Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Drug toxicity: Drug–Drug Interaction

Drug toxicity: Drug–Drug Interaction

Drug–drug interactions can precipitate toxicity through multiple mechanisms. Absorption interactions alter how drugs enter the body, exemplified when ranitidine increases the absorption of basic drugs, while cholestyramine decreases the levels of propranolol. Protein binding interactions occur when drugs share the same binding sites on plasma proteins. Drugs like aspirin and warfarin, when bound in excess, can lead to increased free drug concentrations, enhancing the potential for...

CNS Depressants: Alcohol and Nicotine

CNS Depressants: Alcohol and Nicotine

Ethanol, a clear colorless alcohol, has been consumed by humans for millennia, but its effects on the body are far from benign. At lower doses, it induces decreased inhibitions and loquaciousness, leading to its social appeal. However, it can cause severe consequences at higher doses, such as coma and respiratory depression, due to its zero-order elimination kinetics. Chronic ethanol abuse wreaks havoc on multiple organ systems, particularly the CNS and the liver. Abrupt cessation of ethanol...

CNS Stimulants: Psychedelic Agents

CNS Stimulants: Psychedelic Agents

Hallucinogens, also known as psychedelic drugs, are a class of substances known for their ability to alter perception, cognition, and emotions. Despite their profound effects on the mind, these drugs are non-addictive, setting them apart from many other abused substances. The mechanism of action of these drugs lies in their impact on the 5-HT2A receptor in the brain. Upon activation, this receptor couples to Gq-type G proteins, triggering a cascade that releases intracellular calcium. This...

Stimulants

Stimulants

Stimulants are substances that enhance neural activity and elevate dopamine levels in the brain, leading to their highly addictive nature. These drugs include cocaine, amphetamines, MDMA, caffeine, and nicotine, each with distinct mechanisms of action and varied health implications.
Cocaine can be administered via snorting, injection, or smoking. It primarily functions by blocking the reuptake of dopamine, resulting in a euphoric high characterized by an intense sensation of happiness and...

Combined Effects of Drugs: Synergism

Combined Effects of Drugs: Synergism

Synergism is a useful mechanism where combining two or more drugs is more effective than each constituent used alone. Such combinations are also called supra-additive interactions. The drugs collectively enhance the final therapeutic effect by acting on different targets. Another advantage is that the low dose of each constituent drug is sufficient to achieve the desired effect. This helps reduce the duration of therapy and lower the adverse effects of these drugs.
Such synergistic combinations...

Pharmacokinetics: Drug–Drug Interactions

Pharmacokinetics: Drug–Drug Interactions

Drug interactions occur when the pharmacological effect of one drug is altered by another substance, either enhancing or diminishing its activity. The drug whose activity is altered is known as the object drug, and the substance causing the alteration is called the agent drug or the precipitant. The net effects of these interactions are mostly undesirable, leading to decreased effectiveness or increased adverse effects. In rare cases, interactions can be beneficial, such as the enhanced...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

A Phase 1 Study Evaluating the Pharmacokinetics and Safety of Avacopan in Participants with End-Stage Kidney Disease on Hemodialysis.

Journal of clinical pharmacology·2026

Same author

A phase 1/1b study of the BCMA-targeting bispecific T-cell engager pavurutamab for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.

Blood·2026

Same author

Diurnal Regulation and Gene-Specific Vulnerability of Oxidative Alcohol-Metabolizing Enzymes to Circadian Disruption.

International journal of molecular sciences·2026

Same author

What Does an Editor Do in 2025?

Clinical pharmacology in drug development·2025

Same author

Correction to "Newer Therapeutic Approaches in Treating Alzheimer's Disease: A Comprehensive Review".

ACS omega·2025

Same author

Clinical Pharmacology Characterization of the First-In-Class Oncolytic Viral Therapy T-VEC in Adults and Pediatric Subjects.

Journal of clinical pharmacology·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Flypub To Study Ethanol Induced Behavioral Disinhibition and Sensitization

Flypub To Study Ethanol Induced Behavioral Disinhibition and Sensitization

Published on: May 18, 2020

Drug interaction between ethanol and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine ("ecstasy").

Vijay V Upreti¹, Natalie D Eddington, Kwan-Hoon Moon

¹Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.

Toxicology Letters

|May 19, 2009

Summary

Co-administering alcohol (ethanol) with MDMA (ecstasy) increases toxic acetaldehyde levels and liver damage. This occurs because MDMA inhibits the enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2), hindering acetaldehyde metabolism.

More Related Videos

Microdialysis of Ethanol During Operant Ethanol Self-administration and Ethanol Determination by Gas Chromatography

Microdialysis of Ethanol During Operant Ethanol Self-administration and Ethanol Determination by Gas Chromatography

Published on: September 5, 2012

Chronic Intermittent Ethanol Vapor Exposure Paired with Two-Bottle Choice to Model Alcohol Use Disorder

Chronic Intermittent Ethanol Vapor Exposure Paired with Two-Bottle Choice to Model Alcohol Use Disorder

Published on: June 23, 2023

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Flypub To Study Ethanol Induced Behavioral Disinhibition and Sensitization

Flypub To Study Ethanol Induced Behavioral Disinhibition and Sensitization

Published on: May 18, 2020

Microdialysis of Ethanol During Operant Ethanol Self-administration and Ethanol Determination by Gas Chromatography

Microdialysis of Ethanol During Operant Ethanol Self-administration and Ethanol Determination by Gas Chromatography

Published on: September 5, 2012

Chronic Intermittent Ethanol Vapor Exposure Paired with Two-Bottle Choice to Model Alcohol Use Disorder

Chronic Intermittent Ethanol Vapor Exposure Paired with Two-Bottle Choice to Model Alcohol Use Disorder

Published on: June 23, 2023

Area of Science:

Pharmacology
Toxicology
Drug Metabolism

Background:

Alcohol (ethanol) and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) are commonly co-abused.
Previous research demonstrated MDMA inhibits aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) activity.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the hypothesis that co-administration of MDMA and ethanol leads to reduced acetaldehyde metabolism and accumulation.
To determine the impact of this interaction on liver damage.

Main Methods:

Rats were administered MDMA or a vehicle control, followed by a single dose of ethanol.
Liver ALDH2 activity, plasma acetaldehyde concentrations, and plasma transaminase levels were measured.

Main Results:

MDMA treatment significantly decreased liver ALDH2 activity by 35%.
Plasma acetaldehyde concentrations (peak and AUC) were significantly higher in the MDMA-ethanol group compared to the ethanol-only group.
Hepatocellular damage, indicated by plasma transaminase levels, was 80% higher in the MDMA-ethanol group.

Conclusions:

The findings support a significant drug interaction between MDMA and ethanol.
A novel mechanism involving the inhibition of ALDH2 by MDMA, leading to acetaldehyde accumulation and increased liver injury, is proposed.