MDA

What’s the difference between MDA and MDMA (ecstasy)?

MDA is one of the main chemicals made when the body breaks down MDMA.^{3, 7,18}

MDA tends to last longer, feel stronger, and cause more psychedelic effects compared to MDMA.^9,15

MDA is also less predictable than MDMA, and its effects can vary widely from person to person.¹⁵

Both MDA and MDMA are found in illegal drug products and are often sold as ‘ecstasy’.^9,18-22

Ecstasy pills, tablets, capsules, powders, or crystals can contain either MDA, MDMA, or both.^9,18-22

Drugs sold as ecstasy can also contain many other psychoactive substances, including amphetamines, caffeine, ketamine, and opioids.^23,24

If you plan to take MDA or any other illegal drug, visiting a drug checking service can help you find out what is in it.

Pill testing in Australia is conducted through services like CanTEST in Canberra, and The Victorian Pill Testing Service in Melbourne.²⁵

How is MDA used?

MDA is usually swallowed but can also be snorted, smoked, injected, or inserted rectally (plugged/hooped).^6,12,13,23

Effects of MDA

The use of any drug can have risks. It’s important to be careful when taking any type of drug.

MDA can affect everyone differently, based on:

• size, weight and health
• whether the person is used to taking it
• whether other drugs are taken around the same time
• the amount taken
• the strength of the drug (varies from batch to batch)
• the environment (where the drug is taken).

Onset and duration of effects

Different ways of taking a drug, such as snorting, swallowing, or injecting, can impact how quickly a drug’s effects are felt.

The effects of MDA can be felt within 15 to 70 minutes when swallowed.^{6, 15}

Effects can last for 5 to 8 hours.^9,15

The ‘peak’, when the effects feel most intense, can last about 2.5 to 4 hours.^15,26

Immediate effects

The immediate effects of MDA can include:

• increased empathy, affection, and sociability
• increased heartrate and blood pressure
• euphoria (happiness)
• increased laughter
• increased or decreased energy (depending on your mood and environment)
• increased confidence
• high body temperature
• excessive sweating
• dehydration
• teeth grinding or jaw clenching
• large round pupils
• blurry vision/dizziness
• changes in perception, such as visual and auditory hallucinations
• heightened sense of touch
• feeling that your body is very heavy, or very light
• losing track of time
• difficulty urinating
• appetite suppression
• increased sex drive
• temporary erectile dysfunction.^2,3,9,15,27

Impact of mood and environment

Drugs that affect a person’s mental state (psychoactive drugs) can also have varied effects depending on a person’s mood (often called the ‘set’) or the environment they are in (the ‘setting’):

• Set: a person’s state of mind, previous encounters with the drug, and expectations of what’s going to happen. For example, feelings of stress or anxiety before using MDA may result in an unpleasant experience and make those feelings worse.
• Setting: the environment in which someone consumes MDA – whether it’s known and familiar, who they’re with, if they’re indoors or outdoors, the type of music and light. For example, using MDA in a relaxed or familiar environment can lead to, or contribute to, a pleasant experience. But being in a noisy, crowded place may result in a negative experience.²⁸

Being in a good state of mind, with trusted friends and a safe environment before taking MDA reduces the risk of having a bad experience.²⁸

Bad trips

A bad trip usually includes anxiety, paranoia, panic, or other negative emotions. People can also experience unpleasant or intense hallucinations.^11,29-31

Taking a large dose of MDA can increase the risk of a bad trip. Other things like age, sex, personality, mental state, and previous experience with the drug, can also affect someone’s experience.^9,11,29-31

While a bad trip can be scary, it’s generally not life threatening and the effects will go away as the drug leaves someone’s system.^11,29-31

Being with trusted friends, in a good state of mind, and in a safe environment before taking any psychedelic drug reduces the risk of having a ‘bad’ trip.^30,32

Overdose

If you take a large amount of MDA or have a strong batch, you could overdose.¹³

MDA can cause death.^33,34

Call triple zero (000) and request an ambulance if you or someone else has any of the following symptoms (emergency services are there to help and can provide instructions over the phone):

• passed out and non-responsive
• spasms or seizures
• heart attack symptoms such as:
• difficulty breathing
• sharp pain/discomfort in chest, arm, shoulder, back, neck, or jaw
• severe agitation, confusion, or panic
• racing heartbeat
• very high body temperature (hyperthermia)
• hot, flushed (red), or sweaty skin
• very large pupils.^35-38

Mixing with other drugs

Mixing MDA with other drugs can have unpredictable effects and increase the risk of harm.

Mixing also includes drinking alcohol or using medications at the same time or one after another.

• MDA and some antidepressants (MAOI, SSRIs, SNRIs): increases the risk of a dangerous build-up of the serotonin in the brain (known as serotonin syndrome).³⁹
• MDA and depressants (such as alcohol/opioids): can make it difficult to tell the effect that each drug is having on a person, increasing the risk of overdose. Increases the risk of dehydration, seizures (specific to the opioid tramadol), and excessive water consumption.
• MDA and dissociatives (such as ketamine/nitrous oxide): may increase the risk of delusions, unusual or impulsive behaviour (mania), and psychosis.
• MDA and MXE: may dangerously increase blood pressure and increase the risk of unusual or impulsive behaviour (mania), and psychosis.
• MDA and stimulants (such as amphetamines/cocaine): can dangerously increase blood pressure and strain on the heart. Unusual or impulsive behaviour (mania), paranoia, and hallucinations have also been associated with this combination in people who have been taking amphetamines for a long time.¹⁵

Reducing harm

There are ways in which you can reduce the risks associated with using MDA.

• Start low, go slow – try a little bit first to see how you feel. Wait at least 2 hours before deciding whether to take more.
• Test your drugs - if there is an available drug checking (pill testing) service near you - to find out what the drugs contain and how strong they are.
• Check medication interactions – MDA may interact with other medications you take such as antidepressants or opioid painkillers, which can increase your risk of serotonin syndrome.
• Take regular breaks to cool down – this reduces the risk of overheating and can lower heart rate.
• Use of MDA is safer on cooler days or during the evening – temperatures above 25℃ increase the risk of overheating.
• Drink around 250ml to 500ml of water per hour - to avoid dehydration and prevent water intoxication (hyponatremia), a potentially fatal condition caused by drinking too much water.
• Let a friend know what you’ve taken – so they can help if you’re unwell.
• Try to sleep or rest within a 24-hour period - to prevent sleep deprivation.
• Avoid operating machinery, driving, or swimming. ^{9,12,23,40-42}

If snorting:

• Crush into a fine powder - as crystals can cause cuts.
• Rinse your nose with water before and after use - to protect your nose from irritation.
• Use your own straw, or a disposable one, and avoid money notes - to reduce the risk of infections or transmission of viruses like HIV or hep C.
• Switch nostrils and take breaks - to avoid nasal damage.^23,40-42

If injecting:

• Always use new needles – never share needles or other injecting equipment. Use your own spoon/cup and tourniquet. Use new barrels, filters, sterile water, and swabs. Safely dispose of used equipment.
• Visit a needle and syringe program - for sterile equipment, disposal of used equipment, and expert medical advice.^23,40-42

Using MDA during sex

If using any drugs during sex, consent must be given and maintained by everyone involved.

This means:

• checking in regularly
• confirming that everyone is awake, alert, and can communicate clearly
• no-one is so affected by alcohol or other drugs that they are unable to make safe or informed decisions
• anyone can stop or change their mind at any time.^43,44

Coming down

The comedown of MDA can be more difficult compared to MDMA.¹⁵

In the days after using MDA, you may experience:

• anxiety, irritability, and depressed feelings
• appetite suppression
• difficulty concentrating
• trouble sleeping and exhaustion
• brain zaps (small electric shock feelings in the head that can spread through the body)
• thoughts of self-harm or suicide.^15,16,45

Long term effects

The long-term effects of MDA are not as well understood as MDMA.^9,16

Regular use of MDA may eventually contribute to:

• reduced immune function (regular colds and flu)
• depression
• needing to use more to get the same effect
• memory and concentration problems
• liver problems.^16,45

MDA and mental health

MDA changes the levels of certain chemicals in the brain, which affect mood and feelings.^2-6

Some evidence suggests it may also influence mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety.¹⁵

The 2025 National Ecstasy and Related Drugs Reporting System (EDRS) surveyed people who regularly use ecstasy or other stimulants.¹³

Over half (57%) reported experiencing a mental health problem in the past six months. Among these, depression and anxiety were the most common.¹³

This evidence doesn’t mean that using MDA will always cause a mental health problem.¹³

It’s difficult to say which comes first – mental illness or alcohol and other drug use.^46,47

But we do know they influence each other.^46,47

For example, someone experiencing mental health problems may take MDA to cope with those feelings. But over time, regular MDA use could contribute to making those symptoms worse.^46,47

MDA is also being looked at as an alternative to MDMA in MDMA-assisted therapy.^2,4

Tolerance

People who regularly take MDA may develop a tolerance to it, which means they need to take larger amounts to get the same effect.¹⁵

Tolerance to the stimulant-like effects of MDA will develop over weeks of use.¹⁵

Tolerance to the psychedelic effects of MDA can develop rapidly. Using MDA for several days in a row can make its psychedelic effects much weaker.¹⁵

Tolerance to one psychedelic also affects others. For example, using MDA will reduce the effects of LSD or psilocybin mushrooms (magic mushrooms). This is known as cross-tolerance. Tolerance will return to normal after a few days of not using drugs with psychedelic effects.^48,49

Dependence

People who regularly use MDA can become psychologically dependent. They may feel they need to use MDA to go about usual activities like socialising.^15,50

Withdrawal

Withdrawal refers to the symptoms that can occur when someone who is dependent on MDA or has used it regularly over time, stops or reduces their use.^15,51

Withdrawal can include physical symptoms (such as headaches, or nausea) and psychological symptoms (such as anxiety or depressed mood).⁵¹

Symptoms - including how strong they are and how long they last - will vary depending on the type of drug and a person’s history of use.⁵¹

The withdrawal effects of long-term MDA use are not as well understood.

However, if you experience symptoms after stopping or reducing your use, or have concerns, contact your doctor or the help and support services listed below for advice and support.

Getting help

If your use of MDA is affecting your health, family, relationships, work, school, financial or other life situations, or you’re concerned about someone you care about, there is help and support.

• Call the National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline on 1800 250 015 for free and confidential advice, information and counselling about alcohol and other drugs.
• Use the ADF’s Path2Help portal to get matched with information and services specific to your needs <find out more>.
• Search our Help and Support directory to find your preferred support, by adding your location or postcode and filtering by service type.
• The Stimulant Treatment Line offers free counselling and support for people who use stimulants, such as methamphetamine (ice), cocaine and ecstasy: 1800 101 188.