A critical care nurse friend mentioned to me that an article in the December issue, “Rhabdomyolysis: Pathophysiology, Recognition, and Management” (December 2003:14–32), was on the topic of rhabdomyolysis, which we had discussed recently in reference to management of patients who had been using “Ecstasy.” In the article, the author identifies “Ecstasy” as N-methyl-D-aspartate (NDMA). Although street drugs vary in purity, and many times customers get an unknown substance instead of the drug they believe they have purchased, in substance abuse and medical literature, the chemical usually identified by the street name of “Ecstasy” is 3,4-Methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA). MDA, 3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine, is also sometimes called “Ecstasy” or “the Love Drug.”

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