TMCnet News
Toxic 'Ecstasy' pills found in circulation(China Post Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)Ecstasy users must beware of a more toxic ingredient, which may be fatal, Veterans General Hospital doctors warned yesterday. Dr. Yang Chen-chang, chief toxicologist at the hospital, identified the more toxic chemical as PMMA or para-Methooxymethamphetamine. An overdose, only 50 milligrams, kills the user. PMMA killed two junior high school dropouts in Keelung on March 12, Dr. Yang confirmed. The two, both 16 years old, took what they believed were Ecstasy pills at a home party. Ecstasy contains MDMA or methylenedioxymethamphetamine, which is less toxic than PMMA. One of the boys died at the party. The other, taken to the Veterans General Hospital in Taipei, succumbed later. On examination, Dr. Yang said, their urine was found to contain PMMA. PMMA is a structural hybrid of two central stimulants but behaves in a manner similar to that of MDMA. Most commonly known by the street name Ecstasy, MDMA is a synthetic entactogen of the phenethylamine family whose primary effect is to stimulate the secretion of and inhibit the re-uptake of large amounts of serotonin as well as dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain, causing a general sense of openness, empathy, energy, euphoria, and well-being. Tactile sensations are enhanced for some users, making general physical contact with others more pleasurable; but, contrary to popular mythology it generally does not have aphrodisiac effects. Acute dehydration is a risk among MDMA users who are highly physically active and forget to drink water, as the drug may mask one's normal sense of exhaustion and thirst. Also the opposite, "water intoxication" resulting in acute hyponatremia, has been reported, according to Dr. Yang. PMMA is not sold as patented medicine. "It's found in other Ecstasy-like pills," Dr. Yang said. Chien Chun-sheng, director of toxicology at the Department of Health, said no PMMA was found on the market in Taiwan prior to 2003. There was one case in 2004, Chien added. For the first 11 months of last year, Chien went on, no PMMA was discovered in Taiwan. "But since December last year, we've found 17 PMMA cases," Chien pointed out. One loophole in the law is that PMMA is not banned as a drug. Makers seem to get PMMA into innocent-looking pills and sell them as Ecstasy substitutes, Chien added. He said the Department of Health is asking the Ministry of Justice to stop the loophole. |