Changes in body pH and how this affects drug absorption, distribution and elimination
PLEASE NOTE:
- Any increase in absorption rates and/or lengthening the elimination of MDMA also increases toxicity, as plasma levels peak higher and/or remain high for longer
- Alkalizing carries potential health risks which can be life threatening. Don't over-do it
Stomach
The stomach isn't the best suited medium for absorption normally, but it is equipped to enable a protonatable molecule like MDMA to be reasonably well absorbed via passive diffusion.
The acid salt (protonated) form of MDMA reacts in the presence of an alkali to produce the freebase form which is almost completely unabsorbed in the stomach, duodenum or colon. Therefore, if intending to take an alkalizer to increase stomach pH, it is important to make sure all of this has absorbed/ reacted before introducing the MDMA. Wait a good 5 minutes or so.
Personally, I would avoid aluminium based antacids if possible as recent experience has indicated that the tendency for aluminium ions to form complexes with amines
does adversely affect absorption with MDMA.
If you took enough of an alkalizer such as bicarb of soda, you would find that within about 5-10 mins your blood plasma then your urine will also be alkalized.
Urine
As tathra mentioned, for this example the kidneys can be thought of as a long tubule, with the membrane of the tube wall able to reabsorb certain ionic species back into the bloodstream. As also described, MDMA once in the body is a molecule able to change its physical properties (bio-availability/ ionic form) in either an acid or an alkali environment.
The normal pH of the urine means a mixture of some protonated and some non-protonated MDMA exists in this environment. The protonated form is eliminated and the non- protonated MDMA is reabsorbed by charge transfer, back into the blood stream through what is effectively a "transparent" tubule wall. The chemistry is a wee bit complex, mainly because there are so many controlling factors and ionic species concentrations which are normally strictly maintained (homeostasis). But it suffices to know that any change in urinary pH
may place extra load on the kidneys and bladder, already under strain from the vasco-constrictive nature of the drug.
Plasma
This is the hardest to fully describe without pages of diagrams and texts, but it suffices to say that any alteration to pH in the stomach will also be reflected in a similar change in pH in the blood plasma and urine. How this is re-adjusted depends on how severe this change is.
How the drug is affected when plasma pH is changed depends upon many factors involved with the distribution properties of the drug. Being both hydrophilic (water loving) and able to form protein conjugates, MDMA is quickly distributed and redistributed throughout the body once in the blood stream.
Severe changes in pH in various areas of the body may have drastic outcomes. Plasma pH can withstand some quite large acidic influences as buffers prevent any serious fluctuations. If we did not have pH buffers in our blood, a drink of coke would kill you in seconds! But plasma pH cannot tolerate large increases in alkalinity. This is why IV users must be careful that any cut won't dramatically alter pH of the drug in solution.
Caution should always be advised if considering upsetting normal body function in this manner. Learn and understand the delicate nature of the system you are tampering with first.
Poking and Snorting
In relation to routes of administration and amounts absorbed; besides the normal bio-regulating factors involved, the form of the MDMA must also be considered. Insufflations of pure MDMA crystal may result in a similar amount being absorbed to that reported with amphetamine when snorted (see link below) But the variety of different binders and excipients used in pills makes this impossible to practically determine IMO, unless the MDMA in tablets is first extracted using an A/B recrystallization. Insoluble binders do not provide the perfect medium for absorption by along way. Think about clogging your nose up with chalk before a line of crystal.
The bioavailability of intranasal and smoked methamphetamine
Plugging has it's advantages and disadvantages. From a health perspective, providing it wasn't done on a regular basis, plugging is probably the safest form of alternative administration. Just remember to use lube, and resist any urge to defecate for at least 30 mins....8(
![:\](https://bluelight.org/xf/BL_Images/Orig_Emoji/wrygrin.gif "wry grin :\")
