Alcohol + MDMA
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bubble_chart Synergistic tendency

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Mixed

The combination of these substances attenuates some of their effects and increases others.
Reliability: proven.
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error_outline Estimated risk

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Unsafe

The combination of these substances presents non-negligible physical or mental risks.
Reliability: proven.
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flare About effects

As alcohol is a depressant and MDMA a stimulant, their subjective effects can counteract each other. In this trip report, for example, the user feels the alcohol only when the MDMA comes down.

Discussions on Reddit (such as here and there) highlight memory loss. On Erowid, most accounts of this mix report negative experiences, although it's not always possible to disentangle the causes.

This literature review from 2016 synthesizes scientific knowledge about this interaction. It shows that :

  • alcohol increases the concentration of MDMA in the blood, producing a longer-lasting euphoria ;

  • MDMA reduces the mental confusion of alcohol, inducing a feeling of sobriety, but does not reduce psychomotor confusion.

menu_book About risks

On Erowid, most accounts of mixing alcohol and MDMA report negative experiences. Part of the problem seems to be the strong disinhibition that facilitates MDMA abuse, which brings its own set of risks. Discussions on Reddit (such as here and there) also report memory loss and blackouts.

This mixture seems to cause severe dehydration. Moreover, this literature review shows that it affects temperature regulation, leading to a risk of hyperthermia, which can itself have serious repercussions. For example, several organizations warn of increased liver toxicity.

As this trip report shows, MDMA's stimulant properties can induce a feeling of sobriety. However, this study on driving shows that reflexes are still impaired by alcohol, even at low doses. This can lead to over-estimation of one's abilities, which increases contextual risks, such as accidents. Furthermore, there is a risk of alcohol overdose when the effects of MDMA wear off.