FDA approves use of MDMA for treatment of PTSD

[Magical Realist]

https://www.forbes.com/sites/janetwburns...029f2e7460

"Following years of lobbying and laboratory research on the medical uses of methylenedioxymethamphetamine, or MDMA, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has decided to move forward with the drug.

Last week, the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) announced that the FDA has granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation to MDMA for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Popularly known as a recreational drug, and as the main ingredient in ecstasy, MDMA has been shown to offer significant relief for sufferers of PTSD in clinical use trials conducted over the past several years, leading to the U.S. agency's decision.

MAPS, which has been championing and fundraising for MDMA research for roughly 30 years, explained in a press release that the FDA's granting of a Breakthrough Therapy Designation indicates the agency "has agreed that this treatment may have a meaningful advantage and greater compliance over available medications for PTSD." It also designates the agency's intent to help develop and review the treatment faster than other candidate therapies...."

[Syne]

Breakthrough Therapy Designation is only a fast track review. It could just as readily be denied at the end of the 60 day review period. MAPS could have jump the gun without sufficient clinical evidence.

[Yazata]

Personally, I think that this particular drug (and its many chemical relatives) might have a number of valuable psychiatric uses.

It's the best long term mood elevator that I know of, so it might be useful with depression and it might very likely be valuable with social anxiety as well. Those are just two examples out of what might be many beneficent effects. PTSD is apparently another.

The beauty of it is that while the acute intoxication effects only last a few hours (and are quite pleasurable), the longer term mood changes last for weeks or even months in some cases.

Of course, the FDA obviously needs to evaluate it for more harmful side effects as well.

But I am glad to see them considering it, and not just giving their accustomed 'psychoactive drug = bad' knee-jerk response.

[Magical Realist]

I did ecstasy back in the 80's. It makes you feel so good and you basically feel very tactile like you want to cuddle with someone. So we did!

[RainbowUnicorn]

I did ecstasy back in the 80's. It makes you feel so good and you basically feel very tactile like you want to cuddle with someone. So we did!

the medical process of application would be using only around 10 % to 15 % of what you would take while engaging in (CBT)social activaties managed to push your personal boundarys.
what the specialists are effectively doing is teaching people how to socialise again.
like learning how to walk again amongst a crowd of runners.