Death following ingestion of MDMA (ecstasy) and moclobemide

  1. Erkki Vuori1,
  2. John A. Henry2,
  3. Ilkka Ojanperä1,
  4. Raija Nieminen1,
  5. Taru Savolainen3,
  6. Pia Wahlsten3,
  7. Matti Jäntti4

Article first published online: 20 FEB 2003

DOI: 10.1046/j.1360-0443.2003.00292.x

Issue

Addiction

Addiction

Volume 98, Issue 3, pages 365–368, March 2003

Additional Information

How to Cite

Vuori, E., Henry, J. A., Ojanperä, I., Nieminen, R., Savolainen, T., Wahlsten, P. and Jäntti, M. (2003), Death following ingestion of MDMA (ecstasy) and moclobemide. Addiction, 98: 365–368. doi: 10.1046/j.1360-0443.2003.00292.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland

  2. 2

    , Academic Department of Accident and Emergency Medicine, Imperial College School of Medicine, St Mary's Hospital, London, UK

  3. 3

    , Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Turku, Finlandand Provincial State Office of Western Finland, Finland

  4. 4

    4

* Professor E. Vuori Department of Forensic Medicine University of Helsinki PO Box 40 FIN-00014 Finland E-mail: erkki.o.vuori@helsinki.fi

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 20 FEB 2003
  2. Article first published online: 20 FEB 2003
  3. Submitted 21 May 2002; initial review completed 19 August 2002; final version accepted 19 September 2002

SEARCH

SEARCH BY CITATION

ARTICLE TOOLS

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (77K)

Keywords:

  • Death;
  • interaction;
  • Internet;
  • MDMA;
  • moclobemide;
  • serotonin syndrome

ABSTRACT

Four deaths following the ingestion of moclobemide and MDMA (‘ecstasy’) are described. The probable cause of death in each case was serotonin syndrome as a result of an interaction between the two drugs. As none of the victims had been prescribed moclobemide it seems that each had taken the drug to enhance the effects of MDMA, with fatal consequences. Warnings are needed against misinformed attempts to potentiate the pharmacological effects of illicit drugs.

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (77K)