9 ms·

Suicidal Vet Calls MDMA Treatment ‘a Miracle'

128 points by eplanit 8y ago

jeffreybezos 8y ago
I incorrectly thought the article was about a veterinarian and euthenasia of animals/pets.
- ClassyJacket 8y ago
  Haha, if they were a veterinarian they'd have easier access to treat their depression with the party drug and cat tranquilliser Ketamine, which also actually works[1] [1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4243034/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4243034/
  - lev99 8y ago
    My understanding is that ptsd related depression responds differently to treatment than depression alone.
- dang 8y ago
  Using a famous person's name as your handle is not a good idea on HN, unless it's actually your name as well. I've banned this account, but if you send us a different username at hn@ycombinator.com we can rename it for you and unban it.
- perilunar 8y ago
  Me too. I think 'vet' = 'veteran' might be a peculiarly American usage.
ClassyJacket 8y ago
I have no doubts, and I'm so thankful of the research that MAPS is doing. I haven't even been thru any trauma and MDMA pulled me out of depression and greatly reduced my anxiety. It was an absolute miracle for me. It disgusts me that the stuff is illegal while cigarettes and alcohol are not. AMA.
- wp381640 8y ago
  I went through a similar experience. About 10 years ago I was in a bit of a funk and depressed, anxious etc. and further I think I was in denial about the problem. I was almost completely unproductive for about 6 months. Went out one weekend and had a mid-range dose of MDMA and with the afterglow in the days later I felt like a new person, complete with a spring in my step. It felt like I had been hoarding a lot of useless stuff in my mind and never being comfortable in my head, while MDMA was the clear-out I needed. I wouldn't advocate for each depressed or anxious person to try it as a cure-all, but I definitely advocate for more research (and have donated to the cause) and greatly reducing the stigma around the drug
  - dgzl 8y ago
    I'm wondering what you consider a mid-range dose.
    - wp381640 8y ago
      1mg / kg (or just a little more) I only later learned more about dosages and found that the downsides are at higher (1.5mg/kg+) doses and with long re-dosing
      - dgzl 8y ago
        I don't mean to be rude, but not only is 1mg not a 'mid-range' dose, but it's not even enough to get effects from the drug. 100mg is ~average for a small/beginner dose (usually cost $5-10), could that be what your thinking? Source: My own and my friends' experiences. Edit: my apologies, I didn't see the /kg part of your equation. After doing the math, yes that seems like a reasonable beginner/small dose.
        wp381640 8y ago
        1mg per KG of bodyweight
fhood 8y ago
MDMA can be extremely dangerous to your long term mental health. I'm not saying it doesn't have valid medical benefits, it certainly seems to, but if you consumed MDMA at any where near the frequency it is safe to consume alcohol it would not go well. Don't get me wrong, I think it should be legal, but lets not pretend it is comparable to alcohol. Edit: TL;DR MDMA probably has incredible medical benefits, but this does not mean that it can be safely consumed at the same frequency as alcohol or tobacco.
- clay_the_ripper 8y ago
  Pretty much any drug can be extremely dangerous. I see this response often (and I’m not critzizing you here) but look: painkillers, right? Given all the time. Can be EXTREMELY dangerous. Alcohol: CAN BE extremely dangerous. Millions of people die a year in alcohol related death. Nicotine: dangerous. Blood pressure medication: can be dangerous. Birth control pills...also dangerous. Drugs are freaking dangerous. Anything you take, could be dangerous yes. But that does not mean drugs should not be approved. Every drug is dangerous. So I am really sick and tired of people pointing out that “this could be dangerous”. Yes it could. It could also save lives. Might it kill some people due to complications? Yes it might. Lots of drugs have complications that could potentially end in death. Just watch any damn tv ad for a drug in the US!!
  - guildenstern 8y ago
    Yes but MDMA specifically will mangle your brain after very little recreational usage relative to almost all other drugs. Recreational use of MDMA a few times a week is _very bad_ on the long term health of your brain, very few other drugs are on that level — certainly none of the drugs you’ve listed.
    - mg794613 8y ago
      Sorry but few times a week is not recreational anymore. your brain needs rest for some months to rebuild/rest the receptors. truly these substances are controlled because they need little to get an overdose (at least in developed countries). It is a risk prevention measure because not everybody has the iq of 100

128 points by eplanit 8y ago

jeffreybezos 8y ago

I incorrectly thought the article was about a veterinarian and euthenasia of animals/pets.

ClassyJacket 8y ago
Haha, if they were a veterinarian they'd have easier access to treat their depression with the party drug and cat tranquilliser Ketamine, which also actually works[1] [1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4243034/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4243034/
- lev99 8y ago
  My understanding is that ptsd related depression responds differently to treatment than depression alone.
dang 8y ago
Using a famous person's name as your handle is not a good idea on HN, unless it's actually your name as well. I've banned this account, but if you send us a different username at hn@ycombinator.com we can rename it for you and unban it.
perilunar 8y ago
Me too. I think 'vet' = 'veteran' might be a peculiarly American usage.

ClassyJacket 8y ago

I have no doubts, and I'm so thankful of the research that MAPS is doing. I haven't even been thru any trauma and MDMA pulled me out of depression and greatly reduced my anxiety. It was an absolute miracle for me. It disgusts me that the stuff is illegal while cigarettes and alcohol are not. AMA.

wp381640 8y ago
I went through a similar experience. About 10 years ago I was in a bit of a funk and depressed, anxious etc. and further I think I was in denial about the problem. I was almost completely unproductive for about 6 months. Went out one weekend and had a mid-range dose of MDMA and with the afterglow in the days later I felt like a new person, complete with a spring in my step. It felt like I had been hoarding a lot of useless stuff in my mind and never being comfortable in my head, while MDMA was the clear-out I needed. I wouldn't advocate for each depressed or anxious person to try it as a cure-all, but I definitely advocate for more research (and have donated to the cause) and greatly reducing the stigma around the drug
- dgzl 8y ago
  I'm wondering what you consider a mid-range dose.
  - wp381640 8y ago
    1mg / kg (or just a little more) I only later learned more about dosages and found that the downsides are at higher (1.5mg/kg+) doses and with long re-dosing
    - dgzl 8y ago
      I don't mean to be rude, but not only is 1mg not a 'mid-range' dose, but it's not even enough to get effects from the drug. 100mg is ~average for a small/beginner dose (usually cost $5-10), could that be what your thinking? Source: My own and my friends' experiences. Edit: my apologies, I didn't see the /kg part of your equation. After doing the math, yes that seems like a reasonable beginner/small dose.
      - wp381640 8y ago
        1mg per KG of bodyweight

fhood 8y ago

MDMA can be extremely dangerous to your long term mental health. I'm not saying it doesn't have valid medical benefits, it certainly seems to, but if you consumed MDMA at any where near the frequency it is safe to consume alcohol it would not go well. Don't get me wrong, I think it should be legal, but lets not pretend it is comparable to alcohol. Edit: TL;DR MDMA probably has incredible medical benefits, but this does not mean that it can be safely consumed at the same frequency as alcohol or tobacco.

clay_the_ripper 8y ago
Pretty much any drug can be extremely dangerous. I see this response often (and I’m not critzizing you here) but look: painkillers, right? Given all the time. Can be EXTREMELY dangerous. Alcohol: CAN BE extremely dangerous. Millions of people die a year in alcohol related death. Nicotine: dangerous. Blood pressure medication: can be dangerous. Birth control pills...also dangerous. Drugs are freaking dangerous. Anything you take, could be dangerous yes. But that does not mean drugs should not be approved. Every drug is dangerous. So I am really sick and tired of people pointing out that “this could be dangerous”. Yes it could. It could also save lives. Might it kill some people due to complications? Yes it might. Lots of drugs have complications that could potentially end in death. Just watch any damn tv ad for a drug in the US!!
- guildenstern 8y ago
  Yes but MDMA specifically will mangle your brain after very little recreational usage relative to almost all other drugs. Recreational use of MDMA a few times a week is _very bad_ on the long term health of your brain, very few other drugs are on that level — certainly none of the drugs you’ve listed.
  - mg794613 8y ago
    Sorry but few times a week is not recreational anymore. your brain needs rest for some months to rebuild/rest the receptors. truly these substances are controlled because they need little to get an overdose (at least in developed countries). It is a risk prevention measure because not everybody has the iq of 100