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Ecstasy is the 'key to treating PTSD'

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An Ecstasy tablet. That’s what it took to make Donna Kilgore feel alive again – that and the doctor who prescribed it. As the pill began to take effect, she giggled for the first time in ages. She felt warm and fuzzy, as if she was floating. The anxiety melted away. Gradually, it all became clear: the guilt, the anger, the shame.

Before, she’d been frozen, unable to feel anything but fear for 10 years. Touching her own arms was, she says, “like touching a corpse”. She was terrified, unable to respond to her loving husband or rock her baby to sleep. She couldn’t drive over bridges for fear of dying, was by turns uncontrollably angry and paralysed with numbness. When she spoke, she heard her voice as if it were miles away; her head felt detached from her body. “It was like living in a movie but watching myself through the camera lens,” she says. “I wasn’t real.”

Unknowingly, Donna, now 39, had post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). And she would become the first subject in a pioneering American research programme to test the effects of MDMA – otherwise known as the dancefloor drug Ecstasy – on PTSD sufferers.

Credit: TimesOnline.co.uk
Purdey

27 responses // Ecstasy is the 'key to treating PTSD'

  • Oh My God I now have a reason to join the military. I'd be willing to do a few tours if it meant I could do Vitamin E legally.
    alicynx
  • I'm not sure that I would swap my mental health for post-traumatic stress disorder and a prescription for e. But I do think this is an interesting approach and wonder if it will gain much momentum. MDMA was used as a therapeutic drug in the past. I'd say give it another chance. Just because a drug becomes a popular recreational drug shouldn't override its potential to help so many people who are suffering.
    abbym0308
  • Well abbym0308 with the rising costs of prescriptions in the UK my limited knowledge tells me it may be cheaper to stick to your current source as your doctor is not going to give you a bottle of 30 and let you go about your business, perhaps in a very messy manner.

    I agree that just because a minority of the community abuse the drug for recreational purposes the establishment should not allow the stigma to prevent it providing legitimate treatment for those that could benefit.
    Purdey
  • http://current.com/items/76348642_elliott_s_war
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    Christof Putzel and Lauren Cerre did a typically fantastic story on Michael Elliott, a former Marine who came home to Montana from the Iraq war struggling with PTSD.
    Tori
  • I like this article but I still have one problem with it. As the article briefly states,

    “ A lot of Ecstasy pills aren’t MDMA at all. They may be amphetamines, or unknown pharmaceuticals, or they can be cut with almost any drug in pill or powder form. That’s when you magnify risks associated with taking a drug that’s already toxic. Plus, people use it irresponsibly, mixing it with other drugs”

    Ecstasy is not MDMA at all. If you confuse the two you’re going to damage your credibility. Maybe the Times figured “Ecstasy is the key to treating PTSD” looked more appealing than “MDMA is the key to treating PTSD.”

    When I actually think about it I almost want to cry conspiracy. How can anyone confuse a sole drug with a mild emotional affect with a concoction of heavy stimulants that kills people?
    Ricky84
  • Im iffy on this one, i cant really say which way my views lean towards, but its good that this drug can make someone feel normal in a way, i guess.
    dmass5
  • wow that is a real life saver i plan on going in to the service after my last year of high school and in case i get PTSD ill know what to do
    sweetblood117
  • http://www.amazon.com/Storming-Heaven-LSD-American-Drea...
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    I believe that MDMA used to be used in psychotherapy with very positive results before it became an illegal drug.

    Same goes for LSD, actually. There were some amazing results in treating alcoholism in Canada with it.

    Storming Heaven is an fascinating read about the history of LSD. I highly recommend it.
    ac
    • ac
    • 2 months ago
  • Stands to reason. How many stressed and traumatized ravers do you know? Those jokers seem giddy as a mug!
    96thdayofrage
  • This is great news! I wish her all the best. The key to recovery from PTSD I would imagine, would be not just controlled use of MDMA, but also consistent therapy like cognitive-behavioral therapy to process the feelings of peace and well-being that you get from Ecstasy and transfer them to your real life off the drug. Wow.

    I wish everyone could try MDMA in a controlled environment, at least once before they die. It's amazing.
    Julie_Soller
  • word.
    jason_knight
  • watch this comment being used here and here
    THis is great... But how many people have actually responded to this type of treatment?
    CFriedman
  • I agree with using MDMA to treat those suffering from PTSD. If you consider the fact that about 1 in every 4 soldiers returning form war suffer from this disorder, this could be very useful even if treatment only worked for lets say 50% of those treated. Assuming of course that it is legit MDMA and not the street "ecstasy" which is usually cut with other sometimes mystery substances for profit.
    But of course, all major pharmaceutical corporations are doing everything in their power to stop this. They would prefer to continue marketing and producing their own "remedies" to depression and PTSD. Drugs such as Xanex, Prozac, Vicodin, Roxy Codone are their answer. These are pills that those prescribed have to take on a daily basis in accordance with the prescription. These are drugs that in this new millenium are responsible for the Pharmaceutical Drug Abuse Epidemic going on in every suburban and rural area across this country. And do you think the Pharmaceutical companies know this, of course they do. They dont care. They know that in order to treat PTSD with MDMA under close surveilance of a Therapist, treatments only last 2-3 days in succession and sessions are scheduled no closer than six months apart due to the high effectiveness of treatment. Because MDMA is not a pill you take every day, it will never be allowed to shine for the wonderful and beneficial psychoactive drug that it is!
    braxtonexpression
  • It's like a serotonin jumpstart to the brain! Makes sense.
    ILiveonaClock
  • ecstasy does have mdma, its the key ingredient, but it is usually comprised of that and cocaine, or heroin, or mescaline (if you're lucky), anything else and you've got bad stuff on your hands. In my opinion, you're better off with Mali which is mdma in it's pure form (very expensive).
    pirho338
  • Interesting. I read in Discover magazine that they might be doing this, but I didn't think it would be taking effect so quickly.
    Dmitri_Molotov
  • Pirho I realized that but its still ridiculous to say MDMA and ecstasy are the same thing. They make the distinction in the article but they fail to correct their incorrect title. I just assumed the Times was smarter than that.
    Ricky84
  • Wow, who would have guessed this would have a method to treat such a traumatic disorder?
    aaronklong
  • watch this comment being used here, here, here, here, here, and here
    just like marijuana mdma was stifled by big corporations who knew that their profits would drop significantly, mainly alcohol tobacco and firearms
    cheakywillie
  • right on Ricky84 - there definately is a big difference- plus how can u be sure that what you are getting is Mali ? > the taste?
    tealanchor
  • I think this is great for this drug to be able to try and make a comeback. I do believe it has advantages and could be beneficial if used in the right way. The problem with ecstacy is that we have too many people with the knoweledge, know-how, and capability of mass producing this drug and who knows what's in it!?? A friend of mine is now paralyzed on his left side becuase he used some "x" that was laced with GHB. So, we definitely needs to have some guidelines and regulations on this drug.
    pinkpoet83
  • I really resent this statement in the article:

    "Could MDMA – the illegal class-A rave drug, found in the system of Leah Betts when she died in 1995, and over 200 others since – really help?"

    It makes it sound like MDMA is what killed them. When, in fact it was due to overheating because of dehydration or being mixed with other drugs. MDMA is a relatively safe drug by itself and when taken properly.
    lapedro
  • i've never tried ecstasy, but i did always argue with my psychology teacher about its amazing therapeutic potential. as with many other illegal drugs with the proper research & dosages ecstasy could have a wonderful impact on our prozac nation.
    blackdaylight
  • The same bureaucracy that said Lsd puts holes in your brain say the same about MDMA. The dea is full of shit and should be abolished. There lame conclusion or (delusion) is that it holds no medcal value and the risk is to high for abuse. Well Tv has a high abuse value but it is legal and can lead to kids having addhd from there parents using it as virtual babysitter. The gov has used LSD and MDMA as well as other drugs on people and when they had blowback like results they outlaw them. I thought this was a free country. lol. If LSD put holes in your brain than its inventer who died just recently Albert Hoffman must have had swiss cheese. The gov needs to get the F out of the way of research for medical reasons and the corrupt dea and fda need to be held in gitmo for reasonable suspicion of medical terrorism and a war on the american people
    sperritt
  • yummy in my tummy
    Wessagusset_Oracle
  • mdma does put holes in your brain with prolonged use, and yes ecstacy is cut with other things as I said, but with out the mdma its just speed, mdma is the key ingredient. pinkpoet-thats very unnerving, I've never heard of a case like that (paralysis). tealanchor-you're right you really can't be sure, just be careful who you score from I guess, my rule of thumb is to only buy from someone who uses their own product-a tried and true method at festies.
    pirho338
  • I HAD THIS STORY 1ST ON MAY 7TH, 8 DAYS BEFORE THIS ONE WAS POSTED. I'M NOT BITTER, JUST STATING A FACT. CHECK OUT MY POST:

    http://current.com/items/88937341_ecstasy_is_the_key_to...
    Wessagusset_Oracle
  • MDMA is a good drug, used correctly it can help people. More research needs to be done on it but unfortunately that will never happen.
    TKerger96

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