title: Death following ingestion of MDMA (ecstasy) and moclobemide.
abstract: Four deaths following the ingestion of moclobemide and MDMA ('ecstasy') are described. The probable cause of death in each case was serotonin syndrome as a result of an interaction between the two drugs. As none of the victims had been prescribed moclobemide it seems that each had taken the drug to enhance the effects of MDMA, with fatal consequences. Warnings are needed against misinformed attempts to potentiate the pharmacological effects of illicit drugs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland. erkki.o.vuori@helsinki.fi
authors.forename: Erkki
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vuori
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Henry
authors.forename: Ilkka
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ojanperä
authors.forename: Raija
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nieminen
authors.forename: Taru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Savolainen
authors.forename: Pia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wahlsten
authors.forename: Matti
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jäntti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004347:Drug Interactions; D062787:Drug Overdose; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006213:Hallucinogens / Q000097:blood / Q000506:poisoning*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020912:Moclobemide / Q000097:blood / Q000506:poisoning*; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors / Q000097:blood / Q000506:poisoning*; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000097:blood / Q000506:poisoning*; D018490:Serotonin Agents / Q000097:blood / Q000506:poisoning*; D020230:Serotonin Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced*
chemical_list: D006213:Hallucinogens; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors; D018490:Serotonin Agents; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine; D020912:Moclobemide