What are withdrawal symptoms of ecstasy?

Answer 1

Yes, Ecstasy (or MDMA) does have withdrawal.

As with any psychoactive, the effects of withdrawal are different for everyone.

Sometimes more than one of the types of withdrawal symptoms are present. Rarely, all of them are. Severity of symptoms varies based on time spent on MDMA, frequency, and previous psychological issues with the person. For instance, someone who has a background of depression/anxiety and motivational issues is likely going to be affected more severely from the impact of stopping taking MDMA. Leaving the 'happy world' behind is usually even harder for someone who never experienced it before.

Symptoms can include (in varying severity):

Dehydration, as it is easy to forget self care and one feels quite energetic using MDMA

Overheating

Anxiety

Panic Attacks

Insomnia

Depression (De-personalization)

Loss of reality

Paranoid Delusions

These effects usually pass quickly but occasionally carry on many months after stopping. The serotonin receptor changes in monkey brains persisted for years, but moderate use in humans has not been shown to have disastrous results. For some people, MDMA seems to ameliorate depression.

In clinical trials, animals self administered MDMA, but at a much lower rate than Cocaine or, which shows that the substance has potential for abuse, but not to the degree of substances considered highly addictive.