How Long Does MDMA (Ecstasy) Stay in Your System

How Long Does MDMA (Ecstasy) Stay in Your System Addiction Drug Use Hallucinogens Print How Long Does MDMA (Ecstasy) Stay in Your System? MDMA in Your Blood, Urine, Hair By Buddy T facebook twitter Buddy T is an anonymous writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Learn about our editorial policy Buddy T Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on October 28, 2019 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on February 10, 2020 Verywell / Joshua Seong More in Addiction Drug Use Hallucinogens Cocaine Heroin Marijuana Meth Ecstasy/MDMA Opioids Prescription Medications Alcohol Use Addictive Behaviors Nicotine Use Coping and Recovery In This Article Table of Contents Expand Effects Duration Factors That Affect Detection Time Elimination Symptoms of Overdose Getting Help View All Back To Top MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) is a synthetic drug that acts as a stimulant, hallucinogen, and entactogen. It is  used recreationally for its mild hallucinogenic and stimulant properties, as well as its ability to increase emotional closeness. MDMA is commonly known as ecstasy or molly, though what is referred to by these names is rarely purely MDMA. Rather, its often cut with other substances. MDMA is a Schedule I controlled substance, which means it has no established medical use and a high potential for misuse, although studies are underway to determine its effectiveness in treatment for anxiety in people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and terminal illness. MDMA that is used recreationally isnt manufactured as a standard dose. It is made by illegal labs and packaged as tablets, capsules,  and powders of unknown strength and ingredients, to be snorted or taken orally. MDMA can be detected in your body from one to 90 days, depending on the type of test as well as the frequency of use and a persons unique physical characteristics. How Long Does MDMA Stay in Your System? Blood: Up to 2 daysUrine: Up to 4 daysSaliva: Up to 2 daysHair: Up to 90 days Ecstasy (MDMA): Everything You’ve Been Afraid to Ask How Long Does It Take to Feel Effects? MDMA works by boosting the activity of three neurotransmittersâ€"dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrineâ€"that play a role in mood, energy level, appetite, trust, sexual activity, emotions, and sleep. People who use ecstasy typically feel the effects within 30 minutes of taking the drug and report feelings of euphoria, warmth, openness, and clarity as well as heightened sensations of touch, sound, and smell. These effects can last for three to six hours. MDMA is not a harmless drug. Serious risks include hyperthermia, cardiovascular effects, impaired mental capabilities, risky behavior, and overdose. Up to 24 hours after taking the drug, side effects include: NauseaVision problems (blurred vision or increased light sensitivity)Dry mouthMuscle cramping or tensionJaw and/or teeth clenching that is uncontrollableSweating After a week or more, users have reported the following side effects: IrritabilityImpulsiveness and aggressionDepressionSleep problemsAnxietyMemory and attention problemsDecreased appetiteDecreased interest in and pleasure from sex What Does MDMA Do to the Brain? How Long Does MDMA Last? While the recreational effects of MDMA  usually last about three to six hours, the half life of MDMA is 8 to 9 hours. As shown by one study, peak effects are observed between one and two hours and decrease four to 6 hours after taking the drug.?? MDMA is not one of the five drugs tested for by the standard five-panel drug test used by most employers; however, it does show up during this test. If MDMA shows up during the amphetamine test of the five-panel, a confirmation test will be run specifically looking for MDMA. Blood Research suggests that MDMA taken by mouth reaches its maximal blood concentration in about two hours. MDMA can be detected in blood for one to two days. Urine Ecstasy can be present for two to four days in urine. Hair Hair follicles maintain a trace of all drugs a person has taken, and MDMA is no exception. While hair drug tests are not common, be aware of the presence of MDMA in hair may linger for months. False Positive Testing Its always a good idea to tell the testing agency what other drugs and supplements you are taking so that the presence of these substances on your drug test results dont trigger a false positive. For example, a 2010 study found that the anti-depressant trazodone led to false positives on a commercial enzyme immunoassay test (Ecstasy EMIT II assay) for MDMA in urine.?? If any of the medications you are on trigger a false positive, stay calm and explain the medications you are taking and additional tests will be done to clear up the confusion. Snorting vs. Oral Ingestion How you take MDMA can impact detection time. In general, the faster the drug is absorbed into the bloodstream, the shorter the detection window.  For example, if you snort MDMA, it will stay in the body for a shorter amount of time than if you take it orally. Factors That Affect Detection Time Many factors can influence how a persons body processes or metabolizes MDMA, including the following. Dosage Frequency of Use If you take larger doses or take multiple doses over time, MDMA can stay in your system longer. Similarly, one-time users will have a shorter detection time than people who use the drug more often. Body Type Many drugs, or their metabolites, tend to accumulate in fatty tissues, so someone with a higher body mass index (BMI) may take longer to fully eliminate the drug from their body. Metabolism Some people may be fast or slow MDMA metabolizers. People with high metabolic rates, which are often affected by age, activity level, and certain health conditions, tend to have a smaller detection window. Overall Health Underlying health problems, such as liver or kidney disease, can influence drug metabolism. How to Get MDMA Out of Your System Contrary to popular belief, drinking a lot of water will not flush your system of MDMA to help beat a drug test. This practice is not only ineffective but its dangerous during the first 12 hours after taking the drug since MDMA can exacerbate the effects of drinking too much water. The only way to get MDMA out of your system is to stop taking the drug and allow your body time to metabolize and eliminate it. Symptoms of Overdose People who take MDMA may try to take more of the drug as the high begins to wear off, while the first dose is still in their system. They may think they arent feeling anything, end up taking more, and then get hit with a larger dose than they bargained for, which can lead to an accidental overdose. The following are some symptoms of an MDMA overdose: High blood pressureFeeling faintPanic attacksLoss of consciousnessSeizures Dangerous Interactions Using other drugs or alcohol with MDMA increases the risk of overdose. Its important to note that any additional substances cut into MDMA will also have their own set of effects and influence how long the drug stays in your system. MDMA can temporarily impede the bodys ability to regulate temperature. Extreme spikes in body temperature can result in heart, kidney, or liver failure and even death. While no adverse event related to this has been documented in controlled, clinical environments, this effect is believed to be a problem in club environments, where people may be dancing and not drinking enough water. Well-intentioned narratives about it being extra important to drink water on MDMA can backfire when people begin to drink more water than they need. As a 2016 study showed, MDMA can increase water retention and increase the risk of water toxicity, or hyponatremia, if too much water is ingested.?? Symptoms of hyponatremia include nausea, confusion, fatigue, irritability, muscle spasms, and seizures. If you suspect someone has overdosed or is having a negative reaction to MDMA, call 911 immediately. How to Recognize the Signs of Ecstasy Use in Teens Getting Help Symptoms of withdrawal can range from mild to severe, depending on the frequency of use and dependency, and can sometimes cause people to return to using MDMA or another drug to avoid these unpleasant effects. Symptoms of MDMA withdrawal include: AnxietyConfusionInsomniaPoor memoryFatigueDifficulty concentratingDepression If you are concerned about having a positive drug test and want to stop using MDMA, help is available. With help, you can learn how to stop using the drug and better cope with any symptoms of withdrawal so you can begin on the road to recovery. Start by talking to your doctor about your treatment options or call the toll-free SAMHSA national hotline at 1-800-662-4357 to locate treatment services in your area.