2011/01/02 by Thomas Steinkellner, Michael Freissmuth, Harald H. Sitte +1 · 2 citations
Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics · Neuroscience · Psychology · #Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis #Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior #Psychedelics and Drug Studies
paper · doi:10.1515/bc.2011.016
openalex publication_date 2011/01/02 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30
Amphetamine ('Speed'), methamphetamine ('Ice') and its congener 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; 'Ecstasy') are illicit drugs abused worldwide for their euphoric and stimulant effects. Despite compelling evidence for chronic MDMA neurotoxicity in animal models, the physiological consequences of such toxicity in humans remain unclear. In addition, distinct differences in the metabolism and pharmacokinetics of MDMA between species and different strains of animals prevent the rationalisation of realistic human dose paradigms in animal studies. Here, we attempt to review amphetamine toxicity and in particular MDMA toxicity in the pathogenesis of exemplary human pathologies, independently of confounding environmental factors such as poly-drug use and drug purity.