NCT01270672

Pharmacological Interaction Between Carvedilol and Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)

Effects of Carvedilol on the Cardiovascular and Subjective Response to MDMA (3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine, "Ecstasy")

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 16 (actual)
• Sponsor: University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 45 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The purpose of this study is to determinate the effect of a pre-treatment with carvedilol, a alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptor blocker, on the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, "Ecstasy"). The investigators hypothesize that carvedilol will attenuate the cardiovascular and subjective response to MDMA.

Detailed description

3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, "ecstasy") is widely used by young people for its euphoric effects. MDMA releases serotonin (5-HT), dopamine, and norepinephrine (NE). NE release is thought to mediate the cardiovascular effects of MDMA and may also contribute to its psychostimulant effects. However, the functional role of adrenergic postsynaptic receptors in the cardiovascular and subjective effects of MDMA in humans is largely unclear. To determine the role of alpha- and beta adrenergic receptors in the response to MDMA in humans the investigators test the effects of the alpha- and beta-receptor blocker carvedilol on the physiological and subjective effects of MDMA. The investigators use a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled cross-over design with four experimental sessions. Carvedilol or placebo will be administered 1 h before MDMA or placebo to 16 healthy volunteers. Subjective and cardiovascular responses will be repeatedly assessed throughout the experiments and plasma samples are collected for pharmacokinetics. The primary hypothesis is that carvedilol will significantly reduce the blood pressure response to MDMA.

Conditions

• Mood Disorder
• Substance-Related Disorders
• Amphetamine-Related Disorders

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DRUG	3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine	125 mg per os, single dose
DRUG	carvedilol	50 mg per os, single dose
DRUG	placebo	capsules identical to MDMA or carvedilol

Timeline

• Start date: 2011-01-01
• Primary completion: 2011-05-01
• Completion: 2011-05-01
• First posted: 2011-01-05
• Last updated: 2018-12-11

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Switzerland