MMDA (psychedelic)

Overview
MMDA, or 3-methoxy-4,5-methylenedioxyamphetamine, is a stimulant, a psychedelic drug, an entheogen, and an entactogen. It is a substituted Amphetamine and an analogue of MDA, Lophophine and MDMA (Ecstasy). It bears resemblance to the psychopharmacologically active essential oils elemicin and myristicin found in nutmeg. MMDA is most typically taken orally (as pressed tablets) or intranasaly (as a powder).

MMDA was written up by Alexander Shulgin in his book, "PiHKAL." Shulgin lists the dosage range of MMDA as 100-250 mg. The first symptoms appear within 30-60 minutes following oral administration. MMDA causes accentuation of feelings such as anxiety, euphoria, loneliness, and loving warmth. MMDA also produces eyes-closed visuals, a state of drowsiness and muscular relaxation, and time distortion. Side effects include moderate mydriasis, dizziness, sensations of heat or cold, and trembling. The imagery is generally realistic, and often related to everyday perception of people, landscapes, or objects. The effects of MMDA usually reach a peak after the first hour following the initial symptoms, and begin to wane during the second hour, and usually completely disappear by the end of the fifth hour.

MMDA-2
Dosage: 25-50 mgs

Duration: 8-12 hours

Effects: slow, MDA-like effects, muscle stiffness, inability to defecate

Methyl-MMDA-2
Dosage: unknown

Duration: unknown

Effects: Few to none

MMDA-3a
Dosage: 20-80 mgs

Duration: 10-16 hours

Effects: mild open-eye visuals, visual enhancement of music, slowing of time, slight diarrhea and body load

MMDA-3b
Dosage: unknown

Duration: unknown

Effects: Few to none

2T-MMDA-3a
Dosage: unknown

Duration: unknown

Effects: Few to none

4T-MMDA-2
Dosage: 25 mg

Duration: unknown

Effects: Slight tremors

Psychotherapuetic actions
In his 1973 book, "The Healing Journey," Claudio Naranjo explored the psychotherapeutic potential of MMDA. Like MDA, he found that MMDA facilitates communication and suggested it has potential applications in psychotherapy. Worldwide as of 2005, MMDA has not been approved for any human applications.

Pharmacology
The mechanism that produces the psychedelic activity of MMDA has not been definitively established. There are, as of the present time, no reported studies on the human pharmacokinetics or metabolism of MMDA. Based on its structural relationship with other similar drugs for which the pharmacology is known, it is likely that MMDA has multiple mechanisms of action, and probably acts both as a 5HT2A agonist in a similar manner to hallucinogenic amphetamines such as DOM, and also as a serotonin releaser by reversing the direction of the serotonin reuptake transporter in a similar manner to MDMA.

Legality
MMDA is classified as a Schedule 1 substance in the United States, and is similarly controlled in other parts of the world. Internationally, MMDA is a Schedule I drug under the Convention on Psychotropic Substances.