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Alcohol is frequently used in combination with 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). Both drugs affect cardiovascular function, hydration and temperature regulation, but may have partly opposing effects. The present study aims to assess the acute physiologic effects of (co-) administration of MDMA and ethanol over time. A fourway, double blind, randomized, crossover, placebo-controlled study in 16 healthy volunteers (9 male and 7 female) between the ages of 18 and 29. MDMA (100 mg) was given orally and blood ethanol concentration was maintained at pseudo-steady state levels of 0.6‰ by a three-hour 10% intravenous ethanol clamp. Cardiovascular function, temperature and hydration measures were recorded throughout the study days. Ethanol did not significantly affect physiologic function, with the exception of a short lasting increase in heart rate. MDMA potently increased heart rate and blood pressure and induced fluid retention as well as an increase in temperature. Co-administration of ethanol with MDMA did not affect cardiovascular function compared to the MDMA alone condition, but attenuated the effects of MDMA on fluid retention and showed a trend for attenuation of MDMA-induced temperature increase. In conclusion, coadministration of ethanol and MDMA did not exacerbate physiologic effects compared to all other drug conditions, and moderated some effects of MDMA alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. 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. 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‰ by an ethanol infusion regime. 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. 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: A considerable percentage of young people expose themselves to 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA or ‘ecstasy’). Alcohol is relatively commonly used in combination with MDMA ( Barrett et al., 2005 ). As a percentage of MDMA users admit to driving under influence ( Riley et al., 2001 ), the assessment of the effects of co-administration of these substances on psychomotor performance is warranted. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that the co-administration of MDMA and ethanol would ameliorate the impairment induced by ethanol alone. Methods: We performed a double-blind, randomized, placebo- controlled study in 16 healthy volunteers (9 male, 7 female) in the age of 18–29 years. MDMA 100 mg was given orally and blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was maintained at 0.6‰ by a three hour 10% alcohol infusion regime (adjustment of infusion rate according to regular sampled breath alcohol concentration). Saccadic and smooth pursuit eye movements, a validated measure of ethanol induced sedation ( van Steveninck et al., 1999 ), were recorded using Nihon Kohden® and Cambridge Electronic Design (CED®) hardware and Spike2® software at 1 : 35 post drug administration. Results were statistically evaluated using GLM in SPSS® 11.5. Results: Results are presented in table 1 . Saccadic peak velocity was increased after MDMA (p=0.000). Co-administration showed significant increase in peak saccadic velocity compared to placebo (p=0.004), although significantly less then the increase as observed after MDMA alone (p=0.003). Smooth pursuit was significantly impaired after ethanol compared to placebo (p=0.000) and MDMA (p=0.000), co-adminstration also impaired score compared to placebo (p=0.000) and MDMA (p=0.000). Conclusions: MDMA induced arousal as measured by the saccadic peak velocity when administered alone and, to a lesser degree, in combination with ethanol. Co-administration of MDMA with ethanol however could not ameliorate the deterioration of psychomotor accuracy by ethanol as measured by smooth pursuit eye movements. These findings suggest that although MDMA might ameliorate ethanol induced sedation it does not ameliorate impaired psychomotor skills. This might give a false sense of improved performance while intoxicated and thus increases risks of for example road accidents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]