The purpose of this study is to determinate the effect of a pre-treatment with bupropion, a dopamine and norepinephrine transporter inhibitor, on the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, “Ecstasy”). The study will provide further understanding of the dopaminergic regulation of mood.
Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover in 16 healthy volunteers testing the effect of bupropion pre-treatment on acute physiological and subjective responses to MDMA.
Bupropion XR given for 7 days (150 mg x3 days, then 300 mg x4 days) with a single 300 mg dose 2 hours before MDMA 125 mg or placebo; outcomes include repeated subjective measures, cardiovascular responses, and MDMA pharmacokinetics.
Randomised, double-blind, within-subject crossover with four treatment conditions (placebo-placebo; bupropion-placebo; placebo-MDMA; bupropion-MDMA).
MDMA 125 mg per os.
Bupropion XR: 150 mg qd x3 then 300 mg qd x4; 300 mg given 2 h before MDMA/placebo on test day.
Placebo capsules matching MDMA or bupropion.