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Atenolol and MDMA

T

t_r_i_p_

Bluelighter
Joined
Jul 12, 2009
Messages
91
Hello. I originally posted this in Ecstasy Discussion, but was told it might be a good idea to ask you folks on this forum.

My question is, what are the possible interactions between Atenolol and MDMA?

I have done an exhausted search of Google and the Bluelight search engine, and I am getting a lot of conflicting information. Some meth users have reported using it to ease their comedown, but hospitals advise not using beta blockers with stimulants because of theoretical ischemia. Then again, one website stated that they have never been able to find any actual incidents of this happening, it's just a theoretical problem. A lot of what I find on Bluelight is people simply saying something to the effect of, 'it's a bad idea.'

I'm fairly new to the world of drugs in general. But as ignorant as I may be, I am still morbidly curious about why it's a bad idea.

I keep my MDMA doses to no more than every 6 months, and would like to roll again as soon as I can find some clean pills. (Which could be a long time, with the flood of piperazines.) However, I recently developed hypertension, and my doctor has told me that it's most likely due to stress and anxiety. I'm prescribed Atenolol at the moment, but I'm trying to manage stress better and make healthier life choices so I can eventually stop taking it. She thinks if I exercise more, quit smoking, and find a way to "meditate" (I think that's going to be the tough one), I should be able to stop taking it.

In the meantime, does anyone know how dangerous this combination would be? I'm already aware of the risks of high blood pressure and stimulants (CVA, MI, blood clots, etc.) You don't need to stress those to me.

Also, if this is dangerous, does anyone know of a hypertension treatment that wouldn't be contraindicated? I'm already considering switching medications anyway because of the side effects. I really don't like this particular medication.

Lastly, I know it's stupid of me to even speculate, but if I stopped taking it, how long would it take to "safely" take MDMA? (Quotations used, of course, because I know it's not 100% safe.)

This was the only response I recieved on my other post:

RGB said:
First off, I'm not a doctor, don't have any special medical knowledge, etc. Take everything I'm about to say with a heaping grain of salt (maybe not if you have hypertension, ho ho :P) and always get a second opinion, especially one from a professional.

If you were using a broad-scope beta blocker (i.e. one that blocked all beta-andrenergic receptor subtypes), I'd be extremely wary of mixing it with any kind of stimulant. Alpha and beta andrenergic receptors have a complementary role in controlling vasoconstriction (alpha) and vasodilation (beta), and blocking the beta receptors in the presence of elevated adrenaline/noradrenaline from the stimulant would most likely lead to excess vasoconstriction (due to stimulation of the alpha receptors without the beta receptors balancing it) and consequent ischemia.

The fact that Atenolol is a selective b1-receptor antagonist makes the situation more interesting, because b2-receptors are the ones that primarily mediate vasodilation. b1-receptor stimulation causes increased heart rate and pumping volume, and consequently higher blood pressure; when it's blocked, heart rate is not necessarily suppressed, but it's discouraged from rising in the presence of adrenaline/noradrenaline. I'm tempted to say that as long as the b2-receptors are still able to control vasodilation, you shouldn't need to worry about ischemia.

I know it's difficult to consult about the use of illegal drugs with medical professionals, and most people on this forum will (correctly) recommend not using in a void of knowledge about any potential side effects. Nevertheless, I hope what I've said gives you a place to start in your continuing research into the topic, and I'd definitely try to seek out a non-judgmental source of medical knowledge or trying your question with the folks on the Advanced Drug Discussion board.
Click to expand...

Any information on the topic would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
 
Heh, the information conflict continues.

In my research, I read that this was the case a few years ago, but not really anymore, because of what RGB said. I saw a study backing up exactly what that user said, but the patients had various cocaine-related heart problems. Selective beta-1 blockers didn't seem to make the situation worse, and in some cases helped, but it's still not a suggested treatment. I guess I just what to know... why? Not really that effective? *shrug*

Then again, all small amount of medical literature I've found on the broad topic of 'stimulant induced hypertensive crisis with beta blockers' deals with cocaine, not MDMA. I don't know if cocaine is related to all of the other stimulants enough to make any of the above true about every other stimulant. I'm by no means a chemist, pharmacist, or a doctor... just a curious roller with high blood pressure. And all this information is kind of over my head, so I'm confused.

I don't know. I think since my blood pressure is only scary high when I'm having an anxiety attack, I'll just be a lab rat and take them... when that day comes and I find clean pills. Or maybe that will take so long, the situation will have vanished and I'll be off of it. Whichever comes first.
 
In general, you don't want to mix adrenergic agonists and adrenergic antagonists. Especially if you're taking the beta-blocker for Hypertension, Tachycardia or things like that. MDMA could send you into a bad BP spike, cardiac arrest or similar ill-fate.

Granted, MDMA is a more mild norepinephrine re-uptake inhibitor, so if you're taking a beta-blocker for anxiety issues, you should be okay with a low dose of MDMA. Possibly throw in a benzo just for good measure. But this specific drug I don't really see being used for this all that much.

Just read you're using it for Hypertension. I'd say treat very carefully.

And try and digest what RGB said. Good stuff.
 
RedLeader said:
Possibly throw in a benzo just for good measure.
Click to expand...

At the same time? Or keep on hand in case it does spike?

I think I'll just be healthy for a little longer and see if this just goes away like my doctor thinks it will. There aren't any good pills I can get ahold of right now anyway, so it's not like I'm in a hurry.
 
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