Interaction Between Reboxetine and 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine: Pharmacodynamics (PD) and Pharmacokinetics (PK)
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2010-03-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
MDMA releases dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine in the brain. Serotonin uptake
inhibitors have been shown to interact with 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and to
decrease its psychoactive and cardiovascular stimulant effects. This finding indicates that
MDMA acts in part by releasing serotonin through the serotonin uptake site. However, in vitro
studies show that MDMA binds more potently to the norepinephrine uptake site that to the the
serotonin or dopamine uptake transporter. In addition, norepinephrine uptake site blockers
such antidepressant drugs attenuate some of the behavioral effects of MDMA in animals. These
preclinical data indicate that norepinephrine may also contribute to the response to MDMA in
humans. To test this hypothesis this study evaluates the interacting effects of the selective
norepinephrine transporter inhibitor reboxetine on the subjective and cardiovascular
stimulant effects of MDMA in healthy volunteers.