Effects of the Psychedelic Amphetamine MDA (3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine) in Healthy Volunteers.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to compare the pharmacokinetics and subjective effects of MDA to MDMA in humans, assessing tolerability and duration of effects.
Results Summary
MDA was well-tolerated, induced cardiovascular and hormonal effects similar to MDMA, and produced longer-lasting subjective effects with psychedelic-like features.
Population
Within-subjects, double-blind, placebo-controlled study participants.
Effective Dosage
1.5 mg/kg oral racemic MDMA (comparison dose).
Duration
Effects monitored up to 8 hours for MDA and 6 hours for MDMA.
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1.4 mg/kg oral racemic MDA | no change | tolerability | participants | - | was well-tolerated | #1 |
MDA | increase | heart rate | participants | - | induced robust increases | #2 |
MDA | increase | blood pressure | participants | - | induced robust increases | #3 |
MDA | increase | cortisol | participants | to a similar degree as MDMA | increased | #4 |
MDA | increase | prolactin | participants | to a similar degree as MDMA | increased | #5 |
MDA self-report effects | increase | duration of effects | participants | - | lasted longer than those of MDMA | #6 |
MDA effects | no change | duration of effects | participants | 8 h | remained elevated at 8 h | #7 |
MDMA effects | decrease | duration of effects | participants | 6 h | resolved by 6 h | #8 |
Entactogens such as 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, "molly", "ecstasy") appear to have unusual, potentially therapeutic, emotional effects. Understanding their mechanisms can benefit from clinical experiments with related drugs. Yet the first known drug with such properties, 3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), remains poorly studied and its pharmacokinetics in humans are unknown. We conducted a within-subjects, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 1.4 mg/kg oral racemic MDA and compared results to those from our prior similar studies with 1.5 mg/kg oral racemic MDMA. MDA was well-tolerated by participants. MDA induced robust increases in heart rate and blood pressure and increased cortisol and prolactin to a similar degree as MDMA. MDA self-report effects shared features with MDMA as well as with classical psychedelics. MDA self-report effects lasted longer than those of MDMA, with MDA effects remaining elevated at 8 h while MDMA effects resolved by 6 h. Cmax and AUC