The comedown symptoms occur after initial effects fade, while withdrawal symptoms happen when the body develops a compulsive pattern of use. Brittany has 15 years of experience in the Mental Health and Substance Abuse field. When the effects of the drug wear off, a person who’s taken molly will experience hangover-like effects as the brain is no longer being supplied with the extra chemicals. The substance is a chemical precursor to serotonin, meaning it is used by the body to create said neurotransmitter. 5-HTP is a naturally occurring amino acid and is sourced from the seed pods of a West African plant known as Griffonia simplicifolia.

Seeking timely support through addiction treatment can help individuals recover and prevent future substance abuse. The duration of an MDMA comedown varies based on individual body chemistry, frequency of use, and dosage. Most people experience comedown symptoms for 12 to 48 hours, but some may have lingering emotional symptoms like feelings of depression, anxiety, and fatigue for up to a week or longer. Those with long-term ecstasy use may experience prolonged mental health symptoms such as memory issues, cognitive impairment, and sleep disturbances. MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy or molly, is a psychoactive drug that produces feelings of euphoria, increased energy, and emotional openness. The pleasurable effects of MDMA come from its ability to flood the brain with serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine.

Treatment Options for MDMA Addiction

If you or a loved one are struggling with molly abuse, professional help is available to you. The tips offered so far are all about remedying the hangover once it has set in. However, there are some measures that can be taken before you use MDMA to minimise the severity of the inevitable comedown.

The Impact of Molly on the Brain

MDMA heightens the experience of different textures, surfaces, and physical touch between people. Dopamine increases energy and activity, serotonin affects things like mood and sleep, and norepinephrine increases heart rate and blood pressure. St. John’s wort is well-known for its mood-boosting properties and may help to lift your mental state. The herb has shown to be effective in cases of depression, although long-term use appears to be more effective than taking it as a one-off. Be very cautious and do your research, as this herb can interact with a lot of drugs.

Luckily, if you know how what to do, it’s possible to get right back on your feet. Most post-MDMA symptoms will go away after a few days, but some can be dangerous—like a fever or a fluttering in the chest. These are signs of serotonin syndrome, which can be fatal if left untreated.

To protect your brain and body, avoid taking MDMA more than once per month. Committing to responsible use will not only help you protect your brain against negative effects, but will make your nights out feel more special and enjoyable. You don’t need much MDMA to feel its effects; it’s easy to push your body beyond its limits. Thus, it’s always prudent to start with a low dose and see how your body reacts.

However, not everyone gets an afterglow, and moreover, an MDMA crash may follow it even when it does occur. One clear way to prevent the Tuesday blues (but not the MDMA hangover itself) is to avoid taking MDMA late into the night, avoid redosing, or take MDMA on a Friday night rather than Saturday. The half-life of a drug is the amount of time it takes your body to break down the concentration of that drug by 50 percent. So, if MDMA’s half-life is seven hours and you take 100mg (a standard mdma hangover recreational dose) at 11 p.m., half of it will leave your system by 6 a.m. While people may not necessarily experience this kind of comedown on Tuesday. However, when the effects of MDMA subsided on Sunday, the following Tuesday can still feel unpleasant.

What The MDMA Hangover Feels Like

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Due to the flood of serotonin and the excess production of this neurotransmitter, the brain becomes depleted. Because serotonin plays such an important role in mood, its slight absence in the following days results in the described experience. The blissful and euphoric effects of the substance are brought on by the enhanced release and inhibited reuptake of the neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. This action increases the number of neurotransmitters within the synaptic cleft of neurons, causing the user to feel the effects of mood elevation. MDMA causes its much-desired effects through a surge in the levels of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. Serotonin plays an important role in the regulation of mood, sleep, pain, appetite, and other behaviors.

Your Brain on Molly

His main areas of interest include mental health, mystical experiences, the history of psychedelics, and the philosophy of psychedelics. He first became fascinated by psychedelics after reading Aldous Huxley’s description of the mescaline experience in The Doors of Perception. Since then, he has researched and written about psychedelics for various publications, covering the legality of psychedelics, drug policy reform, and psychedelic science. Make sure to avoid foods that can negatively affect mental health, as well as increase feelings of fatigue and lethargy. These include junk food, highly processed foods, refined carbohydrates, and foods high in refined sugar. Serotonin plays a crucial role in the regulation of mood, sleep, pain, appetite, and other behaviors.

• Regardless of which pattern you experience, a little 5-HTP can often treat any anxiety/depression that appears.
• The comedown symptoms occur due to a dangerous spike and subsequent drop in serotonin levels.
• When the effects of the drug wear off, a person who’s taken molly will experience hangover-like effects as the brain is no longer being supplied with the extra chemicals.
• An inability to sleep or having little sleep following an MDMA session can end up making you feel more fatigued, depressed, and irritable.
• Be very cautious and do your research, as this herb can interact with a lot of drugs.

Get Proper Rest

Replenishing your brain’s stock of neurotransmitters will help normalise your mood and energy levels. While the body should eventually do this on its own, taking certain supplements can help speed up the process. While it’s difficult to completely avoid an MDMA hangover, there are steps you can take to speed your recovery.

MDMA’s effects come from its effects on serotonin, norepinephrine (noradrenaline), and dopamine. The flood of these neurotransmitters and hormones causes euphoria, feelings of social connection, and stimulating effects that make MDMA so popular. One can also expect a stimulating effect keeping many people alert and awake beyond the 4 hour window of more potent effects.

Make sure you have some time off work, stay in bed, relax and watch a movie. Don’t over-exert yourself, as this will put unnecessary stress on your body and hinder recovery. Antioxidants are substances that can prevent certain types of cell damage. When your body is undergoing a state of oxidative stress, such as with an MDMA hangover, it does not have enough antioxidants to effectively keep up with the toxins in your body.

MDMA Long-Term Effects

In terms of physical effects, you may experience the following during an MDMA crash. If you have more concerning symptoms, like a fever or a fluttering in the chest, it is possible you might have serotonin syndrome. Nevertheless, Giordano believes that not much can be done to alleviate an MDMA hangover, although rest, hydration, and nutrition can certainly help.

Medical

While it’s difficult to confirm the exact provenance of your MDMA, acquiring it from a trusted source is a reasonable first step. Music pulses through your whole body, you feel a connection with everyone around you, you get swept up in a wave of euphoria, and you’re riding high. Speak with our dedicated Recovery Advocates to find the right personalized treatment approach for you. Individuals who follow a binge pattern of MDMA use are at higher risk of developing a substance use disorder. Sign up for our Psychedelic Explorer newsletter for a weekly update on the latest psychedelics research and news. All Addiction Resource content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.

While most molly comedowns resolve within a couple of days, professional help may be needed if withdrawal symptoms become severe. A molly hangover can lead to uncomfortable symptoms that disrupt daily life, especially for adolescents. While the allure of heightened feelings and pleasurable experiences may drive experimentation, the potential for addiction, psychological changes, and other health risks cannot be ignored.