What are the effects of MDMA (ecstasy) use?
— Brian, John Muir College
Ecstasy increases the release of dopamine and serotonin in the brain, resulting in damage to brain function that cannot be repaired. In addition to the brain effects, MDMA causes body functions to over-work.
The presence of high levels of dopamine in the brain as a result of ecstasy use produce symptoms associated with heart attacks. MDMA users will often experience a racing heartbeat and abnormally high blood pressure. These symptoms are magnified by a rise in body temperature from high-energy dancing and crowded environments.
High amounts of serotonin severely interfere with the kidney’s ability to excrete urine. The tendency of users to drink large amounts of water, combined with excessive sweating, generates an imbalance of the body’s electrolytes. The likely consequence is kidney failure and/or heart failure.
Any damage to the brain is due to excessive dopamine and serotonin in the brain. Serotonin allows the brain to regulate sleep, mood and memory. Once released, dopamine destroys the serotonin. Consistent MDMA users destroy the brain’s ability to make serotonin, resulting in severe sleep disturbances, panic attacks, depression and limits to memory function. These effects are permanent.
I hate the yeast infections I get when I take some antibiotics; how can I avoid getting them?
— Tanya, Earl Warren College
To avoid the bacterial infections associated with antibiotics — Levaquin, Cipro, Zithromax, Tetracycline, and Doxycycline — additional antifungal therapy should be included.
Two preventative measures that can be taken are adding half a cup yogurt to your daily diet, or take lactobacillus tablets (Lactinex).
It is important to remember that if you choose to eat yogurt daily, you must separate the antibiotic dose by one hour prior to or two hours after dairy intake because the calcium interferes with the effectiveness of the antibiotic.
Lactobacillus tablets are available without a prescription, usually from a pharmacist, and the recommended dosage is two tablets, two to four times daily. They do not interfere with antibiotic effectiveness because they do not contain calcium.
