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The Empty
Side of Ecstasy
Even during a "good" trip, Ecstasy can make users:
 Feel their heart pounding,
Feel nauseated, perhaps even making them
throw up (how's that for making a great impression at a party?).
Become over stimulated, jumpy and panicky.
Their arms and legs may stiffen; it's also
common for users to clench their jaws and grind their teeth.
They can start to hallucinate.
They get too hot; they lose salt from
sweating and their energy is sapped. They become dehydrated, which can lead to
heatstroke. The DEA reports
that recent
Ecstasy-related deaths were associated with core body temperatures ranging from
107 to 109 degrees Fahrenheit.
Their memory may suddenly go. They become
uncoordinated and clumsy.
As the effects wear off, they feel lifeless and their mood sinks. They
may feel panicky,
depressed and paranoid.
All that from
a so-called "good trip". The real downside to Ecstasy:
Brain
swelling
Because you're so hot, you may drink too much water too quickly. This can cause
the brain to swell, leading to unconsciousness and rapid death (within 12
hours).
Bad trip
The rush of brain chemicals can trigger nightmare hallucinations. If you ever
take ecstasy again, they can come back. You may feel you've got superhuman
powers and overestimate your ability to do dangerous things, such as leaping
from a great height.
Brain damage
Ecstasy can interrupt blood flow to the brain and cause a stroke (yes, even in
young people), resulting in paralysis, dementia (loss of memory and the ability
to think clearly) and Parkinson's disease (when the body shakes and twitches
uncontrollably).
Liver and kidney failure
If you're susceptible, one pill can cause fatal kidney and liver failure.
There's no way of predicting whether or not this is likely until it's too late.
Sledging: Life-threatening condition
A serious side effect, sometimes called sledging, can come on if you mix ecstasy
with any other drug. It can happen the first time you take a tablet if you're
susceptible. You feel freezing cold and shiver violently, you feel like you're
going to die - and you might. You can't talk or move. You feel as though you're
drifting into a sleep - from which you may never wake up.
Coming down from Ecstasy is no
fun, either. After two or three hours, the high starts to wear off.
Some users will pop another pill (stacking), hoping to get back to the initial
euphoria. Stacking is very dangerous. The body can't get rid of the drug
fast enough; the effects accelerate and are uncontrollable.
A user's
cheerful mood will start
to disappear on Day 2. By Day 3, he'll be feeling very low and irritable.
Day 4 is no better. Only on Day 5 will he begin to recover his
equilibrium.
Of course, if he hasn't had enough sleep then this comedown will be worse.
Many users have said the hangover
following an Ecstasy high is ten times worse than one from alcohol.
For some users, the low they experience after taking Ecstasy is only relieved by
repeating the cycle at the weekend, which means they're continually under the
influence of E even if they only take it on Friday or Saturday night.
Ecstasy Home
Long Term Danger
What to Watch For
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