|
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.
About
Ecstasy
The Empty Side of
Ecstasy - The Effects of Use
The Long Term Dangers
What to Watch For
- Signs and Symptoms of Use
|
