title: The ugly side of amphetamines: short- and long-term toxicity of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, 'Ecstasy'), methamphetamine and D-amphetamine.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Währingerstrasse 13a, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Steinkellner
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Freissmuth
authors.forename: Harald H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Sitte
authors.forename: Therese
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Montgomery
mesh_terms: D000662:Amphetamines / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D003913:Dextroamphetamine / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000633:toxicity*; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects; D015394:Molecular Structure; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000633:toxicity; D011605:Psychoses, Substance-Induced / Q000503:physiopathology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000662:Amphetamines; D008694:Methamphetamine; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine; D003913:Dextroamphetamine