Plasma Oxytocin Changes in Response to Low-dose MDMA vs. Placebo in Patients With Arginine Vasopressin Deficiency and Healthy Controls (OxyMAX)

This double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial (n=24) will investigate the effects of low-dose MDMA (25mg or 50mg) on oxytocin levels in patients with arginine vasopressin deficiency (a condition affecting water balance in the body, also known as central diabetes insipidus) and in healthy controls.

Conducted by the University Hospital Basel, Switzerland, this study aims to determine whether MDMA increases oxytocin levels in healthy individuals while having little to no effect in patients with vasopressin deficiency.

Participants will receive either MDMA or a placebo in a randomised order, with at least 10 days between doses. Researchers will monitor plasma oxytocin levels over a 5-hour period after administration and assess additional physiological and psychological effects, including emotional recognition, anxiety levels, and subjective drug experiences. The study is expected to run from January 2025 to December 2026.

Topic Healthy Subjects
Compound MDMA
Country Switzerland
Visit trial
Status Planned
Results Published No
Start date 01 January 2025
End date 01 December 2026
Phase Phase I
Design Blinded
Type Interventional
Generation First
Participants 24
Sex All
Age 18- 99
Therapy No

Trial Details

The investigator hypothesize that low-dose MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) will produce a sufficiently strong oxytocin stimulation in healthy controls and no relevant increase in patients. This study will confirm previously published data and provide important safety data with low-dose MDMA stimulation testing.

Trial Number NCT06789705

Sponsors & Collaborators

University of Basel
The University of Basel Department of Biomedicine hosts the Liechti Lab research group, headed by Matthias Liechti.

Data attribution

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