By Taylor Lynne Trentwood, Ph.D.
Denver Life Coach in Health
August 9,2010
Veterans from Iraq and other theatres of war may receive treatment with Ecstasy! The FDA has given approval for a trial of treatment for PTSD in a combination of psychotherapy and Ecstasy. This is a major step forward in mental health methods of treatment.
Denver is a likely VA hospital site for this ground breaking work in which there has been success treating men and women who have been unable to be helped by any other methods, including anti -depressants, psychotherapy, relaxation training and support groups.
The initial results are excellent. Ten out of a group twelve test subject showed very positive effects from the treatment protocol. A combination appears to be the surest method therefore the chemical MDMA is paired with physical monitoring to watch for side effects and to be a therapeutic agent as well.
This is truly groundbreaking news and the FDA has made a very positive decision in moving this therapy forward. People who have suffered severe trauma often live their entire lifetime without relief from their disorder. Their crushing symptoms include overwhelming anxiety, flash-back like memories and severe depression, among others.
A placebo group which also had the same number of sessions for psychotherapy but not the Ecstasy chemical showed on a two in eight or 25% rate of improvement. The difference between the treatment group and the placebo group is highly significant.
This therapy may allow the brain to “re-boot” and have a fresh start in a way that no current treatment or medication can do. Let’s keep a positive mind set that this new trial will bring much welcomed relief to our suffering veterans. It is the most hopeful sign of something new and of progress for PTSD in a very long time.
More on this soon. We wil be followin this very closely.(c).
Taylor
Comments
I think this is great news, not only for veterans but for others with PTSD. As a rape survivor whose PTSD has destroyed my life, I look forward to following this issue. I'll try anything that might help me rebuild my life and become fully functional again.
As a PhD psychologist who has specialized in the treatment of abuse victims for over thirty years, I question this. We have so many techniques such as regression (not hypnosis), body process work, ecotherapy, dream therapy, etc. that work to free the victim of the pain that was caused by the abuse/trauma. They can have freedom from the pain and gain vital wisdom from the experience. What the government has just approved is a highly addictive drug that most users become addicted to fast. Of course it works! It is called Ecstasy for a reason. Let’s help them in another way, a healthier way, not possible drug addiction.
MDMA isn't addictive. This is typical misinformation - well intended, no doubt, but badly informed.
Dr Dona. Do you know what Opiates are the vareity that can be found in prescription medicine? They are addicting drugs, once your body consumes them, they are needed constantly to avoid withdrawal. MDMA is not like this, its only addictive quality is physcological, just like french fries or chocolate cake can be.
Therapy involving MDMA involves a dose being administrated by a physcologist, with the entire experience taking place under supervision and in a single room. I feel really sorry for your patients as this drug was originally created for this exact purpose and they are missing out on chance to regain their life. No need to get your patients addicted to SSRI's when a single dose of MDMA will allow a person to open up they have long surpressed...
The most dangerous thing about MDMA is the DEA.
With all due professional curtesy, Dr. LaMar, I must question a number of your statements. Please point me to any reliable studies which demonstrates that MDMA is either physically or psychologically addictive. Additionally, please provide citations to any study published in a top tier, peer-reviewed journal which shows statistically significant efficacy for any of the techniques you mentioned. I'm afraid you may be taking a view on this subject which is not supported by the scientific literature.
I do not know Dr. LaMar so am unable to respond. Thanks , though, for your note on this MDMA study.
I do not know Dr. LaMar so am unable to respond. Thanks , though, for your note on this MDMA study.
They'll approve a drug that can kill you and drive you insane but they won't give pot a chance? This is stupid. Why don't you just put all the little ADD kids on acid while you're at it. And maybe prescribe cocaine to expectant mothers.
Your points are very well taken. Have you read my work on "Pot". I suspect we are not that far apart on some issues. Intelligent people are always concerned about the use of new medications and that is why the cost-benefit ratio is so carefully measured in VA studies. Thanks for your input. Best Wishes Taylor
Mdma won't kill anyone or drive anyone insane, unless they are abusing it to a very extreme amount. Basically all reported deaths from mdma are due from not drinking water and overheating, drinking too much water, or taking other more dangerous drugs often found mixed with mdma. And they are giving marijuana a chance in many places. But then again there are many negative effects from marijuana on society and the individual who is using it, no less than mdma.
Yes, ecsasy can kill you. Not MDMA. Ecstasy is a mixure of MDMA with other illicit drugs like amphetamine, ketamine, BZP etc. This study was done with MDMA, not ecstasy. MDMA will not kill you. People die from either drinking too much water, or drinking too little water, not from the drug itself. MDMA cannot kill you by itself
One thing that we must consider is the memory itself, not necessarily what happens mentally with that memory (PTSD). It is theorized that long-term potentiation (LPT) is involved with the creation of and storing of memories such as these. LPT occurs when an event takes place during a highly excitable state. It doesn't matter if the excitable state is a positive or negative, only that it is present. New neurons are generated that store this memory in addition to the already present (basic) neuronal processes. Does MDMA target these neuronal processes and dull or destroy allowing for the strong memory to be minimized to a point that is tolerable? These are the questions that need to be answered. We need more information on how these memories are created and why they are so much stronger than everyday type memories. Then and only then will we be able to deal with them in a successful manner. The utilization of MDMA may be the beginning that we need in understanding this process.
I agree . Thank you for such an informative comment. This IS just the beginning of such research needed to understand the process. Best wishes with your studies and Ph.D. program
I have used MDMA in the past recreationally. It's main effects are this limitless, undying love that surrounds you, without 'dampening' your mind like alcohol, or other psychoactive drugs that are abused. A friend of mine's father and my own died in a very close proximity of time from one another another, and we didn't talk about it for years. A long time later, we both tried MDMA, and all of our innermost thoughts that we regressed came out, and we were able to talk about them logically and emotionally. The next day, long after the psychological effects wore off, we both had a new perspective on the situation, and it still lasts for both of us to this day, a LONG time later. Also, after doing this drug, we felt very 'content' with our experience, which was very significant to us, and have no need or desire to do it again because of the benefits we experience, and doing it again would be exploitive. If, under the correctly monitored situation, I truly believe that others could have the wonderful life-changing experiences that we both had with no negative repercussions. I think it is important to look past the stigma and consider the unimaginable benefits that this treatment can deliver. Thank you for reading!
Your report on the effects are widely documented. The marked reduction of anxiety and socially conditioned fears leave the patient with a "pure sense of self" Thank you very much for the input. Best wishes
Thank you for sharing!
Thank you so much for sharing your own personal experience with this drug. You validate the best hopes of the FDA and Veterans doctors . Doseage is so important and many of the problems are in an overdose , uncontrolled situation without medicos presnet. The world is changing in regard to the use of neuro-meds as we are learning how, when used professionally, the brain can be aided in ways formerly not thought possible. Taylor Lynne
I just have to remind the "Anonymous" above that marijuana has NO known ill effects on either an individual or society. The only "ill effect" is illegality.
I'm happy to see that MDMA is being used like this. Having used recreationaly in the past, I completely relate to the other "Anonymous" above. It had helped me immensely in similar ways.
This is great news..anyone who disagrees isn't getting their facts straight. Plus, just look at the studies! ten out of twelve showed very positive results!.
Psychedelics, including mdma, are not addictive (mdma is maybe a little psychologically addictive, as with many things-it comes down to the individual) and should be used more in medicine because they are the most natural and beneficial medicines. It is our culture which has the damaged outlook on drugs, fueled by miss information. Dr. lamar being a perfect example of the ignorance within the own field. They don't even teach psychiatrists about the past work with psychedelics, which was at one point 20% of the entire field.
Hate to break it to you kind sir but being how MDMA is 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methamphetamine it is addictive for the hell of it you could say its hippie speed well cause it is k smart guy ;)
One would do well to examine the recent leniency imposed on the policing of illicit substance abuse in Indonesia (maybe it wasn't Indonesia... some other Asian country perhaps), wherein a drastic decrease in substance abuse and drug-related deaths was noted upon implementation of the country's newfound leniency pertaining to substance abuse. I believe the headline, captioned "Giving drug users a break" or something similar, was featured on Yahoo!, and the image associated with the headline was of an IV drug user injecting their cocktail of the day while sitting on the rim of a circular fountain in the middle of one of the country's major cities in broad daylight.
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