Plasma amino acids in ecstasy users
Stuerenburg, H.J.; Petersen, K.; Buhmann, C.; Rosenkranz, M.; Baeumer, T.; Thomasius, R.
Neuro Endocrinology Letters 24(5): 348-349
2003
ISSN/ISBN: 0172-780X PMID: 14647011 Document Number: 555999
Recreational use of the illegal drug "ecstasy" has increased dramatically in recent years. We have measured 33 different plasma amino acids in ecstasy users and controls. Significant differences were found for phosphoserine, glutamate, citrulline, methionine, tyrosine and histidine. Resembling changes in the plasma amino acids have been described in acute transient polymorphous psychosis. Thus, alterations in plasma - methionine and phosphoserine or other amino acids could be involved in the psychical symptoms produced by MDMA.