Acute neuropsychological effects of MDMA and ethanol (co-)administration in healthy volunteers.
BACKGROUND
In Western societies, a considerable percentage of young people expose themselves to 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or "ecstasy"). Commonly, ecstasy is used in combination with other substances, in particular alcohol (ethanol). MDMA induces both arousing as well as hallucinogenic effects, whereas ethanol is a general central nervous system depressant.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study is to assess the acute effects of single and co-administration of MDMA and ethanol on executive, memory, psychomotor, visuomotor, visuospatial and attention function, as well as on subjective experience.


METHODS
We performed a four-way, double-blind, randomised, crossover, placebo-controlled study in 16 healthy volunteers (nine male, seven female) between the ages of 18-29. MDMA was given orally (100 mg) and blood alcohol concentration was maintained at 0.6 per thousand by an ethanol infusion regime.


RESULTS
Co-administration of MDMA and ethanol was well tolerated and did not show greater impairment of performance compared to the single-drug conditions. Impaired memory function was consistently observed after all drug conditions, whereas impairment of psychomotor function and attention was less consistent across drug conditions.


CONCLUSIONS
Co-administration of MDMA and ethanol did not exacerbate the effects of either drug alone. Although the impairment of performance by all drug conditions was relatively moderate, all induced significant impairment of cognitive function.
Dumont
G J H
GJ
Unit for Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuropsychiatry (UCPN), Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Centre St Radboud, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. G.J.H.Dumont@psy.umcn.nl
Wezenberg
E
E
Valkenberg
M M G J
MM
de Jong
C A J
CA
Buitelaar
J K
JK
van Gerven
J M A
JM
Verkes
R J
RJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004347:Drug Interactions; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000187:drug effects; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009949:Orientation / Q000187:drug effects; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000187:drug effects; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000187:drug effects; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects
D000431:Ethanol; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine