In many ways, MDMA, which often goes under the name of ecstasy or molly, is a cross between a stimulant drug and a hallucinogenic drug. As such, it presents dangers that are common to both types of substances.
For parents who are concerned that their adolescent or adult children may be taking MDMA, it is important to have an accurate way of testing for the drug. But is MDMA detectable on drug tests? Which drug test kits measure for MDMA? And how long does it take for MDMA to be processed by a person’s system? For anyone confused or concerned, the answers to these and many other questions can be found below.
What Does MDMA Stand For?
What Does MDMA Do?
Many people report feeling increased feelings of love, trust, and warmth. For this reason, MDMA is a popular party drug that is widely abused in clubs, raves, and other group events.
How Long Does MDMA Stay in Your System?
MDMA’s short term positive effects are quickly followed by emotionally and physically distressing withdrawal symptoms. These include:
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Muscle cramping and tension
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Jaw clenching that can feel uncontrollable
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Dry mouth
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Nausea
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Vision problems (such as increased light sensitivity and blurred vision)
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Sweating
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Decreased appetite
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Anxiety
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Depression
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Decreased libido
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Irritability
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Sleep problems
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Attention and memory problems
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Impulsiveness and aggression
The half-life of MDMA is relatively short, clocking in at about 8 or 9 hours. This means that after 9 hours, most people have processed half of the MDMA they have consumed. However, eliminating the remaining half takes much longer than the first half. For this reason, withdrawal symptoms after a bout of MDMA abuse can often last for several days, sometimes up to a week.
How Long Does MDMA Stay in Urine?
How Long Does MDMA Stay in Blood?
How Long Does MDMA Stay in Hair?
Types of MDMA Drug Test
Choosing the right test is essential. There exist other tests like the Electrocardiogram pregnancy test. People who have lots of uneven chemical levels in their bodies might get a false positive test result which means they need counter-testing like serum osmolality tests to ensure that’s not the case. This is why it is important to have a professional on board when working with a sensitive test.
MDMA in Urine
Metabolites are chemical byproducts — or traces — produced while a person’s body processes MDMA. These metabolites remain present in the urine for approximately 2 to 4 days. After 4 days, MDMA is rarely detectable in the urine.
MDMA in Blood
This is because MDMA is eliminated from the blood rather quickly as the body works to metabolize and eliminate it through the urine. For this reason, blood tests are generally not ideal ways of detecting MDMA usage unless it is suspected that a person has abused MDMA in the last day or two.
MDMA in Hair
MDMA can be detected in hair for months. It is also possible to identify approximately when a person last abused MDMA simply by identifying which section of the hair follicle contains MDMA metabolites. While hair tests have many advantages, they are relatively uncommon because they are expensive and resource-intensive.
Factors That Affect MDMA Drug Tests
Taking other substances
Certain medications, such as trazodone, can lead to false positives on MDMA tests. Other substances can slow the body’s ability to process and metabolize MDMA. For this reason, it is essential to inform test administrators if you have taken any other medication or recreational drug recently.
Route of administration
Body type
Dosage
Metabolism
Overall health
Getting Help for MDMA Addiction
If you or a loved one is struggling with MDMA abuse or addiction, it is essential to seek help right away. Most drug abuse treatment centers are well-equipped to deal with this sort of situation.
Design for Recovery, a structured sober living for men located in West Los Angeles, is a safe, supportive, and trigger-free environment where men can do the essential work of rebuilding their lives. Design for Recovery provides regular drug testing to ensure that all residents remain physically sober.
Moreover, however, we help people tackle the underlying issues that drove them to abuse MDMA in the first place. While learning valuable coping skills and tools, residents of Design for Recovery build strong sober communities, pursue new academic and career goals, and work toward building lives that are happy, joyous, and free.
If someone you know is doing illegal drugs then you need to get them in touch with rehabilitation or recovery centers. This holds true, especially if there is a suspected drug overdose and they require drug testing.
Frequently Asked Questions
MDMA drug screen urine is a type of test used to detect the presence of MDMA in a person’s system. It can be used to determine whether an individual has recently consumed the drug and how much was taken. It usually involves testing a urine sample for traces of MDMA metabolites, which can remain detectable in the body for up to three days.
If you want to stop abusing drugs or alcohol but you don’t want to be miserable in the process, you’re not alone. Contact Design for Recovery today. It’s never too late to turn your life around.
NIDA. 2020, June 15. MDMA (Ecstasy/Molly) DrugFacts. Retrieved from https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/mdma-ecstasymolly on 2022, December 25
Lopez MJ, Tadi P. Drug Enforcement Administration Drug Scheduling. [Updated 2022 Jun 23]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557426/
Abraham TT, Barnes AJ, Lowe RH, Kolbrich Spargo EA, Milman G, Pirnay SO, Gorelick DA, Goodwin RS, Huestis MA. Urinary MDMA, MDA, HMMA, and HMA excretion following controlled MDMA administration to humans. J Anal Toxicol. 2009 Oct;33(8):439-46. doi: 10.1093/jat/33.8.439. PMID: 19874650; PMCID: PMC3159864.
Madry MM, Steuer AE, Hysek CM, Liechti ME, Baumgartner MR, Kraemer T. Evaluation of drug incorporation into hair segments and nails by enantiomeric analysis following controlled single MDMA intakes. Anal Bioanal Chem. 2016 Jan;408(2):545-56. doi: 10.1007/s00216-015-9130-3. Epub 2015 Oct 31. PMID: 26521178.
