mdma mdma 3,4-methyl​enedioxy​methamphetamine (mdma), commonly known as ecstasy (tablet form); and molly or mandy (crystal form), is a potent empathogen–entactogen with stimulant properties primarily used for recreational purposes. the beneficial pharmacological effects include altered sensations, increased energy, empathy, and pleasure. when taken by mouth, effects begin in 30 to 45 minutes and last three to six hours. not to be confused with mda, edma or 2,3-mdma. mdmainn: midomafetamineclinical datapronunciationmethylenedioxy­methamphetamine:/ˌmɛθɪliːndaɪˈɒksi//ˌmɛθæmˈfɛtəmiːn/ other names3,4-mdma; ecstasy (e, x, xtc); molly; mandy; pingers/pingasahfs/drugs.commdmadependenceliabilityphysical: not typicalpsychological: moderateaddictionliabilitylow–moderateroutes ofadministrationcommon: by mouth uncommon: snorting, inhalation (vaporization), injection, rectaldrug classempathogen–entactogen stimulantatc codenonelegal statuslegal status au: s9 (prohibited substance) br: class f (prohibited substances) ca: schedule i de: anlage i (authorized scientific use only) nz: class b uk: class a us: schedule i un: psychotropic schedule i pharmacokinetic databioavailabilityoral: unknownmetabolismliver, cyp450 extensively involved, including cyp2d6metabolitesmda, hmma, hma, dha, mdp2p, mdohonset of action30–45 minutes (by mouth)elimination half-life(r)-mdma: 5.8 ± 2.2 hours (variable)(s)-mdma: 3.6 ± 0.9 hours (variable)duration of action4–6 hoursexcretionkidneyidentifiers iupac name (rs)-1-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-n-methylpropan-2-amine cas number42542-10-9 ypubchem cid1615iuphar/bps4574drugbankdb01454 ychemspider1556 yuniike1sen21rmkeggd11172 ychebichebi:1391 ychemblchembl43048 ypdb ligandb41 (pdbe, rcsb pdb)comptox dashboard (epa)dtxsid90860791 chemical and physical dataformulac11h15no2molar mass193.246 g·mol−13d model (jsmol)interactive imagechiralityracemic mixtureboiling point105 °c (221 °f) at 0.4 mmhg (experimental) smiles cc(nc)cc1=cc=c(oco2)c2=c1 inchi inchi=1s/c11h15no2/c1-8(12-2)5-9-3-4-10-11(6-9)14-7-13-10/h3-4,6,8,12h,5,7h2,1-2h3 ykey:shxwcvyoxrdmcx-uhfffaoysa-n y (verify) mdma was first developed in 1912 by merck. it was used to enhance psychotherapy beginning in the 1970s and became popular as a street drug in the 1980s. mdma is commonly associated with dance parties, raves, and electronic dance music. tablets sold as ecstasy may be mixed with other substances such as ephedrine, amphetamine, and methamphetamine. in 2016, about 21 million people between the ages of 15 and 64 used ecstasy (0.3% of the world population). this was broadly similar to the percentage of people who use cocaine or amphetamines, but lower than for cannabis or opioids. in the united states, as of 2017, about 7% of people have used mdma at some point in their lives and 0.9% have used it in the last year. the lethal risk from one dose of mdma is estimated to be from 1 death in 20,000 instances to 1 death in 50,000 instances. short-term adverse effects include grinding of the teeth, blurred vision, sweating and a rapid heartbeat, and extended use can also lead to addiction, memory problems, paranoia and difficulty sleeping. deaths have been reported due to increased body temperature and dehydration. following use, people often feel depressed and tired, although this effect does not appear in clinical use, suggesting that it is not a direct result of mdma administration. mdma acts primarily by increasing the release of the neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline in parts of the brain. it belongs to the substituted amphetamine classes of drugs. mdma is structurally similar to mescaline (a hallucinogen), methamphetamine (a stimulant), as well as endogenous monoamine neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. mdma is illegal in most countries and has limited approved medical uses in a small number of countries. in the united states, the food and drug administration is currently evaluating the drug for clinical use. canada has allowed limited distribution of mdma and other psychedelics such as psilocybin upon application to and approval by health canada. effects in general, mdma users report feeling the onset of subjective effects within 30 to 60 minutes of oral consumption and reaching peak effect at 75 to 120 minutes, which then plateaus for about 3.5 hours. the desired short-term psychoactive effects of mdma have been reported to include: euphoria – a sense of general well-being and happiness increased self-confidence, sociability, and perception of facilitated communication entactogenic effects—increased empathy or feelings of closeness with others and oneself dilated pupils relaxation and reduced anxiety increased emotionality a sense of inner peace mild hallucination enhanced sensation, perception, or sexuality altered sense of time the experience elicited by mdma depends on the dose, setting, and user. the variability of the induced altered state is lower compared to other psychedelics. for example, mdma used at parties is associated with high motor activity, reduced sense of identity, and poor awareness of surroundings. use of mdma individually or in small groups in a quiet environment and when concentrating, is associated with increased lucidity, concentration, sensitivity to aesthetic aspects of the environment, enhanced awareness of emotions, and improved capability of communication. in psychotherapeutic settings, mdma effects have been characterized by infantile ideas, mood lability, and memories and moods connected with childhood experiences. mdma has been described as an "empathogenic" drug because of its empathy-producing effects. results of several studies show the effects of increased empathy with others. when testing mdma for medium and high doses, it showed increased hedonic and arousal continuum. the effect of mdma increasing sociability is consistent, while its effects on empathy have been more mixed. use recreational mdma is often considered the drug of choice within the rave culture and is also used at clubs, festivals, and house parties. in the rave environment, the sensory effects of music and lighting are often highly synergistic with the drug. the psychedelic amphetamine quality of mdma offers multiple appealing aspects to users in the rave setting. some users enjoy the feeling of mass communion from the inhibition-reducing effects of the drug, while others use it as party fuel because of the drug's stimulatory effects. mdma is used less often than other stimulants, typically less than once per week. mdma is sometimes taken in conjunction with other psychoactive drugs such as lsd, psilocybin mushrooms, 2c-b, and ketamine. the combination with lsd is called "candy-flipping". mdma is often co-administered with alcohol, methamphetamine, and prescription drugs such as ssris with which mdma has several drug-drug interactions. three life-threatening reports of mdma co-administration with ritonavir have been reported. medical