"Ecstasy" should mean the substance MDMA, but, again because of the lack of any regulation and controls caused by prohibition, there are a range of similar chemicals sold as E. These include MDEA, MDA and MBDB.

Remember these extra uncertainties when reading the following advice.

Tips for Using E Safely

1. Health

Check your physical condition. MDMA puts serious strain on the body.  Before taking it try to be healthy and rested. Your heart, liver and kidneys all have to work harder.

Avoid taking  MDMA if you are on anti-depressants.

Avoid taking MDMA if you have a heart condition.

Your mental health is important also. If you feel that you are uneasy about taking it and not comfortable with being that open with yourself (E works on a very subtle psychological level) then don't do it.

2. Situation

Find a situation you feel comfortable and safe in. large parties or raves seem to be one of the favourite places to take E, but some people might find that a bit scary.

If you feel as if your bugging out find someone that is SOBER to talk you down or someone with a somewhat level head on them.

On of the medical uses of E was for building relationships, some people think it's ideal to take with a lover you are sure about. It gives you the ability to explore your relationship and each other.

It is important to feel free to express yourself without inhibition or interruption.

3. Looking After Yourself

The usual advice - if you're unfamiliar with it, take a small dose, say half a pill.

Never take more than one at a time, if you do want to double drop (or more) wait at least a couple of hours between pills

Perhaps the most important thing to understand about using E is to do with water.

E gives you a lot of energy and makes dancing a very enjoyable experience. This means you do a lot of it and because of that you sweat a lot. This means you lose water and need to replace it, so drink enough. However, as with all things, don't over do the drinking, sip slowly throughout the night, don't gulp several pints in one go. If you don't replace lost fluids, then its possible that your body will be unable to regulate it temperature, which leads to heat stroke. This has been the cause of death in several cases.

There is though, a sting in the tail.

E slows the kidneys down, making it hard to pee. So if you're not dancing around like a loony, and you're not sweating buckets, then don't drink so much. If you drink too much (a lot too much mind) then its possible to dilute your blood, another cause of death in a few cases (the most famous being Leah Betts from Essex).

The best stuff to drink is fruit juice or isotonic (sports) drinks. Avoid alcohol.

Have a bottle of water with you as you dance, and share it around with people. Always be on the lookout for people who look like they need a drink, and offer them one.

Allow at least 8 hours for the full munting experience and follow it up with a long rest.

4. Pill testing

It's possible to buy "pill testing kits", a chemical solution (marquis reagent) which changes colour from a clear liquid to a jet black / blue / purple  when it comes into contact with MDMA like chemicals. Its well worth testing any pill you might intend taking with this chemical, but its important to know what it does, and what it doesn't do.

A positive test means the pill contains some E like chemical, that is all it means. If the pill contains some other drug as well, or some chemical pollutant, the test will not show that. The pill test kit is not an indication of purity or quality.

A negative test (ie no colour change or the wrong colour change) means the pill you have is not an E pill. If that happens, throw the pill away, its not an E. This is the only real value to the pill testing kit, but its well worth doing as there are a lot of fakes out there.

Its not a very good test really, but its all we've got and it can expose a real fake.

Please post the results of any pills you do test to the pill testing database

More information on pre-existing Health Conditions thought to increase the risk to users of MDMA:

Heart Conditions

MDMA produces a significant increase in heart rate and blood pressure. This means that people with heart conditions may be more vulnerable to heart attacks or other heart complications if they take MDMA.

Liver Problems

There have been a few cases of post MDMA liver damage, although they appear to be idiosyncratic (inherent to an individual's genetic condition). If you have hepatitis or any other known liver dysfunction you may be particularly vulnerable to such damage.

Psychiatric Disorders

People with psychiatric disorders of any kind should be particularly carefully before taking Ecstasy or any other strong, psychoactive drug. MDMA has been known to cause anxiety in some people, and on rarer occasions seizures or panic
attacks. Those people who suffer from seizures, excessive anxiety, or recurring panic attacks may be particularly sensitive to MDMA. Regular MDMA use has also been known to cause temporary depression in some people. If you already suffer
from depression, MDMA use may exacerbate your symptoms.

Malignant Hypothermia

Some diseases, like the neuro-muscular disease called Central Core Disease, increase ones susceptibility to over-heating, or what is termed "malignant hypothermia." Malignant hypothermia is a symptom of serotonin syndrome (which has been known to occur in people taking MDMA), and can be life threatening. If you have Central Core Disease, or any other disease that increases your susceptibility to malignant hypothermia, your chances of death or serious adverse reaction to MDMA are significantly increased.

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