Acute psychological effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, “ecstasy”) are attenuated by the serotonin uptake inhibitor citalopram
Abstract
3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, "Ecstasy") is a recreational drug that has been shown to release serotonin (5-HT) and dopamine (DA) in animals. The effect of MDMA on 5-HT release can be blocked by 5-HT uptake inhibitors such as citalopram, suggesting that MDMA interacts with the 5-HT uptake site. It is unknown whether this mechanism is also responsible for the psychological effects of MDMA in humans. We investigated the effect of citalopram pretreatment (40 mg iv) on the psychological effects of MDMA (1.5 mg/kg po) in a double-blind placebo-controlled psychometric study in 16 healthy human volunteers. MDMA produced an emotional state with heightened mood, increased self-confidence and extroversion, moderate derealization, and an intensification of sensory perception. Most of these effects were markedly reduced by citalopram. This finding suggests that the psychological effects of MDMA are mediated via action at the 5-HT uptake site to increase 5-HT release through the carrier, as expected from animal studies.
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Earlier controlled lab work suggests MDMA raises self-reported states tied to empathy and social ease, but findings are mixed.
“These studies indicate that MDMA increases feelings related to empathy and sociability, including self-rated friendliness [7–8], extroversion [9–10], closeness to others [11], sociability [7, 12], talkativeness [7–8], amicability, and gregariousness [13], although some of these effects are inconsistent [14–16].”
From Is Ecstasy an “Empathogen”? Effects of +/- 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine on Prosocial Feelings and Identification of Emotional States in Others (2010) · cites this paper as [14]
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References 47 · Cited by 248
- Authors
- Liechti, M.
- Affiliations
- Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik Zürich (CH)
- Corresponding author
- Liechti, M
- ORCID
- Liechti, M
- Venue
- Neuropsychopharmacology
- Published
- 2000-05
- Volume
- 22
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 513-521
- ISSN
- 0893-133X (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2120113858
- Cited by
- 248
- References
- 47
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 15
- FWCI
- 16.96
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Neuropsychopharmacology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Heffter Research Institute
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychedelics and Drug Studies
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
- Life Sciences › Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics › Toxicology › Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis
- Keywords
- MDMA, ecstasy, citalopram, serotonin uptake inhibition, serotonin release, mood improvement, self-confidence, extraversion, derealization, sensory perception, drug interactions
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Brain, Double-Blind Method, Female, Hallucinogens, Humans, Male, Neuropsychological Tests, Citalopram, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, Nootropic Agents, N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine, Amphetamine-Related Disorders
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