All clear for the decisive trial of ecstasy in PTSD patients

http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2017/08/all-clear-decisive-trial-ecstasy-ptsd-patients

8/29/2017

MDMA is better known as the party drug ecstasy.

DEA

All clear for the decisive trial of ecstasy in PTSD patients

By Kai KupferschmidtAug. 26, 2017 , 6:30 PM

One of the main targets in the war on drugs could well become a drug to treat the scars of war. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has designated 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), better known as the illegal drug ecstasy, a "breakthrough therapy" for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a status that may lead to faster approval.

The agency has also approved the design for two phase III studies of MDMA for PTSD that would be funded by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), a nonprofit in Santa Cruz, California. MAPS announced the "breakthrough therapy" designation, made by FDA on 16 August, on its website today; if the group can find the money for the trials, which together could cost an estimated $25 million, they may start next spring and finish by 2021.

That an illegal dancefloor drug could become a promising pharmaceutical is another indication that the efforts of a dedicated group of researchers interested in the medicinal properties of mind-altering drugs is paying dividends. Stringent drug laws have stymied research on these compounds for decades. "This is not a big scientific step," says David Nutt, a neuropsychopharmacologist at Imperial College London. "It's been obvious for 40 years that these drugs are medicines. But it's a huge step in acceptance."

Apparently "breakthrough therapy" means they're going to "expedite the development and review of the drug." Good stuff.


Comments


[135 Points] None:

[deleted]


[33 Points] protekt0r:

PTSD diagnosed veteran here. Although I was not part of this trial, I went through psychotherapy and experimented with LSD and mushrooms after I came back from my deployment. My problem after returning was the lack of sensitivity I had towards death and human life in general. When you see dead bodies on a weekly basis, eventually you just become numb to death and the plight of others. In general, the middle eastern Arab counties place very little value on human life. (This is a nuanced statement; of course the loss of life to family members is traumatic to anyone, including Arabs.) But when you step outside family and tribal circles, no one gives a shit about a dead person in the Middle East. Anyway, that attitude rubbed off on me and I brought it home. I knew it wasn't healthy and although therapy helped with my other issues, I still didn't feel connected to people. So first I tried mushrooms. Something changed in the days that followed. I felt connected to Earth again, but not so much people. Then, sometime later, I tried LSD. Over time and a few doses later, I began to feel even more connected to humans than I did even before I deployed. Prior to deploying, I would've never described myself as a humanist. Today (and years after trying LSD) that's exactly what I am. My attitude towards people, death, suffering... it's all changed. I thank the medicine and this sub for making all of it possible.

P.S.: exit scammers... fucking stop. I was exit scammed once and it was for cannabis (I formerly lived in a state with no medical cannabis laws...). There are people who actually use your product as medicine and when you fuck them over, you're causing suffering. So don't think what you're doing is a victimless crime. Some people truly depend on this stuff to function.

Edit: thanks for the gold! I will return the favor on a worthy post, as I always do. :)


[27 Points] ElectroFlannelGore:

My dad was a therapist in the 70s-2000's. He used MDMA with his patients until it was finally illegal...... Now I have PTSD from all the horrifying abuse I suffered at his hands and might finally get to use the same drug he used to help people! ._.


[8 Points] streetsprice:

fuckin finally. welp this triggered a story time I have a friend with ptsd. Naturally a suggested mdma he was completly straight edge I mean fuck compared to me he was christ lmao. Obviously hessitant at first but reluctantly gave it a try. Not afterr a long talk with his family and me of course but I knew tht was to come. I mean I would do the same thing with my kid no matter how old. Getting to the point the experience he had and in my personal opinon anyone can have is magical it really fucking is.

He was honestly going insane and I knew this would help him so me and him took it together and he just opened up. Just like anyone on mdma he cried (obv because this was used for a dif purpose than normal) but cried tears of euphoric bliss we talked for hours. Since it was his first time it lasted way longer than my busted up brain, but I just sat there and listenend and talked and connected on a level that cannot be done (without a drug such as mdma in my opinion) to all of his deep deep emotions that I believe personally would have never been able to come out without that level experience and in a setting with someone who knows wtf they are doing most importantly. Now he is doing so much better you wouldn't believe when he smiles at me its almost llike i can tell the drug freed him annecdotal obv but still. So happy this is being done.

phew had to share that story shit hit home


[5 Points] legalize-drugs:

I just donated $100. Anyone else? www.maps.org


[5 Points] DJWalnut:

the thing about all Schedule 1 drugs is that they have medical uses. MDMA and Psyclobin are being investigated for PTSD, Heroin is just a poor man's opiate, and I don't even need to state how many uses Cannabis has

it's time to repeal the Controlled Substances Act and start over from scratch. the drug war needs to end


[3 Points] mr_analfucker:

It took way to long for this to happen. MDMA has been known as the gate to the soul under therapists since the sixties. It's a shame that conservatism slows down the development of mankind.


[2 Points] bigbadjesus:

Thanks, Trump!


[1 Points] MandyThatGirl:

Let the healing begin!!


[1 Points] throwitawaybiatch123:

First time I ever tried MDMA I said this is a great drug to help people deal with things going on in their lives, not going out to rave but just at home it gave me answers. It bonded me with the people we rolled with creating real friendships. It opens the mind like mushrooms to me, and allows the mind to heal and you can come up with life changing thoughts and feelings on MDMA and they stay. That was huge. The fact that the epiphany or discussion and decisions reached while on MDMA stayed with me after the roll was over. That is a drug that can help lives. Like many other illegal drugs they should be being used to treat patients instead of a war on all drugs.


[1 Points] None:

As someone who suffers from PTSD (from a truama in 1988) and has never done MDMA. I would really like to try this to see if it works


[-5 Points] None:

What if the MDMA triggers a complete mental breakdown as we see with healthy kids all the time.

LOL