The chemical name for ecstasy is 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, or MDMA. The chemical structure and the effects of MDMA are similar to amphetamine ("speed," a stimulant) and to mescaline (a hallucinogen).
The effects of ecstasy depend on several things, such as your age, your weight, how much you take or how often you take it. Other circumstances include the environment you are in, other drugs you may be taking, including alcohol, prescription drugs and illicit drugs, and whether or not you have certain pre-existing medical or psychiatric conditions.
In low to moderate doses, ecstasy can produce feelings of pleasure and well-being, increased sociability and closeness with others. Like all stimulant drugs, ecstasy can make users feel full of energy and confidence.
Even at low doses, ecstasy can also have strong negative effects. Higher doses are unlikely to enhance the desirable effects, and may intensify the negative effects. These effects include grinding of teeth and jaw pain, sweating, increased blood pressure and heart rate, anxiety or panic attacks, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting and convulsions.
After the initial effects of the drug have worn off, people may also experience after-effects such as confusion, irritability, anxiety, paranoia, depression, memory impairment, or sleep problems.