title: Ecstasy: pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic interactions.
abstract: At "raves," young people dance and ingest illicit drugs, the most common of which is MDMA (N-methyl-3,4,-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) or "ecstasy." This drug is metabolized principally through the cytochrome P450 (CYP450) 2D6 enzyme. Pharmacokinetic drug-drug interactions can occur if MDMA is combined with other recreational or therapeutic drugs that are 2D6 inhibitors. Ecstasy concentration may increase to cause toxicity. Since ecstasy is pro-serotonergic, it may also be involved in pharmacodynamic drug-drug interactions when other pro-serotonergic drugs are combined with it, leading to a central serotonin syndrome. Some drugs are both pro-serotonergic and CYP450 2D6 inhibitors and, if co-administered with ecstasy, may cause both pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic drug-drug interactions.
authors.affiliation: Spurwink School, Portland, Me, USA.
authors.forename: Jessica R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Oesterheld
authors.forename: Scott C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Armstrong
authors.forename: Kelly L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Cozza
mesh_terms: D019389:Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6 / Q000378:metabolism; D004347:Drug Interactions; D006801:Humans; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000494:pharmacology; D020230:Serotonin Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D019389:Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors