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FDA Approves Large Clinical Trial For Ecstasy As Relief For PTSD Patients (arstechnica.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the breaking-bad dept.

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday approved the first large-scale, phase 3 clinical trial of ecstasy in patients suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the New York Times reported. The regulatory green-light follows six smaller-scale trials that showed remarkable success using the drug. In fact, some of the 130 PTSD patients involved in those trials say ecstasy -- or 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) -- saved them from the devastating impacts of PTSD after more than a decade of seeing no improvement with the other treatment options available. Currently, the best of those established treatment options can only improve symptoms in 60 to 70 percent of PTSD patients, one expert noted. However, after one of the early MDMA studies, the drug had completely erased all traces of symptoms in two-thirds of PTSD patients. The new Phase 3 trial will involve at least 230 patients and is planned to start in 2017. Like the other trials, it is backed by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), a nonprofit created in 1985 to advocate for the medical benefits and use of psychedelic drugs, such as MDMA and marijuana. Also like the others, the new, larger trial will involve a limited number of MDMA treatments administered by professional psychotherapists as part of a therapy program. In previous trials, patients spent 12 weeks in a psychotherapy program, including three eight-hour sessions in which they took MDMA and talked through traumatic memories.

6 of 151 comments (clear)

  1. Here It Comes... by Scarletdown · · Score: 5, Funny

    If this proves to be a success, then this treatment will definitely be something to rave about.

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  2. But, by M0j0_j0j0 · · Score: 3, Funny

    On the other hand, patients will suffer from low nutrition issues due to the Dragons in the kitchen.

    1. Re:But, by Opportunist · · Score: 4, Funny

      Just chase your mom back to her room and you'll be fine.

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      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  3. Re:So basically.... by jcr · · Score: 3, Funny

    Penicillin is INCREDIBLE!

    -jcr

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    The only title of honor that a tyrant can grant is "Enemy of the State."
  4. Re:DEA already has rescheduled and overruled itsel by jcr · · Score: 2, Funny

    Bureaucrats in agencies that have no constitutional authority to exist in the first place can be such unbelievable assholes.

    -jcr

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    The only title of honor that a tyrant can grant is "Enemy of the State."
  5. Re:let's be honest here by Applehu+Akbar · · Score: 5, Funny

    So is milk.

    Huh?

    Use of milk leads to interest in breasts?