In 1985, MDMA became a controlled substance. With the FDA watching, the materials to concoct the drug became harder to get. These factors caused a tremendous demand for Ecstasy. Sadly, profit motivates. DXM inhibits sweating which increases the likelihood of heatstroke, and it can cause hallucinations.
Large doses can still cause problems with dehydration and overheating.
Mixing any of these with alcohol or other prescription drugs enhances the danger even more. These are just short-term problems. Research about the long-term effects of Ecstasy or MDMA is ongoing. A lot of it centers on how Ecstasy attacks areas in brain cells that manufacture the neurotransmitter serotonin. Ecstasy causes the nerve cells to release a rush of serotonin.