What Is Ecstasy?

Also known as MDMA, ecstasy is a synthetic psychoactive drug that produces a euphoric high and increased energy. Ecstasy is psychologically addictive, and those who are addicted will experience withdrawal symptoms when they quit the drug completely. Withdrawals are the result of physical dependence, which occurs after long-term use. Our Legacy Healing Center detox for ecstasy can help people who are addicted to the drug safely take the first step toward recovery.

What Causes Withdrawal?

Taking ecstasy increases the activity of certain neurotransmitters in the brain – specifically those that produce feelings of well-being, pleasure, and euphoria. Ecstasy’s side effects produce the high that users experience when taking MDMA. However, this increase in nerve activity also quickly depletes the brain’s natural supply of chemicals like dopamine and norepinephrine.

After prolonged use, the user’s brain becomes dependent on ecstasy to function and experience these positive side effects. When someone quits taking the drug, they’ll experience MDMA withdrawal symptoms as their brain tries to relearn how to operate properly without it. During detox for ecstasy, users typically experience the opposite of what they felt while high, such as symptoms of depression and anxiety as well as cravings for the drug.

The withdrawal symptoms of ecstasy tend to be primarily psychological, but some users may also experience some physical side effects. The symptoms and duration of MDMA detox vary by person. Some factors that affect the ecstasy withdrawal timeline also include:

• Age
• Gender
• Genetics
• How long the person has been using the drug
• Metabolism and overall health
• The dose of the drug the person would use
• The frequency of drug use
• Tolerance

Polysubstance abuse – which is the use of multiple drugs – can also lead to a more intense and complicated withdrawal, as well as the existence of any co-occurring mental health disorders. Our Legacy Healing Center detox for ecstasy can help all people with this drug use disorder safely get through withdrawals.

Ecstasy Withdrawal Symptoms

Withdrawal from ecstasy can produce serious psychological symptoms, and sometimes physical ones, as well. Fortunately, physical symptoms are usually mild and not life-threatening. Common ecstasy withdrawal symptoms include:

• Agitation
• Anxiety
• Changes in self-perception
• Confusion
• Cravings
• Depression
• Difficulty concentrating
• Fatigue
• Insomnia
• Loss of appetite
• Memory problems
• Paranoia

Another fact to consider is that ecstasy is often cut with other drugs, such as heroin, ketamine, amphetamines, and other illicit drugs. In many cases, ecstasy is also taken with other drugs, such as marijuana, cocaine, and LSD. Because it’s difficult to know what’s in ecstasy and so many users combine it with other substances, withdrawal symptoms are often different for each person. Therefore, considering the varying nature of these symptoms, it’s safest to seek medically supervised detox at a professional facility like our Legacy Healing Center locations.

How to Detox From MDMA (Ecstasy)

While there are currently no medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating ecstasy addiction, medical detox for ecstasy can provide a stable and safe environment where any lingering intoxication and withdrawals can be comfortably managed. Detox is generally the first step of treatment at our Legacy Healing rehab centers but is usually not enough to help clients sustain long-term recovery.

For this reason, we encourage clients who complete detox at our facilities to enter a continuum of treatment, such as our PHP or IOP. These programs aid patients in their transition to a sober lifestyle, preparing them to sustain their abstinence from drugs and alcohol after rehab.

Contact Our Ecstasy Detox Center

Our addiction treatment facilities provide safe and controlled environments where ecstasy users can work toward long-term sobriety. Our levels of addiction treatment can be individualized based on each patient’s needs. Outpatient treatment is also offered at our rehab centers for those who don’t have the time or resources to attend inpatient rehab.

Contact Legacy Healing Center today to learn more about our addiction treatment and detox for ecstasy.

Related Reading:

• Ecstasy Addiction and Treatment Options
• Understanding Drug Classifications – Strongest to Weakest