Caroline Addison Carvalho Xavier
Professora da Universidade do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte (UERN)
Patrícia Leal Dantas Lobo
Doutoranda em Farmacologia do Curso de Pós-graduação em Farmacologia do Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Mestre em Clínica Odontológica pela UFC.
Marta Maria de França Fonteles
Professora de Farmacologia Aplicada do Departamento de Farmácia da UFC
Silvânia Maria Mendes de Vasconcelos, Glauce Socorro de Barros Viana, Francisca Cléa Florenço de Sousa
Professora de Farmacologia do Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia da Faculdade de Medicina da UFC.
Abstract:
Background: The consumption of the amphetamine derivative 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) by young people increased in the past years. Objectives: To conduct a literature review on the pharmacology of MDMA and particularly with respect to the putative mechanism of action implicated in the acute and long-term toxicity and neurotoxic effects. Methods: A literature reviewusing the key words: 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, ecstasy, neurotoxicity, intoxication, abuse drugs was performed in the databases MEDLINE and LILACS. The search covered all articles published between 1985 and 2007. Results: There were still many unanswered questions regarding the pharmacology of ecstasy and the pathophysiology of its toxic effects. The fundamental mechanism of action is insufficient to explain all effects induced by the drug. The exact mechanism responsible for mediating the toxic effects of MDMA on 5-HT neurons remain to be elucidated. Discussion: There is limited information in published literature about the underlying pharmacology and mechanism of action that could account for the neurotoxic and other phathophysiological effect of MDMA.
Keywords:3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, ecstasy, neurotoxicity, intoxication, drug abuse.