I thought this thread would be closed by now,
but its not, so I will add another 10 cents worth to the debate.
Personally, I have a lot trouble figuring out if I have a low dose of MDMA, if the pill is MDEA or if I have a tolerance problem.
In reality, I think most of the pill I have had are MDEA.
My first pill was MDMA and it kicked arse.
The following info. may be useful in this discussion.
I carn't remember where I got this info. but it was origionally posted on alt.drugs Date: 1 Feb 1994.
An Analysis of "Hearts", a Tablet Illicitly Sold as "Ecstasy" in Sydney.
Introduction: In recent months (1994), observers have noticed an increase in the availablility of tablets sold illicitly as "ecstasy", supposedly (MDMA), in Sydney.
One form which has often been reported is known as "Hearts". Some experienced users claimed that the effect of the tablets was "smacky", i.e. they thought that it contained heroin in addition to MDMA.
Up until a few months ago, in the Netherlands, the MDMA analogue N-ethyl methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDE, MDEA, Eve) was legal and freely available. With the banning of this substance, it would seem reasonable that the newly illicit stockpiles should have been distributed around the world.
In recent years, quality MDMA has been rare in Sydney, and sales of adulterated or forged samples have correspondingly been rife. However, there have been persistant rumours of recent "ecstasy" supplies having their origin in the Netherlands, and indeed this has been used as a marketing point; people tending to believe that if it is imported, it is more likely to contain MDMA.
All this suggests a possible link between recent "ecstasy" in supplies Sydney and Dutch MDE, so it is of great interest to analyse a sample of the drug.
Experimental: 0.0398g of powdered "heart" tablet was suspended in 20ml H2O etc.etc.
The H1 NMR spectrum of the sample was taken, and found to correspond identically with an authentic sample of pure MDE having been worked up in the same manner. There was no evidence to suggest the presence of MDMA, or other amphetamines.
Conclusion: The tablets known as "hearts" and sold as "ecstasy" have been found to contain at least 36% N-ethyl methylenedioxy amphetamine (MDE) (calculated as the hydrochloride salt). No other active substances were found. It is quite possible that the sample had its origin in the Netherlands.
Subjective differences between MDE and MDMA: While the effects of these two substances are sufficiently similar to make differentiation difficult, there are some significant subjective differences. MDE is somewhat less potent than MDMA, a typical dose being in the range 100-160mg (as opposed to 80-140mg). At large doses, MDE may resemble MDA (methylenedioxy amphetamine), although its psychedelic effects are less; it is a "stoning" intoxicant, and in particular can make walking or dancing difficult.
Large doses of MDMA can have a similar effect, although it seems that somewhat more can be used without incurring the almost drunken intoxication. In smaller amounts, MDE greatly resembles MDMA, although the physical and tactile effects are generally perceived as being prevalent. The emotional opening and empathic effects for which MDMA is famous, although present, do not seem to be as pronounced.
As a substance of abuse at raves, MDE has the possible advantage over MDMA that the user is less likely to embarass him/herself in public through inappropriate empathy. On the other hand, MDE is more likely to temporarily incapacitate the user at normal doses.
University of Wollongong, Australia
[This message has been edited by stone (edited 12 July 2000).]
