Originally appeared at: http://www.treatmentsolutionsnetwork.com/blog/index.php/2010/08/02/using-ecstasy-to-treat-ptsd/ Many of the illicit drugs in our world today originally came about for medicinal uses. Most of the other drugs people abuse are current medications that are strictly regulated. Sometimes the line is even blurred between necessary medical use and the abuse of a drug. Occasionally, a drug will begin as an illicit drug and then be found to be effective in treating some mental or physical condition. Ecstasy, though its origin is not completely clear, has certainly been an illicit drug for many years, and just recently has been found to have some positive uses. For years, Ecstasy (also known as MDMA) has been known as the most popular “club drug”, as many people abuse it at parties, raves, and bars. It has the ability to let the user be more uninhibited – “perfect” for someone wanting to dance the night away, socialize, and get to know new people. But Ecstasy is illegal and many people have gotten sick or died because they took it. It is illegal, and rightfully so. Possible Benefits of Ecstasy Researchers are now looking into the benefits of treating psychotherapy patients, particularly those with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), with Ecstasy. PTSD is an anxiety disorder that occurs after an individual has experienced or witnessed great trauma or disaster. People with PTSD continue to have frightening memories of the event and experience insomnia and trouble connecting to loved ones. It has affected millions of veterans, police, fire, and rescue workers, all of whom face traumatic situations on a daily basis. The Ecstasy study, conducted by Dr. Michael Mithoefer, a psychiatrist from South Carolina, looked at 20 patients with PTSD. These were patients who had not responded to previous treatment with antidepressants and psychotherapy. Once treated with MDMA, many of the subjects in the study found they were able to talk more openly about their experiences during therapy. This kind of psychotherapy, where patients process the traumatic event with therapists, is the most effective treatment for PTSD. But if the individual is too overwhelmed by their anxieties and fears, they can’t effectively talk about the event. According to researchers, Ecstasy helps the patients relax, and “temporarily decreases fear, without blunting emotions”. Treatment with Ecstasy was successful in 80% of cases that hadn’t responded to previous therapy. Of course, more work needs to be done with studies like this to determine whether or not Ecstasy is really effective for these psychotherapy sessions. There are also concerns about the safety of Ecstasy because it causes increased blood pressure, nausea, chills, and sweating, among other things. But if used only in a therapeutic setting with careful monitoring, the negative side effects of Ecstasy can be managed or eliminated, and it can maybe help these patients work through their fears and anxieties. Sources Post Traumatice Stress Disorder Is Ecstasy the Answer for Veterans With PTSD? Researchers Use Ecstasy to Treat PTSD The origin of MDMA This story begins, “Many of the illicit drugs in our world today originally came about for medicinal uses. Most of the other drugs people abuse are current medications that are strictly regulated. Sometimes the line is even blurred between necessary medical use and the abuse of a drug. Occasionally, a drug will begin as an illicit drug and then be found to be effective in treating some mental or physical condition. Ecstasy, though its origin is not completely clear, has certainly been an illicit drug for many years, and just recently has been found to have some positive uses.”