- Section 1 ICU organization and management
- Section 2 Pharmacotherapeutics
- Section 3 Resuscitation
- Section 4 The respiratory system
- Section 5 The cardiovascular system
- Section 6 The gastrointestinal system
- Section 7 Nutrition
- Section 8 The renal system
- Section 9 The neurological system
- Section 10 The metabolic and endocrine systems
- Section 11 The haematological system
- Section 12 The skin and connective tissue
- Section 13 Infection
- Section 14 Inflammation
- Section 15 Poisoning
- Part 15.1 Principles of management
- Part 15.2 Management of specific poisons
- Chapter 317 Management of salicylate poisoning
- Chapter 318 Management of acetaminophen (paracetamol) poisoning
- Chapter 319 Management of opioid poisoning
- Chapter 320 Management of benzodiazepine poisoning
- Chapter 321 Management of tricyclic antidepressant poisoning
- Chapter 322 Management of poisoning by amphetamine or ecstasy
- Chapter 323 Management of digoxin poisoning
- Chapter 324 Management of cocaine poisoning
- Chapter 325 Management of β-blocker and calcium channel blocker poisoning
- Chapter 326 Management of cyanide poisoning
- Chapter 327 Management of alcohol poisoning
- Chapter 328 Management of carbon monoxide poisoning
- Chapter 329 Management of corrosive poisoning
- Chapter 330 Management of pesticide and agricultural chemical poisoning
- Chapter 331 Management of radiation poisoning
- Section 16 Trauma
- Section 17 Physical disorders
- Section 18 Pain and sedation
- Section 19 General surgical and obstetric intensive care
- Section 20 Specialized intensive care
- Section 21 Recovery from critical illness
- Section 22 End-of-life care
(p. 1534) Management of poisoning by amphetamine or ecstasy
- Chapter:
- (p. 1534) Management of poisoning by amphetamine or ecstasy
- Author(s):
Enno Freye
- DOI:
- 10.1093/med/9780199600830.003.0322
While amphetamine and especially methamphetamine (speed) is being misused by all social classes in order to increase stamina, intellectual expansion, endurance, and euphoria, the drug 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine (MDMA) (ecstasy) is preferentially abused by the younger generation for the feeling of empathy, the touching within, and enhancement of the senses. Acute intoxication differs in regard to their effects on the person. The predominant sympathetic overstimulation after methamphetamine results in cardiovascular and CNS hyperactivity accompanied by agitation and seizures, while tachycardia is a prodrome of fibrillation. The excess hypertonia often leads into myocardial infarction and may even induce cerebral haemorrhage. MDMA intoxication often seen in the emergency department is predominantly characterized by hyperthermia, the most important condition to treat, followed by rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure. Since there is no specific antidote available, in both cases therapy consists of treatment until the acute effects are gone.
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- Section 1 ICU organization and management
- Section 2 Pharmacotherapeutics
- Section 3 Resuscitation
- Section 4 The respiratory system
- Section 5 The cardiovascular system
- Section 6 The gastrointestinal system
- Section 7 Nutrition
- Section 8 The renal system
- Section 9 The neurological system
- Section 10 The metabolic and endocrine systems
- Section 11 The haematological system
- Section 12 The skin and connective tissue
- Section 13 Infection
- Section 14 Inflammation
- Section 15 Poisoning
- Part 15.1 Principles of management
- Part 15.2 Management of specific poisons
- Chapter 317 Management of salicylate poisoning
- Chapter 318 Management of acetaminophen (paracetamol) poisoning
- Chapter 319 Management of opioid poisoning
- Chapter 320 Management of benzodiazepine poisoning
- Chapter 321 Management of tricyclic antidepressant poisoning
- Chapter 322 Management of poisoning by amphetamine or ecstasy
- Chapter 323 Management of digoxin poisoning
- Chapter 324 Management of cocaine poisoning
- Chapter 325 Management of β-blocker and calcium channel blocker poisoning
- Chapter 326 Management of cyanide poisoning
- Chapter 327 Management of alcohol poisoning
- Chapter 328 Management of carbon monoxide poisoning
- Chapter 329 Management of corrosive poisoning
- Chapter 330 Management of pesticide and agricultural chemical poisoning
- Chapter 331 Management of radiation poisoning
- Section 16 Trauma
- Section 17 Physical disorders
- Section 18 Pain and sedation
- Section 19 General surgical and obstetric intensive care
- Section 20 Specialized intensive care
- Section 21 Recovery from critical illness
- Section 22 End-of-life care