MDMA and MAOIs
Can be fatal - never combine.
Why this happens
MAOIs (phenelzine, tranylcypromine, moclobemide, linezolid, syrian rue) block serotonin breakdown. With MDMA's serotonin flood this can cause fatal serotonin syndrome. Never.
What this means in practice
Do not combine the two. If they have already been taken together, treat it as a potential emergency and be ready to call for help.
Warning signs - get help
Call your local emergency number straight away if you notice any of these:
- A high fever or skin that is hot to the touch
- Agitation, confusion or hallucinations
- Rigid, twitching or cramping muscles
- A racing heartbeat
- Heavy sweating or shivering
Information, not medical advice. Threshold does not promote or encourage MDMA use. This exists so that people who make their own choices can make safer, better-informed ones. It is not a substitute for professional care.
Sources
- Death following ingestion of MDMA (ecstasy) and moclobemide - Addiction (2003)
- Qualitative review of serotonin syndrome, ecstasy (MDMA) and the use of other serotonergic substances: hierarchy of risk - Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry (2007)