Comparison
Amphetamine vs MDMA.
Side-by-side comparison of Amphetamine and MDMA — dosage, effects, duration, legal status, and key harm reduction considerations.
- CategoryAmphetaminestimulantMDMAempathogen
- Chemical classAmphetamineamphetamineMDMAsubstituted-amphetamine
- Common doseAmphetamine20–40 mgMDMA75–125 mg
- Peak durationAmphetamine120–240 minMDMA90–150 min
- Primary positivesAmphetamineStimulation and wakefulness, Increased focus and motivation, Confidence and talkativenessMDMAEuphoria, Emotional warmth and openness, Increased empathy
- Primary negativesAmphetamineAnxiety and racing thoughts (especially at higher doses), Insomnia for 6–12+ hours after the last dose, Cardiovascular strainMDMAJaw clenching (bruxism), Dehydration or, conversely, hyponatremia from overhydration, Hyperthermia in warm environments
- Legal (DE)Amphetamineprescription-onlyMDMAillegal
- Legal (NL)AmphetamineillegalMDMAillegal-tolerated
- Legal (US)Amphetamineschedule-2MDMAschedule-1
- Legal (UK)Amphetamineclass-bMDMAclass-a
| Amphetamine | MDMA | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | stimulant | empathogen |
| Chemical class | amphetamine | substituted-amphetamine |
| Common dose | 20–40 mg | 75–125 mg |
| Peak duration | 120–240 min | 90–150 min |
| Primary positives | Stimulation and wakefulness, Increased focus and motivation, Confidence and talkativeness | Euphoria, Emotional warmth and openness, Increased empathy |
| Primary negatives | Anxiety and racing thoughts (especially at higher doses), Insomnia for 6–12+ hours after the last dose, Cardiovascular strain | Jaw clenching (bruxism), Dehydration or, conversely, hyponatremia from overhydration, Hyperthermia in warm environments |
| Legal (DE) | prescription-only | illegal |
| Legal (NL) | illegal | illegal-tolerated |
| Legal (US) | schedule-2 | schedule-1 |
| Legal (UK) | class-b | class-a |
Key harm-reduction difference
Amphetamine and MDMA differ most in their risk profiles and durations. Always research each independently before any session. If you are choosing between them based on safety alone, consult the full profiles and the interaction checker for any combinations you may be planning.
Related pages
FAQ.
- Is Amphetamine stronger than MDMA?
- "Stronger" depends on the metric. Compare dose ranges, subjective intensity, and duration side by side above. Always factor in individual tolerance.
- Can I combine Amphetamine and MDMA?
- Check the interaction checker for this specific pair. Many combinations carry serious risk even at low doses.
- Which lasts longer, Amphetamine or MDMA?
- Duration varies by route. See the comparison table above for peak and total duration by the most common route.
- Amphetamine vs MDMA: which is safer?
- Neither substance is "safe" in absolute terms. Harm is a function of dose, setting, purity, and individual factors. The comparison above covers the key risk differences.
- Are Amphetamine and MDMA in the same drug class?
- See the category and chemical class rows above. Substances in different classes often have very different risk profiles even if subjective effects overlap.
- Is Amphetamine legal where MDMA is?
- Legal status is substance- and jurisdiction-specific. See the legal status section for key countries.
- Where can I get harm reduction info for Amphetamine and MDMA?
- Each substance has a full profile on this site with dosage, interactions, testing, and legal information. Follow the links at the bottom of this page.
- How do I test whether my substance is Amphetamine or MDMA?
- Reagent testing can distinguish most substances. Check the reagent guide tool for expected color reactions for both.