Empathogen · substituted-amphetamine
MDMA
aka Molly · Ecstasy · E · XTC · Mandy
Last verified
MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) is an entactogenic stimulant in the phenethylamine and amphetamine families. Its primary subjective effects are emotional warmth, euphoria, increased empathy and tactile enhancement, mediated largely by a rapid release of serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline.
Heavy or frequent use is associated with persistent serotonergic changes and a measurable next-day mood drop ("Tuesday blues"). The widely cited harm-reduction guideline is to wait at least 4–6 weeks between doses, with 3 months preferred for any long-term use.
Harm reduction
- Always test. Use Marquis first, then confirm with Mandelin and Mecke. Marquis alone cannot distinguish MDMA from PMA / PMMA — both have killed users at "normal" doses.
- Pre-dose magnesium (200–400 mg glycinate) to reduce jaw clenching and grinding.
- Hydrate moderately: roughly 250–500 ml of water per hour while active. Excess water without electrolytes can be fatal (hyponatremia).
- Cool down often. Take breaks from dancing, sit in cool areas — hyperthermia is the most common acute cause of death.
- Avoid SSRIs (blunts effect to nothing) and MAOIs (life-threatening serotonin syndrome).
- Space doses at least 4–6 weeks apart. Re-dosing within a session sharply increases neurotoxicity risk without proportionally extending the experience.
Dosage.
Oral
- Threshold
- 30 mg
- Light
- 40–75 mg
- Common
- 75–125 mg
- Strong
- 125–175 mg
- Heavy
- 175 mg
| Route | Threshold | Light | Common | Strong | Heavy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oral | 30 mg | 40–75 mg | 75–125 mg | 125–175 mg | 175 mg |
Start at the bottom. Body chemistry, tolerance, and combinations all matter.
Duration.
Oral
total ~ 1840 min- Onset
- 20–70 min
- Peak
- 1.5–2.5h
- Offset
- 1.5–3h
- After
- 3–24h
Effects.
Positive
- Euphoria
- Emotional warmth and openness
- Increased empathy
- Enhanced tactile sensation
- Ego suppression
Neutral
- Time distortion
- Mild visual sharpening
- Increased focus
- Pupil dilation
Negative
- Jaw clenching (bruxism)
- Dehydration or, conversely, hyponatremia from overhydration
- Hyperthermia in warm environments
- Anxiety and low mood during the comedown (3-7 days)
- Cardiovascular strain
Interactions.
Heads up
Many drug combinations are unsafe even at low doses. When in doubt, take less or abstain. Always cross-check with the interaction checker tool.
Dangerous
Combination may cause serious harm. Avoid.
- maois
- tramadol
- 5-htp
Unsafe
Substantial risk. Combination not recommended.
- amphetamine
- cocaine
- alcohol
- dxm
- ssris
Caution
Mild interaction. Use with reduced doses.
- cannabis
- lsd
- mushrooms
- ketamine
Testing.
- ReagentMarquisExpected reactionPurple to black
- ReagentMeckeExpected reactionBlue-green to black
- ReagentMandelinExpected reactionBlue-black
- ReagentSimonExpected reactionBlue (confirms secondary amine, distinguishes from MDA)
- ReagentFroehdeExpected reactionYellow-green to black
| Reagent | Expected reaction |
|---|---|
| Marquis | Purple to black |
| Mecke | Blue-green to black |
| Mandelin | Blue-black |
| Simon | Blue (confirms secondary amine, distinguishes from MDA) |
| Froehde | Yellow-green to black |
Cross-check with a secondary reagent. Tests tell you what something isn't, not always what it is.
Legal status.
- DEGermanyIllegal
- ATAustriaIllegal
- CHSwitzerlandIllegal
- NLNetherlandsIllegal but tolerated
- BEBelgiumIllegal
- LULuxembourgIllegal
- FRFranceIllegal
- ESSpainIllegal
- PTPortugalDecriminalised
- ITItalyIllegal
- PLPolandIllegal
- CZCzechiaIllegal but tolerated
- SESwedenIllegal
- DKDenmarkIllegal
- NONorwayIllegal
- FIFinlandIllegal
- IEIrelandClass A
- UKUnited KingdomClass A
- USUnited StatesSchedule I
- CACanadaSchedule I
- AUAustraliaSchedule 9
- TRTurkeyIllegal
| Country | Status |
|---|---|
| DEGermany | Illegal |
| ATAustria | Illegal |
| CHSwitzerland | Illegal |
| NLNetherlands | Illegal but tolerated |
| BEBelgium | Illegal |
| LULuxembourg | Illegal |
| FRFrance | Illegal |
| ESSpain | Illegal |
| PTPortugal | Decriminalised |
| ITItaly | Illegal |
| PLPoland | Illegal |
| CZCzechia | Illegal but tolerated |
| SESweden | Illegal |
| DKDenmark | Illegal |
| NONorway | Illegal |
| FIFinland | Illegal |
| IEIreland | Class A |
| UKUnited Kingdom | Class A |
| USUnited States | Schedule I |
| CACanada | Schedule I |
| AUAustralia | Schedule 9 |
| TRTurkey | Illegal |
Information, not legal advice. Status varies by region and changes over time.
FAQ.
How long does MDMA last?
A typical oral MDMA experience peaks around 90–150 minutes and then tails off, with after-effects that can run several hours. The exact window depends on dose, body weight and what else you've eaten or taken.
Can you overdose on MDMA?
Yes. Higher doses sharply raise the risk of acute harm (cardiovascular strain, hyperthermia, serotonin issues for serotonergic drugs, respiratory depression for downers). Stick to the lowest dose that gives you the effect you're after, never re-dose blindly, and use our [dose calculator](/tools/dosage-calculator) before you weigh anything out.
Is MDMA addictive?
MDMA can produce psychological dependence with frequent use, especially in unstable settings or when used to self-medicate. Physical dependence varies by substance class; the safest pattern is occasional use with long breaks (often 4–6 weeks minimum) and an honest read on why you're reaching for it.
What does MDMA feel like?
Common subjective effects include the ones listed in the Effects section above. Set and setting massively shape the experience: a calm space, trusted people, food eaten, sleep the night before, and your own current mood all matter more than most people expect.
Can you mix MDMA with alcohol?
Mixing with alcohol is rarely a good idea. it dulls your judgement of how much you've taken, dehydrates you, and stacks cardiovascular load. If alcohol is on the table, drink less than normal, alternate with water, and run the combination through our [interaction checker](/tools/interaction-checker) first.
How do I test MDMA at home?
A basic reagent kit (Marquis + Mandelin + Mecke for most stimulants/entactogens; Ehrlich for tryptamines) gives you a fast presence check. It does NOT measure dose or purity, but it does rule out the most dangerous misrepresentations. See the [reagent guide](/tools/reagent-guide) for expected colors per reagent.
How much MDMA is too much?
There's no single number that applies to everyone. As a rule, anything above the 'strong' dose range (125-175 mg for the primary route) carries sharply higher risk of acute harm. Start low, don't redose blindly, and remember that purity varies batch to batch.
How long until MDMA kicks in?
Onset is typically 20-70 minutes via the primary route. Don't redose because you 'don't feel anything yet.' Many people have overdone it by stacking doses during the come-up window.
Can you build tolerance to MDMA?
Yes. Regular use builds tolerance, meaning you need more for the same effect. This escalation increases both health risk and dependence potential. The best counter is long breaks between sessions (2-4 weeks minimum for most substances, 3 months for MDMA-class drugs).
Is MDMA tested for in standard drug screens?
Yes. MDMA is typically detected under the amphetamines category in standard SAMHSA-5 panels. Urine detection window is roughly 2-4 days. See our [detection guide](/news/how-long-does-mdma-stay-in-your-system) for full details.