Short-Term Effects of MDMA
When MDMA is taken in tablet or capsule form, a person begins feeling the effects 45 minutes later, on average. These effects peak 15 to 30 minutes after they are first felt and last an average of 3 hours, though side effects could be experienced up to days later.
People typically take one to two tablets on each occasion, with each tablet generally containing between 50 and 150 milligrams of MDMA. People often take a second dose of the drug as the effects of the first dose begin to fade, increasing the risk of adverse side effects as doses combine.
Effects Include:
- Enhanced sense of well-being
- Increased extroversion
- Emotional warmth
- Empathy toward others
- Willingness to discuss emotionally-charged memories
- Enhanced sensory perception
Symptoms of Overdose
While fatal overdoses on MDMA are rare, they can potentially be life threatening—with symptoms including high blood pressure (hypertension), faintness, panic attacks, and in severe cases, a loss of consciousness and seizures.
Effects Felt After an MDMA Binge
Recreational use of MDMA is often characterized by repeated drug taking over a number of days (binges), followed by periods of no drug taking. In one animal study, this pattern of use produced irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) and heart damage.
In the week following use of the drug, many people report depression, impaired attention and memory, anxiety, aggression, and irritability.