Going Like Sixty
Edit
 FDA To Approve X As Prescription Drug? Within a year MDMA, better known as the drug ecstasy, may be approved by the FDA as a prescription drug… but not for recreational fun. “Ecstasy gained notoriety as a party drug in the 1980s and 1990s,” Slate.com said. “(Recall teenagers at raves with sparkly eyes and pacifiers rolling and dancing all night; a revival appears to be under way in England.) Enthusiasts say the drug makes them feel relaxed, energetic, and mentally clear. One likened it to a six-hour orgasm. In rare cases, however, users died after dancing for hours and overheating, or after taking mixtures of ecstasy and other drugs.” So why would the FDA approve it? Researchers are using ecstasy as a treatment for post traumatic stress disorder. Harvard University is currently working on studies to show whether or not “x” could give relief to cancer patients when combined with traditional therapies.  "There is nothing else like this in psychiatry—a fast-acting anti-anxiety medication that makes people alert and talkative," says Julie Holland, a psychiatrist at NYU Medical Center. If available to treat patients, "It would be incredibly useful." Some mental-health professionals interested in exploring MDMA's therapeutic uses protested when the government made it illegal 20 years ago. Stories of the drug's power to combat the psychological effects of terminal illness have continued to surface over the years. But proponents have had little but anecdote to go on. The current wave of studies should bring new rigor to answering an old question: whether MDMA deserves to be a prescription drug.
(slate)References: slate 2 Comments: on Over-the-Counter Ecstasy |
 |
|
 |
