---
title: Pharmacological Interaction Between Pindolol and MDMA (3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine)
nct_id: NCT00895804
overall_status: COMPLETED
phase: PHASE1
sponsor: University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
study_type: INTERVENTIONAL
primary_condition: Mood Disorder
countries: Switzerland
canonical_url: "https://parkinsonspathways.com/agent/trials/NCT00895804.md"
clinicaltrials_gov: "https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT00895804"
ct_last_update_post_date: 2009-06-15
last_seen_at: "2026-05-12T07:28:34.285Z"
source: ClinicalTrials.gov (mirrored, no enrichment)
---
# Pharmacological Interaction Between Pindolol and MDMA (3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine)

**NCT ID:** [NCT00895804](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT00895804)

## Key Facts

- **Status:** COMPLETED
- **Phase:** PHASE1
- **Study Type:** INTERVENTIONAL
- **Target Enrollment:** 16
- **Lead Sponsor:** University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
- **Collaborators:** Heffter Research Institute
- **Conditions:** Mood Disorder, Substance-Related Disorders, Amphetamine-Related Disorders
- **Start Date:** 2001-06
- **Completion Date:** 2002-03
- **CT.gov Last Update:** 2009-06-15

## Brief Summary

MDMA (3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine, "Ecstasy") produces tachycardia, hypertension, hyperthermia, and other acute adverse effects. Ecstasy use has also been associated with rare cardio- and cerebrovascular complications. The role of beta-blockers in the treatment of cardiovascular and adverse effects of MDMA is unknown.

## Detailed Description

We investigated the interactive effects of the beta-blocker pindolol (20 mg) with MDMA (1.6 mg/kg) on heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and adverse effects in a double-blind placebo-controlled study in 16 healthy subjects.

## Eligibility

- **Minimum age:** 18 Years
- **Maximum age:** 45 Years
- **Sex:** MALE
- **Healthy Volunteers:** Yes

```
Inclusion Criteria:

* Sufficient understanding of the German language
* Subjects understand the procedures and the risks associated with the study
* Participants must be willing to adhere to the protocol and sign the consent form
* Participants must be willing to refrain from taking illicit psychoactive substances during the study.
* Participants must be willing to drink only alcohol-free liquids and no xanthine-containing liquids after midnight of the evening before the study session.
* Participants must be willing not to drive a traffic vehicle in the evening of the study day.
* Body mass index: 18-25 kg/m2

Exclusion Criteria:

* Chronic or acute medical condition including clinically relevant abnormality in physical exam, laboratory values, or ECG. In particular: Hypertension (\>140/90 mmHg). Personal or first-grade history of seizures. Cardiac or neurological disorder.
* Current or previous psychotic or affective disorder
* Psychotic or affective disorder in first-degree relatives
* Prior illicit drug use (except THC-containing products) more than 5 times or any time within the previous 2 months.
* Participation in another clinical trial (currently or within the last 30 days)
* Use of medications that are contraindicated or otherwise interfere with the effects of the study medications.
```

## Arms

- **Pindolol, Placebo** (OTHER) — Cross-over within-subjects design with all treatment conditions tested in the same subject. This design has 1 arm but two (actually 4) treatment conditions in the same subject.
- **MDMA, Placebo** (OTHER) — Cross-over within-subjects design with all treatment conditions tested in the same subject. This design has 1 arm but two (actually 4) treatment conditions in the same subject.

## Interventions

- **MDMA** (DRUG) — capsule, 1.6 mg/kg body weight, single dose
- **Pindolol** (DRUG) — capsule of 20mg pindolol, single dose 1h before MDMA

## Primary Outcomes

- **Effect of pindolol on subjective response to MDMA** _(time frame: 24h)_

## Secondary Outcomes

- **Effect of pindolol on physiological response to MDMA** _(time frame: 24h)_

## Locations (1)

- Heffter Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry, Zurich, Canton of Zurich, Switzerland

## Recent Field Changes (last 30 days)

- `armsInterventions.interventions` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `sponsor.lead` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `sponsor.collaborators` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `armsInterventions.arms` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `results.hasResults` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `status.overallStatus` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `status.primaryCompletionDate` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `status.completionDate` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `status.lastUpdatePostDate` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `design.phases` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `design.enrollmentCount` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.criteria` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.minAge` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.maxAge` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.sex` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `outcomes.primary` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `outcomes.secondary` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `locations.heffter research center, university hospital of psychiatry|zurich|canton of zurich|switzerland` — added _(2026-05-12)_

---

*Canonical: https://parkinsonspathways.com/agent/trials/NCT00895804.md*  
*Source data (authoritative): https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT00895804*  
*This page is a raw mirror with no AI summary, no editorial enrichment, and no Parkinson's-specific filtering.*