What is the effect with alcohol?
The so-called mixed consumption of alcohol and ecstasy is very common, but represents an additional health risk. Individually, both substances are already strenuous enough for the body. Both alcohol and ecstasy consumption causes the liver and kidneys to work at full capacity.
They break down the substances in the body and ensure that we do not immediately suffer permanent damage from consumption. Alcohol, which withdraws water from the body, leads to an increased urge to urinate. Ecstasy increases the body temperature on the one hand, and on the other hand the urge to move leads to increased sweating.
The side effects of alcohol and Ecstasy therefore cause dehydration of the body and possibly overheating. These two symptoms can lead to circulatory collapse, organ failure and in severe cases to comatose states or even death. Alcohol and ecstasy also influence each other: under the influence of MDMA the effects of alcohol are less noticeable, which increases the risk of alcohol poisoning. On the other hand, a state of excessive alcoholisation reduces the subjective effect of Ecstasy and attenuates the effects.
Can the effect be enhanced?
Enhancing the effects of ecstasy is not a good idea. Especially inexperienced users can quickly overdose with all the associated side effects. Using more and more Ecstasy in one evening makes little sense.
The initial “kick” in using MDMA is usually only achieved when taking it for the first time. Also the memory of the neurotransmitters, which are released by the consumption, empties itself in the course of the consumption and must recover only over some time. Therefore, if the effect is to be constant, breaks in consumption over several weeks must be observed.
The effects of ecstasy can also be enhanced by interaction with various other substances. However, this is strongly discouraged, because it can cause various physical and psychological damage. If, for example, cannabis is additionally consumed during drug intoxication, the specific effect of MDMA is sometimes enhanced.
The disadvantage is the strain on the cardiovascular system, which increases with mixed use. Another important class of substances is the MAO-inhibitors (monoamine oxidase inhibitors). These have an inhibitory effect on an enzyme that is responsible for the breakdown of neurotransmitters.
This increases the effect many times over. They are the active ingredient in various antidepressants. Patients, who are adjusted to such a medicine, must urgently omit the consumption of Ecstasy.
There is an acute danger, since it can lead to a serotonin syndrome. This can lead to various symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, seizures, loss of consciousness or delirium. There is also the risk that the patient will fall into a coma. The scene trick to increase the ecstasy effect by drinking grapefruit juice is based on the influence of the MDMA metabolism. Certain compounds in the juice inhibit enzymes in the body that are responsible for breaking down ecstasy, which can increase the duration and intensity of the effect.