Ecstasy for PTSD?

[bigtree]

March 04, 2009

'Party' Drug Could be PTSD Treatment


If you discovered it in your kid’s room there’d be hell to pay. If it appeared in a random urinalysis, it could end your career. And if you told your friends you were considering taking it, they might think you’ve suffered a mid-life crisis.

But a South Carolina psychiatrist and a Harvard-educated researcher are looking for veterans who’ve been through hell and are willing to explore a fresh way of getting past the trauma using a drug long associated with the late-night party crowd.

Ecstasy, clinically known as MDMA and outlawed recreationally for decades, is making a gradual comeback in the medical community as therapists rediscover its therapeutic value – especially in dealing with post traumatic stress disorder.

“I heard about it and I decided to give it a try,” said a former Army Ranger who was one of two veterans who participated in a recent study on the effects of Ecstasy for treating PTSD. “It’s an extremely positive thing. I feel so lucky that I got to take part in the project.

“It’s basically like years of therapy in two or three hours. You can’t understand it until you’ve experienced it.”

more: http://www.military.com/news/article/party-drug-could-be-ptsd-treatment.html?col=1186032310810


(I've never tried it :shrug:)

[B3Nut]

1. "The Army's on Ecstacy, so they say

I read all about it in USA Today
They stepped up urine testing to make it go away
'Cause it's hard to kill the enemy on ol' MDMA..."

This headline gave me an Oysterhead flashback... :D

Kudos if they can get this treatment to work. It would be a great tool for physicians and psychiatrists.

Todd in Cheesecurdistan

[saltpoint]

2. I don't really understand the biochemical jibber-jabber very well and will

leave that to the scientist folks but if this stuff helps people who've been traumatized to feel better and to navigate the world more effectively, then hell, let's give it a try.

[rocktivity]

3. Speaking of mid-life estacy crises

I saw a documentary about a 33-year old Ecstasy accident hitting all the rave clubs with his 13-year old son. Wonder how he ended up with sole custody.

I had a friend who worked at a rock club. She said that when the cops came around handing out information about the dangers of Ecstasy, her boss told them, "This is a rock club. We don't play the kind of music that REQUIRES that you be drugged!"

:rofl:
rocktivity

[blogslut]

4. That stuff branged on teh mellow

I imagine it probably could be used to treat PTSD. Just the same, I was in the mix when X hit the scene and the long-term effects I saw in my peers was not good. They all became zombies. So, I would hope the treatments would be aimed at getting patients off the drug eventually.

[rolltideroll]

5. Acid is the same way

Truthfully, we just do not know about the effects of MDMA. Not as bad as originally thought, it does inhibit Serotonin levels. However, it also activates the dopamine centers of your brain, and for INITIAL Serotonin release., it seems far preferable to SSRI's which take weeks to reach an effective dose. I would be interested to see if this initial bust is sufficient to overcome the catatonia and flat effects of PTSD. I t seems to also have an effect on hyper awareness.

[tekisui]

6. In controlled therapy sessions, it could be very effective.

It has an amazing ability for the user to cut through all of the bullshit, and love themselves and others, without judgment. It really is amazing in that regard.

They would be able to see and understand their worth, without risk of feeling harmful emotions from what they have experienced.

But, like any drug, it has negative effects if abused.