title: Acute psychomotor, memory and subjective effects of MDMA and THC co-administration over time in healthy volunteers.
abstract: In Western societies a considerable percentage of young people expose themselves to the combination of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or 'ecstasy') and cannabis. The aim of the present study was to assess the acute effects of co-administration of MDMA and THC (the main psychoactive compound of cannabis) on pharmacokinetics, psychomotor performance, memory and subjective experience over time. We performed a four-way, double blind, randomized, crossover, placebo-controlled study in 16 healthy volunteers (12 male, four female) between the ages of 18 and 27. MDMA (100 mg) was given orally, THC (4, 6, and 6 mg, interval of 90 min) was vaporized and inhaled. THC induced more robust cognitive impairment compared with MDMA, and co-administration did not exacerbate single drug effects on cognitive function. However, co-administration of THC with MDMA increased desired subjective drug effects and drug strength compared with the MDMA condition, which may explain the widespread use of this combination.
authors.affiliation: Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Department of Psychiatry, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, The Netherlands. g.j.h.dumont@psy.umcn.nl
authors.forename: G J H
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Dumont
authors.forename: J G C
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: van Hasselt
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Kam
authors.forename: J M A
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: van Gerven
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Touw
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Buitelaar
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Verkes
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000328:Adult; D002188:Cannabis / Q000378:metabolism*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005059:Euphoria / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010919:Placebos; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos; D013759:Dronabinol; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine