Ecstasy is an an Empathogen, which means it increases an individual’s feeling of empathy and compassion towards others. Ecstasy contains the drug MDMA. However, many pills sold as ecstasy only have a small amount of MDMA or none at all. Other drugs and ‘fillers’ are often used instead. This makes it hard to know what reactions to expect after taking ecstasy or how bad the side effects will be.
Ecstasy is the pill while MDMA is the powder.
The use of depressant drugs such as alcohol, benzodiazepines or cannabis to help with these ‘come down’ effects, may result in dependence on both types of drugs.
Drugs sold as ecstasy may not contain any methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA); they can be a mix of amphetamine, paramethoxyamphetamine (PMA), ketamine, NBOMe, methylone or other substances.
There is no safe level of drug use. Use of any drug always carries risk.
The effects of taking Ecstasy with other drugs including over-the-counter or prescribed medications can be unpredictable and dangerous.