Effects and Risks of Methoxetamine or MXE

Effects and Risks of Methoxetamine or MXE Addiction Drug Use Hallucinogens Print Effects and Risks of Taking Methoxetamine By Elizabeth Hartney, BSc., MSc., MA, PhD Elizabeth Hartney, BSc, MSc, MA, PhD is a psychologist, professor, and Director of the Centre for Health Leadership and Research at Royal Roads University, Canada. Learn about our editorial policy Elizabeth Hartney, BSc., MSc., MA, PhD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on August 05, 2016 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on February 14, 2020 MATJAZ SLANIC / Getty Images More in Addiction Drug Use Hallucinogens Cocaine Heroin Marijuana Meth Ecstasy/MDMA Opioids Prescription Medications Alcohol Use Addictive Behaviors Nicotine Use Coping and Recovery Methoxetamine or MXE has stimulant and dissociative effects, with the stimulant effects predominating at lower doses, and the dissociative effects at higher doses. Users of lower doses of the drugâ€"up to 20 milligramsâ€"report feeling calm, with an increase in energy, euphoria, and disconnection from problems and concerns. These feelings can continue as an afterglow for one to two hours after the main effects of the drug wear off. Common Effects of Taking MXE At higher doses (40-50mg), the effects are different and much more intenseâ€"and more similar to related drugs, ketamine, and PCP. These include feelings of intense intoxication, auditory and visual hallucinations, and a feeling of disconnection from your body. It also causes severe ataxia, which makes you uncoordinated and can cause difficulty walking or even moving. Nystagmus has also been reported. Depending on the set and setting and your personal reaction to the drug, you can experience an altered state of consciousness that can range from a dreamlike state to a terrifying bad trip experience of heightened, intense anxiety, that can go on for several hours. When taking methoxetamine, a state of dissociation, sometimes referred to by users as an m-hole parallel to the k-hole experience on ketamine, can make you feel oblivious to yourself and the world around you. MXE Risks Very little objective information is available about MXEâ€"most is anecdotal, posted on internet forums by users, or reported by emergency physicians who have dealt with acute cases. These individual reports give an idea of what someone says about their personal experience with the drug, but this would not necessarily predict other users experiences. The lack of credible research evidence on MXE makes it a risky substance to take both in the short term and the long term. In the short term, if you suffer from acute complications of the drug, the doctors who try to help you in the emergency room will likely not be well-versed in what you have taken, or how to best treat it. Information is not yet available on the long-term effects of MXE, so we dont currently know how taking MXE might affect your future mental or physical health, your fertility, or the health of your baby if you are pregnant or breastfeeding when you take it. Anecdotal reports from users indicate that tolerance builds up quickly and that the drug has a high potential for addiction. Some users report taking high doses several times a day in an effort to maintain the positive effects on their initial low doses. This is often coupled with emotional difficulties and associated social problems. As there is very little information available, many addiction counselors and medical staff may not have even heard of the drug, let alone know about the effects. This may make forming a therapeutic relationship and effective addiction treatment for this drug particularly challenging. Taking MXE in Combination With Other Drugs Marijuana appears to intensify MXE in a negative way, causing severe disorientation and distress, slurred speech and difficulty communicating. Users can also become hyperthermic and hyperpyrexic, which is potentially fatal.