beta-blockers and MDMA
beta-blockers and MDMA
- Title: beta-blockers and MDMA
- Authored by Philippa Gold
- Reviewed by Dr. Ruth Arenas
- beta-blockers and MDMA: At Worlds Best Rehab, we strive to provide the most up-to-date and accurate medical information on the web so our readers can make informed decisions about their healthcare. Our subject matter experts are specialize in addiction treatment and behavioral healthcare. We follow strict guidelines when fact-checking information and only use credible sources when citing statistics and medical information. Look for the badge
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beta-blockers and MDMA
MDMA, full name methylenedioxy-methylamphetamine. Bit of a mouthful so most people just call it MDMA, Ecstasy, Molly, Mum and Dad, X, E, or XTC, Disco Biscuits, Thizz and all the other street names that can leave the uninitiated user a bit confused.
Can you can mix beta-blockers and MDMA?
Before we go on to talk about beta-blockers and MDMA, a disclaimer: The World’s Best Rehab Recovery Blog aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with addiction and mental health concerns. We use fact-based content and publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by professionals. The information we publish is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider.
Honestly, we don’t recommend mixing beta-blockers with MDMA. If you’re using it recreationally why bother? beta-blockers does nothing to enhance the effects of MDMA and can cause serious complications that are really going to put a downer on your evening. Like death for example, which is always a risk when mixing MDMA and beta-blockers.
When mixed with beta-blockers, MDMA can affect the body’s ability to keep the correct temperature. Indeed, this can also be caused by taking MDMA in higher quantities without mixing it with beta-blockers. Users sometimes experience a dangerous rise in body temperature (hyperthermia), which can result in liver, kidney, or heart failure—or even (as we said before) death.
beta-blockers and MDMA interactions
If you’re searching out the interactions between beta-blockers and MDMA do remember that with MDMA there’s actually no way to tell what it’s cut and mixed with. Pure MDMA—meaning there are no other substances in it—is not a safe drug to take. MDMA on its own and even without beta-blockers can have many of the same effects as other stimulants like cocaine and amphetamines. A person using Ecstasy could experience increased heart rate and blood pressure, muscle tension, involuntary teeth clenching, nausea, blurred vision, faintness, and chills or sweating.
Because MDMA isn’t pure you don’t know the interactions with beta-blockers in your body
MDMA is just as likely to be mixed with other substances as any other drug. Supposedly “pure” Molly can contain ephedrine (a stimulant), dextromethorphan (a cough suppressant), ketamine, caffeine, cocaine, methamphetamine, or even bath salts. Just because it comes in crystal or powder form—instead of a pill like Ecstasy—doesn’t prove that it’s pure. WIth this being the case, there’s no way to accurately predict the effect of mixing beta-blockers and MDMA in your body. Indeed, the chemical reactions of MDMA nad beta-blockers in your body could be totally different to someone else taking the exact same amount of beta-blockers and MDMA because of individual physiology.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), a substantial percentage of Molly or Ecstasy contain some level of adulterants in them. So then it’s not just looking at the effects of mixing beta-blockers and Molly. It’s about mixing MDMA and beta-blockers and whatever else gets used as a cutting agent.
Common things used to cut MDMA
- Paramethoxyamphetamine (PMA) or MDEA
- Aspirin
- Caffeine
- Methamphetamine or amphetamine
- Cocaine
- Bath salts, including drugs like mephedrone
- Butylone
- Ketamine
- LSD
Worryingly, the DEA have also reported that “more than 80 different unique substances have been marketed as MDMA. Many drugs sold as Molly or ecstasy contain no MDMA at all.” Which is a worry, anyway you choose to look at it.
beta-blockers and MDMA and Fentanyl
What the above list of cutting agents doesn’t reveal is probably the most harrowing thing to emerge over the past few years. Being the widespread and unreserved use of Fentanyl as a cutting agent for MDMA and other drugs. Now, MDMA is used recreationally by many people. It’s illegal. And most people are informed enough to balance the risk (both of prosecution and to health) of taking MDMA, and mixing MDMA with beta-blockers.
What most people don’t bargain on is getting a massive, deadly dose of Fentanly thinking it’s MDMA. Totally wrong. Unacceptable behavior in the eyes of many, yet seemingly acceptable practice by those involved in the sale and production of MDMA. When we throw Fentanl into the mix with MDMA and then {Fuldrug} the chances of a massive Myocardial infarction… AKA heart attack. And usually death.
Isn’t MDMA Safe? Then surely beta-blockers and MDMA safe too?
No drug is ‘safe’. That’s the nature of drugs! If they can be avoided 100% then great. If not. Make yourself aware of all the facts and interactions between drugs. When it comes to MDMA there has been a fair bit of news recently regarding clinical trials in a medically supervised environment. Psilocybin and MDMA are two of the promising psychedelic medications for mental illness treatment. A recent phase 3 trial of MDMA and talk therapy for individuals suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder offered positive results. However, these are limited medical trials. They are in no way advocating the use of MDMA or of mixing beta-blockers and MDMA.
Mixing drugs is not something to take lightly, if you are taking beta-blockers and are also consuming alcohol or weed, you can research the effects here. The effects of beta-blockers and Weed or the effects of beta-blockers and Alcohol or beta-blockers and Cocaine.
beta-blockers vs MDMA
Beta blockers, also spelled β-blockers, are a class of medications that are predominantly used to manage abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmia), and to protect the heart from a second heart attack after a first heart attack (secondary prevention). They are also widely used to treat high blood pressure, although they are no longer the first choice for initial treatment of most patients.
Beta blockers are competitive antagonists that block the receptor sites for the endogenous catecholamines epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline) on adrenergic beta receptors, of the sympathetic nervous system, which mediates the fight-or-flight response. Some block activation of all types of β-adrenergic receptors and others are selective for one of the three known types of beta receptors, designated β1, β2 and β3 receptors. β1-adrenergic receptors are located mainly in the heart and in the kidneys. β2-adrenergic receptors are located mainly in the lungs, gastrointestinal tract, liver, uterus, vascular smooth muscle, and skeletal muscle. β3-adrenergic receptors are located in fat cells.
MDMA vs beta-blockers
3,4-Methyl
MDMA was first developed in 1912 by Merck. It was used to enhance psychotherapy beginning in the 1970s and became popular as a street drug in the 1980s. MDMA is commonly associated with dance parties, raves, and electronic dance music. Tablets sold as ecstasy may be mixed with other substances such as ephedrine, amphetamine, and methamphetamine. In 2016, about 21 million people between the ages of 15 and 64 used ecstasy (0.3% of the world population). This was broadly similar to the percentage of people who use cocaine or amphetamines, but lower than for cannabis or opioids. In the United States, as of 2017, about 7% of people have used MDMA at some point in their lives and 0.9% have used it in the last year. The lethal risk from one dose of MDMA is estimated to be from 1 death in 20,000 instances to 1 death in 50,000 instances.
Overdose effects of beta-blockers and MDMA
According to the most recent data, about 119,,000 people are treated for problems related to ecstasy and MDMA in emergency rooms in the United States alone. Furthermore, one study found that in 2019, there were 19,458 deaths from psychostimulants including MDMA.
But the answer to the question, “Can you overdose on ecstasy?” is not entirely straightforward. While it is possible to die as a result of ecstasy use, deaths from this drug are not necessarily a direct result of taking too much, but rather due to the side effects. And when mixing beta-blockers and MDMA these side effects may be enhanced rapidly and exponentially.
According to medical experts, direct deaths from MDMA and Ecstasy use are usually down to overheating. The MDMA interferes with the body’s ability to regulate temperature and beta-blockers interferes with this process even further. When people are then in warm environments or dancing, the risk of overheating is higher. The medical term for this is hyperthermia, and with hyperthermia people are at increased isk of:
- Dehydration
- Swelling of the brain
- Muscle breakdown
- Electrolyte imbalances
- Organ failure
beta-blockers and MDMA Emergencies
Many ecstasy “overdoses” are a direct result of additives in the pills themselves, such as Fentanly that we discussed earlier. When MDMA users arrive at a hospital or rehab center physicians and staff will not immediately know what per cent of the pills they’ve ingested was MDMA as opposed to other additives, or indeed what other substances (legal or illegal) have been ingested i.e. beta-blockers and MDMA. This requires blood toxicology examinations and while the results are being waited on, medical professionals will do their best to treat dehydration and overheating1https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3931692/.
Once a patient is stabilized, there is a good chance of a full recovery. That being said, some cases of ecstasy overdose can be fatal, especially when Fentanyl and other highly dangerous cutting agents have been used.
If you have been using MDMA and ecstasy and find that it is difficult to stop, it is likely time to reach out for assistance. Don’t risk an overdose emergency or developing a chronic addiction.
If you take beta-blockers, and also drink Alcohol or MDMA, you can research the effects of beta-blockers and Alcohol as well as beta-blockers and weed and beta-blockers and Cocaine here.
To find the effects of other drugs and weed refer to our Weed and Other Drugs Index A to L or our Weed and Other Drugs Index M-Z.
Or you could find what you are looking for in our Alcohol and Other Drugs index A to L or Alcohol and Other Drugs index M to Z or our MDMA and Other Drugs Index A to L or MDMA and Other Drugs Index M to Z. or Cocaine and Other Drugs Index A to L or Cocaine and Other Drugs Index M to Z.
To find information on Drug rehab and addiction treatment all over the world
If you are looking stop using either MDMA or beta-blockers, you may experience withdrawal symptoms. MDMA withdrawal can be researched here and beta-blockers withdrawal can be found on our Withdrawal index.
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References: beta-blockers and MDMA
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