MDMA produces intense feelings of pleasure, empathy, warmth, and happiness. It also increases sensitivity to music, makes people more emotionally open, and has a stimulating, speedy physical effect.

When ecstasy is swallowed, the full effect is usually felt within one hour. It starts with tingling and little rushes of exhilaration. Some people may experience nausea or dizziness while coming up but it quickly passes.

The effect builds quickly, coming on in waves within the first two hours, strengthening with each pass. A lightness of mood and relaxation gives way to waves of physical pleasure, euphoria, openness and empathy to others around you. The awareness of touch is strongly heightened. The muscles relax.

The peak arrives and then the effects last 4-6 hours, with a gradual tapering come-down in the last two.

Jaw clenching and "clamping" is a common side-effect of E and many people get relief by chewing on dummies or gum, smoking cigarettes or sucking lollies.

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in the brain
E causes serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine or 5-HT) and dopamine to flood the brain. Both are neurotransmitters which influence the flow of information throughout the brain. Changing the balance between the two changes your mood. E gives you a glow of well-being, happiness, empathy, euphoria, increases your sensitivity to rhythmic music, and makes you want to dance.

The latest studies show that Ecstasy use can impair the serotonin system and memory performance. Please see our guide - Can Ecstasy Impair Your Memory? - plus safe dancing tips on how to protect yourself.

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comedown

On come-down, you may feel physically and emotionally drained. Without the artificial stimulation of E, the body and mind can suffer from exhaustion and anxiety.

It's very important to have somewhere warm and comfortable to go back to, preferably stocked with refreshments, and gentle 'chill' music. General health and regularity of use play a very large part in the harshness of the after-effects.

Ecstasy is rapidly broken down by the liver but about 60% enters the urine unchanged. The urine could be drunk to recycle it, in the same way that Siberian tribesmen drink each other's urine after eating magic mushrooms. This is known in most circles as 'desperate'.

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days after
The first day or two after taking E, senses are a little blunted, but a general sense of contentment can result in 'Happy Mondays.' E temporarily depletes serotonin for several days, which can prompt mood swings or mild depression.

Wednesday is usually the bleakest day before moods stabilise again. Often, weekly users do not regain neurochemical balance before they dose again. Permanently fluctuating moods can be a symptom of over-use.

Some users take the food supplement 5-HTP, a chemical precursor of serotonin (available from most health food shops), during, and after an E experience. It can help rebalance moods, as can tryptophyan-heavy foods such as bananas, milk, apples, turkey, chicken, yoghurt and chocolate.