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MDA Facts

Psychedelic; Stimulant; Entactogen; MDxx; Serotonin releasing agent

Description

MDA (3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine) — Sass, Sally, Love Drug — is a synthetic empathogen of the substituted amphetamine class. MDA floods serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine into the brain while also directly activating serotonin receptors — the same ones classical psychedelics target.[1]

Subjective effects include empathogenic warmth, emotional openness, stimulation, wakefulness, and genuine closed-eye hallucinations — geometry, formed imagery, and complex scenes.[2] The experience layers psychedelic depth over MDMA-like closeness, with stronger stimulation than either — a combination that sets MDA apart from pure empathogens and classical psychedelics alike.[3]

MDA does not produce physical dependence, but it is more neurotoxic than MDMA — the liver converts it into compounds that selectively destroy serotonin nerve terminals.[4][5] Heat amplifies this damage sharply: even small temperature increases make neurotoxicity substantially worse,[6] making hot environments the most dangerous context.

Dose and durationby route · individual sensitivity varies

Oral(mg)
Threshold< 20 mgLight40 – 60 mgCommon60 – 100 mgStrong100 – 145 mgHeavy145+ mg

Starts in 30 – 60 minLasts 5 – 8 hoursAfter-effects 2 – 6 hours

Body and dependence

Acute toxicity
Moderate
Chronic toxicity
Moderate
Physical dependence
Negligible
Psychological dependence
Low
Withdrawal
None recorded
Compulsive redosing
Low

Tolerance

Builds
Rapid
Fully resets after
7 days
Carries over to
MDMA; serotonergic psychedelics; amphetamines

Effectslikely at a common dose

Perception
none likely · 21 possible, including Visual haze / noise, Spatial disorientation
Body
Stimulation; Wakefulness; Appetite suppression; Pupil dilation; Insomnia; +23 possible, including Excessive sweating, Dehydration sensation, Temperature dysregulation
Thinking
none likely · 20 possible, including Compulsive redosing urge, Cognitive impairment, Decision impairment
Feeling
Empathy enhancement; Emotional enhancement; Euphoria; +7 possible, including Depression, Anhedonia, Emotional lability
Self
none likely · 9 possible, including Derealization, Craving
Time
none likely · 2 possible
Transpersonal
none likely · 1 possible
Awareness
none likely · 2 possible

Who shouldn't take it

Absolute
Hypertension; Structural heart disease; Psychotic disorders; Bipolar disorder; Pregnancy and breastfeeding; Concurrent MAOI use; Concurrent tramadol use
Relative
Hepatic impairment

Combinations61 recorded

Lethal (2)
MAOIs; Tramadol
Dangerous (33)
Anticholinergics; Atypical antipsychotics; Caffeine; Dopamine agonists; Ephedrine, Pseudoephedrine; Local anesthetics; MDMA, Amphetamines; MDMA, MDA; NDRIs (Wellbutrin); NRIs; Opioids; SNRIs; SSRIs; Stimulants; 5-HTP, Tryptophan; Alpha-2 adrenergic receptor antagonist; Antihistamines; Antipsychotics; Buspirone; Clonidine, Guanfacine; DXM; GHB, Baclofen; GHB, GBL; Ibogaine; and 9 more, see full page
Caution (23)
See full page: psychedex.org/substances/mda
Not graded (3)
Not listed never means safe.

Seek help immediately if

  • Overheating / very high body temperature — heavy sweating, then hot dry skin (the leading cause of MDMA deaths, worse when dancing in hot venues)
  • Muscle rigidity, jaw clenching, tremor, or twitching (possible serotonin syndrome)
  • Fast, pounding heartbeat; chest pain
  • Agitation, confusion; seizures
  • Hyponatremia (water intoxication) — headache, confusion, drowsiness, vomiting, and seizures from drinking too much water
  • Nausea/vomiting; collapse or unconsciousness

What to do

  1. Move them somewhere cool and help them cool down — overheating is the main danger
  2. Sip water to stay hydrated but DO NOT overdrink — roughly a cup (250 ml) per hour if active; too much water can be deadly (hyponatremia)
  3. Get them to rest and stop dancing
  4. For overheating, seizures, chest pain, muscle rigidity/tremor, confusion, or unresponsiveness, call emergency services
  5. Recovery position if drowsy or vomiting; stay with them
  6. Be ready to give rescue breaths / CPR

Most resolve with cooling, rest, sensible hydration, and time. The life-threatening dangers are hyperthermia, serotonin syndrome, and hyponatremia (too much water) — each a medical emergency, not something to wait out.

988 Suicide & Crisis LifelineFireside Project: 62-FIRESIDE

Version r1 · Not medical advice

References

  1. [1]
    ^Kolaczynska KE, Ducret P, Trachsel D, Hoener MC, Liechti ME, Luethi D (2022) Pharmacological characterization of 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) analogs and two amphetamine-based compounds: N,α-DEPEA and DPIA — European Neuropsychopharmacology doi:10.1016/j.euroneuro.2022.03.006
  2. [2]
    ^Baggott MJ, Siegrist JD, Galloway GP, Robertson LC, Coyle JR, Mendelson JE (2010) Investigating the mechanisms of hallucinogen-induced visions using 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA): a randomized controlled trial in humans — PLoS ONE doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0014074
  3. [3]
    ^Straumann I, Vizeli P, Avedisian I, et al. (2026) Acute effects of MDMA, MDA, lysine-MDMA, and lysine-MDA in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial in healthy participants — Neuropsychopharmacology doi:10.1038/s41386-025-02248-3
  4. [4]
    ^Untitled doi:10.1523/jneurosci.08-08-02788.1988
  5. [5]
    ^Monks TJ, Jones DC, Bai F, Lau SS (2004) The role of metabolism in 3,4-(+)-methylenedioxyamphetamine and 3,4-(+)-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (ecstasy) toxicity — Therapeutic Drug Monitoring PMID:15228153
  6. [6]
    ^Malberg JE, Seiden LS (1998) Small Changes in Ambient Temperature Cause Large Changes in 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-Induced Serotonin Neurotoxicity and Core Body Temperature in the Rat — Journal of Neuroscience doi:10.1523/jneurosci.18-13-05086.1998
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