MDA

MDA
Chemical Nomenclature
Common names	MDA
Substitutive name	Tenamfetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxy-amphetamine, Methylenedioxyamphetamine
Systematic name	(R) 1-(benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-yl)propan-2-amine
Class Membership
Psychoactive class	Entactogen, Stimulant, Psychedelic
Chemical class	Phenethylamine
Routes of Administration
Oral Dosage WARNING: Always start with lower doses due to differences between individual body weight, tolerance, metabolism, and personal sensitivity. See responsible use section. DISCLAIMER: PW's dosage information is gathered from users and resources for educational purposes only. It is not a recommendation and should be verified with other sources for accuracy. Threshold 30 - 50 mg Light 75 - 100 mg Common 100 - 150 mg Strong 130 - 170 mg Heavy 170 mg + Duration Total 4 - 8 hours Onset 20 - 90 minutes Come up 5 - 20 minutes Peak 2 - 4 hours Offset 2 - 4 hours After effects 3 - 24 hours

Summary sheet: MDA

MDA, also known as methylenedioxyamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxy-amphetamine, tenamfetamine, or colloquially as "Sally", "Sass", or "Sass-a-frass", is a psychoactive drug of the substituted phenethylamine and amphetamine classes of drugs that is consumed primarily for its entactogenic, psychedelic, and stimulant effects. Pharmacologically, MDA acts as a serotonin-norepinephrine-dopamine releasing agent and reuptake inhibitor. Possession of MDA is illegal in most countries. Some limited exceptions exist for scientific and medical research. It is worth noting that the recreational use of MDA predates its more widely used analog MDMA (ecstasy).

Chemistry

This chemistry section is incomplete. You can help by adding to it.

Pharmacology

Main article: Serotonergic psychedelic

MDA acts as a releasing agent and reuptake inhibitor of the neurotransmitters known as serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. It also functions as a a 5-HT2A, 5-HT2B, and 5-HT2C receptors, and shows affinity for the TAAR1, α2A-, α2B-, α2C-adrenergic receptors and 5-HT1A and 5-HT7 receptors.

The effect on serotonin may explain the similar euphoric and empathogenic effects of the two compounds MDMA and MDA. However, MDA has a higher efficacy in stimulating the 5-HT2A receptor than MDMA; thus MDA tends to cause more psychedelic-like effects, such as visual geometry and hallucinations. Whilst MDMA can also produce psychedelic-like visual effects, these are generally less pronounced than those of MDA, or require a heavier dose to become apparent. It's worth noting that the role of these interactions and how they result in the psychedelic experience continues to remain elusive.

Subjective effects

This subjective effect breakdown is a stub. As such, it may contain incomplete or wrong information and is still in progress. You can help by expanding it.

While MDA is generally similar to MDMA, users report that MDA has more stimulant and psychedelic qualities and less intense entactogenic effects than MDMA. MDA is also considered less predictable than MDMA, with effects varying greatly from person to person.

The effects listed below are based upon the subjective effects index and personal experiences of PsychonautWiki contributors. The listed effects will rarely (if ever) occur all at once, but heavier dosages will increase the chances and are more likely to induce a full range of effects.

Physical effects

• Spontaneous tactile sensations
• Stimulation
• Vibrating vision
• Dehydration
• Difficulty urinating
• Tactile enhancement
• Increased perspiration
• Temporary erectile dysfunction
• Increased heart rate
• Increased blood pressure

Cognitive effects

• Cognitive euphoria
• Empathy, love and sociability enhancement
• Time distortion
• Unity and interconnectedness
• Thought acceleration
• Anxiety suppression
• Mindfulness
• Immersion enhancement
• Creativity enhancement

Visual effects

Enhancements

• Colour enhancement
• Pattern recognition enhancement

Distortions

• Drifting (melting, breathing, morphing and flowing)
• Tracers
• After images
• Depth perception distortions
• Symmetrical texture repetition
• Colour shifting
• Scenery slicing
• Perspective distortions
• Recursion

Hallucinatory states

• External hallucinations (autonomous entities; settings, sceneries, and landscapes; alterations in perspective and scenarios and plots)
• Internal hallucinations
• Peripheral information misinterpretation

Auditory effects

• Enhancements
• Distortions
• Hallucinations

Toxicity and harm potential

Main article: Responsible use § Hallucinogens

Anecdotal evidence from people within the psychonaut community who have tried MDA suggests that there are no negative health effects attributed to simply trying the drug by itself at low to moderate doses and using it very sparingly (but nothing can be completely guaranteed). Independent research should always be done to ensure that a combination of two or more substances is safe before consumption.

Harold Blauer died in January 1953 after being intravenously injected with 450 mg of MDA.

It is strongly recommended that one use harm reduction practices when using this drug.

Tolerance and addiction potential

MDA is not habit-forming and the desire to use it can actually decrease with use. It is most often self-regulating.

Tolerance to the psychedelic effects of MDA are built almost immediately after ingestion. However, tolerance to the stimulant and entactogenic effects are built up after repeated and heavy usage in a manner that varies between individuals. After that, it takes about 3 days for the tolerance to be reduced to half and 7 days to be back at baseline (in the absence of further consumption). MDA presents cross-tolerance with all psychedelics and most stimulants, meaning that after the consumption of MDA all psychedelics and some stimulants will have a reduced effect.

Dangerous interactions

• 25x-NBOMe - Both the NBOMe series and this compound induce powerful stimulation and their interaction may cause severe side effects. These can include thought loops, seizures, increased blood pressure, vasoconstriction, increased heart rate, and heart failure (in extreme cases).
• Alcohol - It is dangerous to combine alcohol, a depressant, with stimulants due to the risk of excessive intoxication. Stimulants decrease the sedative effect of alcohol which is the main factor most people consider when determining their level of intoxication. Once the stimulant wears off, the effects of alcohol will be significantly increased, leading to intensified disinhibition as well as respiratory depression. If combined, one should strictly limit themselves to only drinking a certain amount of alcohol per hour.
• DXM - This combination may cause increased heart rate and panic attacks.
• MXE - Increased heart rate and blood pressure may occur.
• Tramadol - This combination can increase the risk of seizures.
• Cocaine - This combination may increase strain on the heart.

Serotonin syndrome risk

Combinations in the list below may increase the amount of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine to dangerous or even fatal levels.

• MAOIs such as syrian rue, banisteriopsis caapi, 2C-T-2, 2C-T-7, αMT, and some antidepressants
• Serotonin releasers such as MDMA, 4-FA, MDAI and αMT
• Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
• 5-HTP

Legal issues

This legality section is a stub. As such, it likely contains incomplete or wrong information. You can help by expanding it.

• United Kingdom - It is illegal to produce, supply, or import this drug under the Psychoactive Substance Act, which came into effect on May 26th, 2016.

History

MDA was first synthesized by G. Mannish and W. Jacobson in 1910. It was first ingested in July 1930 by Gordon Alles who later licensed the drug to Smith, Kline & French. MDA was first used in animal tests in 1939, and human trials began in 1941 in the exploration of possible therapies for Parkinson's disease. From 1949 to 1957, more than 500 human subjects were given MDA in an investigation of its potential use as an antidepressant and/or anorectic by Smith, Kline & French. The United States Army also experimented with the drug, code named EA-1298, while working to develop a truth drug or incapacitating agent. Harold Blauer died in January 1953 after being intravenously injected with 450 mg of the drug.

MDA was patented as a cough suppressant by H. D. Brown in 1958, as an ataractic by Smith, Kline & French in 1960, and as an anorectic under the trade name "Amphedoxamine" in 1961. MDA began to appear on the recreational drug scene around 1963 to 1964. It was then inexpensive and readily available as a research chemical from several scientific supply houses. Several researchers, including Claudio Naranjo and Richard Yensen, have explored MDA in the field of psychotherapy. In 2010, Matthew Baggott and colleagues studied the ability of MDA to invoke mystical experiences and alter vision in healthy volunteers.

See also

• Responsible use
• MDMA
• Stimulant
• Entactogen
• Amphetamine
• Phenethylamine

External links

• MDA (Wikipedia)
• MDA (Erowid)
• MDA (PiHKAL)
• MDA (TripSit)
• MDA experiences (Erowid)