MDMA for Healthy Volunteers

28 papers and 58 clinical trials exploring mdma as a treatment for healthy volunteers.

Compoundempathogen

MDMA

MDMA is a synthetic empathogen that enhances monoamine release, producing prosocial and anxiolytic effects without frank hallucinosis. Two Phase III trials demonstrated significant PTSD symptom reductions, though FDA review raised concerns about blinding, durability, and safety characterisation.

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IndicationApproximately 300 million people affected by depression worldwide.

Healthy Volunteers

Research involving healthy volunteers has expanded to investigate the therapeutic potentials of various psychedelics for mental health conditions. Recent findings, emphasizing compounds like psilocybin and DMT, illustrate a promising future for psychedelic-assisted therapies.

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Academic Research

28 papers
Open Accessindividual

Acute effects of MDMA, MDA, lysine-MDMA, and lysine-MDA in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial in healthy participants

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover in 23 healthy volunteers, MDA produced longer‑lasting, stronger and more psychedelic‑like subjective and autonomic effects and more adverse reactions than equimolar MDMA. Lys‑MDA acted as a functional slow‑release prodrug that delayed onset and peak effects, whereas Lys‑MDMA did not release MDMA and produced no measurable effects, showing lysine conjugation can alter timing but not necessarily improve tolerability.

Published
Journal
Neuropsychopharmacology
Authors
Avedisian, I., Eckert, A., Erne, L., Liechti, M. E., Luethi, D., Noorshams, D., Rudin, D., Straumann, I., Vizeli, P., Vukalovic, I.
Open Accessindividual

Large-scale brain connectivity changes following the administration of lysergic acid diethylamide, d-amphetamine, and 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine

This double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study in 28 healthy volunteers found that LSD, d‑amphetamine and MDMA all reduced within‑network (integrity) connectivity but produced distinct large‑scale connectivity signatures. LSD uniquely decreased default‑mode network integrity, drove stronger between‑network increases and segregation decreases and increased global connectivity in basal ganglia and thalamus, whereas the amphetamines reduced integrity across more networks and produced both increases and decreases in segregation.

Published
Journal
Molecular Psychiatry
Authors
Avram, M., Borgwardt, S., Coenen, R., Fortea, L., Holze, F., Korda, A., Ley, L., Liechti, M. E., Müller, F., Radua, J., Rogg, H., Vizeli, P., Wollner, L.
Open Accessindividual

Acute effects of R-MDMA, S-MDMA, and racemic MDMA in a randomized double-blind cross-over trial in healthy participants

In a randomized double-blind crossover in 24 healthy participants, S‑MDMA (125 mg) produced stronger stimulant-like subjective and cardiovascular effects and greater increases in prolactin, cortisol and oxytocin than R‑MDMA (125 and 250 mg) and racemic MDMA (125 mg), while R‑MDMA did not elicit more psychedelic-like effects. Pharmacokinetic data showed much longer elimination half-lives for R‑MDMA and evidence of CYP2D6 inhibition, suggesting the differences reflect potency and dosing rather than qualitatively distinct acute effects.

Published
Journal
Neuropsychopharmacology
Authors
Avedisian, I., Eckert, A., Klaiber, A., Liechti, M. E., Luethi, D., Rudin, D., Straumann, I., Varghese, N.
Open Accessindividual

Acute psychotropic, autonomic, and endocrine effects of 5,6-methylenedioxy-2-aminoindane (MDAI) compared with 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in human volunteers: A self-administration study

In a non‑blinded study of six healthy volunteers, 5,6‑methylenedioxy‑2‑aminoindane (MDAI) produced subjective effects comparable with 125 mg MDMA and raised blood pressure and endocrine markers (cortisol, prolactin) but, unlike MDMA, did not increase heart rate or body temperature. MDAI was well tolerated and remained detectable in serum and urine for several days, warranting further clinical investigation of potential medicinal properties.

Published
Journal
Drug Testing and Analysis
Authors
Angerer, V., Auwärter, V., Brandt, S. D., Buchwald, A., Franz, F., Gnann, A., Gnann, H., Helmecke, S., Liechti, M. E., Passie, T., Schmid, Y., Speer, J. M.

Clinical Trials

58 trials

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