Speaker Bio
Isabelle Straumann obtained her Master of Science degree in Pharmacy from the University of Basel in 2019. During her Master’s, she worked in the Psychopharmacology research lab of Prof. Matthias Liechti at the University Hospital Basel where she investigated how various genotypes affect the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of LSD in healthy test volunteers.
In 2020, she started her PhD under the supervision of Professor Matthias Liechti where she investigates different entactogens as well as the simultaneous use of MDMA and LSD. As part of her research, she has accompanied over 200 substance sessions with various substances (MDMA, MDA, LSD, DMT, psilocybin, and mescaline) in healthy test subjects. Her primary research interests lie in the pharmacology of psychoactive substances, specifically entactogens and psychedelics, and their effect on oxytocin levels.
ICPR 2024 Abstract
Acute effects of individual R- and S-MDMA enantiomer administration compared with racemic (±)-MDMA in a randomized double-blind cross-over trial in healthy participants
Theoretical Background and Rationale: Racemic ±3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is a psychoactive substance acutely inducing feelings of heightened mood, empathy, trust, and closeness to others. These acute subjective effects of MDMA may be helpful to assist psychotherapy and MDMA was shown to improve post-traumatic stress disorder in two phase 3 trials. MDMA is a racemic substance containing equal amounts of the enantiomers S(+)- and R(-)-MDMA.
Research Question and Hypothesis: Preclinical research indicates that S-MDMA mainly releases dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin, and oxytocin while R-MDMA may act more directly on serotonin 5-HT2A receptors and release prolactin. Animal studies indicate that the two enantiomers act synergistically to produce the subjective effects of MDMA and that S-MDMA is mainly responsible for psychostimulation, while R-MDMA may have fewer adverse effects and have greater prosocial effects. However, acute effects of S- and R-MDMA have never been validly examined or compared with (±)-MDMA in a human study.
Methods and Analysis: We used a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover design with 24 healthy participants and R-MDMA (125 mg), R-MDMA (250 mg), S-MDMA (125 mg), racemic (±)-MDMA (125 mg), and placebo administration in counterbalanced order. Outcome measures included subjective, autonomic, and adverse effects, pharmacokinetics, and levels of circulating oxytocin, prolactin, and cortisol.
Main findings: Subjective, autonomic and endocrine effects of the enantiomers and racemate were distinct and will be reported in detail.
Conclusion: The findings indicate differential effects of MDMA and its enantiomers with potentially diverse medical applications.