The active ingredient in ecstasy is MDMA, which is a mood elevator that puts the user is a euphoric and relaxed state. Unlike LSD, pure MDMA will not cause hallucinations. After about twenty to forty minutes after taking ecstasy, the user will start to feel rushes of exhilaration and sometimes nausea. Approximately after an hour, the user will experience enhanced sensations, self-acceptance and heightened feelings of empathy and emotional warmth. These feelings will last from three to five hours. Opposed to other drugs such as alcohol or cocaine, users have no heightened aggression but just the opposite. The user feels as if there are no "emotional barriers" and also is understanding and accepting of others. It is for these reasons that doctors saw potential benefits of the drug, especially for relationship counseling. .
MDMA releases the brain chemical serotonin, elevating mood and acting as a short-term antidepressant. Although it is not physically addictive, many people become compulsive in their usage. It is often found that when people become mentally addicted, it is not just because they like to have a good time, but rather they are unconsciously trying to self medicate themselves for depression. After the effects of the drug subside, the user can sometimes have feelings of depression and loneliness. This is because of the decreased level of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that has found to be the most diverse physiological substance in the body. It regulates mood, sleep and appetite. If levels become too low, the user could have feelings of paranoia and lose orientation of where they are or what they are doing. .
The most harmful side effects of ecstasy do not necessarily come from the MDMA but from other drugs that could be mixed in with the tablet that is thought to be just MDMA. These drugs include caffeine, ephedrine, cocaine, PCP, DXM, speed and many other substances.
