14 DAY TRIAL // Doctors have released details about a man who they believe is the biggest ecstasy user in the world, describing the incredible side effects the drug had on his mind.
The 37-year-old patient, known as Mr. A, took 40,000 tablets during a 9 year period. He took ecstasy between the ages of 21 and 30. In the first 2 years, he took 5 tablets every weekend and for the next 3 years, the dose grew to an average of 3.5 pills a day. During the last 4 years, his daily dosage was 25 pills a day.
Mr. A surpassed the previous record of 2,000 pills during a lifetime. The man gave up the drug at 30 years, after collapsing several times at parties, but continued to use cannabis. Because of the pills, Mr. A's muscles in the head and neck went rigid. He experienced anxiety, depression and severe panic attacks.
He became paranoid and had hallucinations, but these two symptoms disappeared after the man stopped using cannabis. One of the most devastating effects the drug had was on his mind, namely on his memory and concentration. He was unable to remember facts even for short periods of time.
"This was an exceptional case. His long-term memory was fine but he could not remember day to day things - the time, the day, what was in his supermarket trolley. More worryingly, he did not seem aware himself that he had these memory problems," said Dr Christos Kouimtsidis, the consultant psychiatrist at the hospital where Mr. A was treated.