How Long Does MDMA Stay in Your System
What is MDMA?
MDMA is an acronym of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine. MDMA is an unauthorized drug, which abused for its stimulant, psychedelic and energizing effect. The abuser’s experience time distortion and perception become misinterpreted with enhancing the feeling of enjoyment.
The route of administration is oral with different available formulations such as tablet or capsule. The effect sustained for approximately 3 to 6 hours. Each oral formulation contains 60mg to 120mg of MDMA.
The maximum two tablets can take at a time. Users can take one dose at a time and when the effect become fade, the second dose can again consume. [1]
Effects of MDMA
The effect of MDMA is occurred as it affects the brain directly. The mechanism of action can be explained as MDMA alters the activity of neurotransmitters.
The neurotransmitters act as chemical messengers and assists in communication between nerve tissues. an animal study showed that moderate to high dose of MDMA can damage serotonin-containing nerve tissues.
In addition, MDMA also increases body temperature. Rarely but most dangerous effect of MDMA provides serious clinical consequences and even death.
MDMA also responsible for releasing of norepinephrine neurotransmitter and provides increased heart rate and blood pressure. [1]
Factors Affecting Duration of MDMA Lodging in the Body
The different factors involve in lasting the effect of MDMA depends on upon an individual who intakes the MDMA. The included factors are:
- Metabolic rate in specific individual’s physiological system
- Adiposity or muscle mass
- BMI
- Age
- Water content in the body
- Physical activity
- Individual’s health conditions
- Leading lifestyle [2]
The time duration for MDMA staying in the body differ from one test to other. Some test result showed early elimination from the body, whereas other provides long duration of staying property of MDMA. The following are different tests performed to estimate the time duration of MDMA found in the body.
Urine test & detecting time period for MDMA stay in system
In a urine test, MDMA is measurable for 2-5 days.
Blood test & detecting time period for MDMA stay in system
In a blood test, MDMA is measurable up to 1 day or 24 hours.
Saliva test & detecting time period for MDMA stay in system
In saliva test, MDMA is measurable up to 1 day to 5days.
Hair test & detecting time period for MDMA stay in system
In hair test, MDMA is measurable up to 90 days or 3 months.[2,3,4]
Accumulation of MDMA in the System
The intense effect of MDMA generally ends in between 3-5 hours, but if we calculate the half-life of MDMA, it comes around 8-9 hours.
Users take another dose before washout the first dose of the MDMA to continue the effect, as the before eliminating the major amount of drug surplus amount is added in the system.
After 3 -5 hours the recreational effect of MDMA become fade, but the side effects like palpitation, difficulty in concentrate can last up to 24 hours of each dose consumption. [3,4]
Driving is strictly restricted even after using a single dose (56 mg) MDMA, as it causes severe attention difficulty and causes accidental event.
Zero tolerance laws are applied in many states to restrict the driver to drive after taking MDMA. In the following states, if any trace of the drug is detectable in any test during driving is chargeable for impaired driving. [5]
References
- MDMA (Ecstasy) Abuse; National Institute on Drug Abuse; Retrieve from: https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/mdma-ecstasy-abuse/what-mdma
- Always Test Clean. “What Are Drug Detection Times?” Drug Test Facts Accessed June 2015
- American Association for Clinical Chemistry “Drugs of Abuse Testing.” Lab Tests Online. Revised 2 January 2013.
- LabCorp, Inc. “Drugs of Abuse Reference Guide.” Accessed March 2013.
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, Ecstasy).” Drugs and Human Performance Fact Sheets Accessed July 2015