasant after-effect is paranoia which is frequently reported by heavy users.
One of the worst fears about Ecstasy is that it may be causing permanent brain damage to users without them being aware of it. It has been suggested that the drug destroys nerve endings or synapses, and that eventually users will suffer from senile dementia - the loss of memory and confusion that affects some old people - but at a much earlier age. MDMA has been widely used for the last fifteen years. So far there are no reports of long-term damage, but some people argue that such damage may not show for another ten or twenty years. It has been suggested that seretonin levels may decline with age, and that the long-term effect of the drug may increase this effect. However, there is no real evidence to support this hypothesis, such as MDMA having an adverse effect on old People. But be carefull as a permanent damage of your brain may be possible!
XTC opens your mind. Because that, never swallow MDMA if you are in a bad physical or psychical mood. Take XTC only in a place that is very pleasant, check out a fine place, where you can enjoy your 'Trip'. Keep contact to your friends during the experience, ask them about how it is going and tell them if you're feeling bad. If you are on XTC, you shoud not take any other drugs or alcohol. Also never take additional medicaments. Don't take a second E when the first is getting off!
Heatstroke is a well known cause of death, but in other situations it only affects people who are pushing themselves to the limit or are unable to escape from the heat. What is peculiar about Ecstasy-related deaths is that the victims appear to make no real attempt to cool down. For that, make pauses, drink a lot ( no alcohol ) and cool down from time to time. There are other cases of death because of the use of Ecstasy, but they are unlikely to happen to normal healthy people. On MDMA, you can be more active without feeling pain or exhaustion; our temperature, sweating, blood pressure and pulse increase without the normal warning signs of feeling discomfort or exhaustion. It is not surprising that there have been cases of people with weak hearts or asthma who have died because of MDMA, although there is no known reason why the use of MDMA should particulary affect asthmatics. If you are sick, never take XTC!
A drug is considered addictive if physical withdrawal symptoms occur when a regular user stops taking it. MDMA is not addictive by this definition, and in fact has a built-in barrier against frequent regular use - it rapidly produces tolerance while providing more side effects. Whereas you can get drunk every night on alcohol, MDMA soon ceases to work. The pleasant effects become less and less, and after less than a week of daily use of MDMA, they disapear completely while the amphetamine-like effects increase. It is then necessary to stop taking MDMA for several days before you feel good again, and to get the full effect again, it may take several weeks. So, as langer you wait, the better will be the next experience!
If you take XTC, plan the trip in a way that you can get enough sleep during the following night. Drink a lot ( juices, vitamins ), make yourself comfortable the next day, do something good for your body and soul and take a long pause until the next Experience ( several weeks ).
The effect of taking several Es at once is to produce an amphetamine-like effect - "a jittery, anxiety-provoking high". Some users take Ecstasy specifically to achieve this sort of effect, but they are said to be switchung to amphetamines. If case of an overdose, stay quiet, take care of the "victim", talk to him (or her), get him to the fresh air to cool him down, let him drink something, don't leave him alone and if necessary, call a doctor.
Be sure, that your XTC is really MDMA, there are lot's of wrong pills around. Don't buy them from strangers. And other problem is the Dosage. There is generally no possibility for you to find out the dosage of the pills you just bought. Be careful: The human psychotomic active dose is 80-160mg. Don't buy any phantasy-mixes! And think about this: "Don't mix drugs, let the mixing do the DJ's!" ( Planet-E / Basel / Switzerland )
A popular image of Ecstasy is that it is an aphrodisiac, but in fact MDMA has the opposite effect on most users. Behavior, on raves and in clubs where alcohol has given way to Ecstasy, is very different to that in alcohol-based clubs. It seems to follow the lack of male sexual aggression. While hugging and even caressing strangers may be acceptable, it is a sensual lavel without implying a sexual advanve. The question whether Ecstasy encourages more unprotected sex is being examined. The study is incomplete, but it seems that people who use Ecstasy do mix more freely and intimately, eventually leading to more unplanned and therefore unsafe sex. Just one problem on the side: Men may have a hard time getting an errection while on the drug. Stop Aids!
Ecstasy is illegal, it's in the same category like Heroin or Cocaine. manufacturing, consumation and distribution is strictly forbidden. So think about this, if you are going to take XTC: You make yourself liable to prosecution.
