Once a person ingests molly, the intestines absorb the chemicals and filter them into the bloodstream. A person who takes molly in tablet or capsule form may begin to feel the effects after around 45 minutes.
The effects of recreational doses of MDMA (50–150 mg) peak within 2 hours of a person taking it orally. If a person opts for nasal administration instead, they will notice the effects much sooner.
The drug’s effects then begin to wear off. In general, the effects last up to 6 hours after ingestion.
Molly affects the brain by increasing the activity of three brain chemicals: serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. A surge in these chemicals causes effects such as:
- increased heart rate
- increased blood pressure
- a boost in energy levels
- elevated mood
- nausea
- chills
- sweating
- blurred vision
- muscle cramps
- teeth clenching
These effects may last for 3–6 hours. In the days and weeks following moderate molly intake, other symptoms and side effects can emerge. These include:
- mood changes, including aggression and irritability
- anxiety and depression
- sleep problems
- loss of appetite
- issues with memory and attention span
- loss of libido
Learn more about the effects and risks of taking molly here.
When a person takes molly orally, the drug makes its way into the stomach before moving to the intestines. From here, it passes into the bloodstream. At this point, the person begins to feel the effects of molly.
This includes effects on the stomach, heart, blood vessels, and muscles, as well as neurological effects such as agitation and anxiety.
The liver then breaks down the drug into chemical compounds called metabolites. MDMA and its metabolites pass to the kidneys, which will filter the drug out of the bloodstream.
The chemicals then move to the bladder, and they eventually leave the body in the urine. The body will also excrete some metabolites through feces and sweat.
The half-life of molly is approximately 8–9 hours. A drug’s half-life is the time it takes for the amount of the drug in a person’s system to be reduced by half. Research indicates that it takes five half-lives for the body to clear over 95% of the molly a person has taken.
Some MDMA metabolites may remain in a person’s system for even longer than this, though drug tests do not usually detect them.
Rate of Metabolization
Factors that affect the rate of Metabolization include the amount of molly a person has ingested and the time at which they took their last dose. Other factors that affect the rate of Metabolization include the person’s:
- age
- weight
- metabolism
- liver health
- kidney health
- last dose of other medications
Combining molly with other drugs may also affect the rate at which their body can process the chemicals.
There is also the risk that the drugs are contaminated with other substances. Many molly and ecstasy tablets contain MDMA, but also:
- dextromethorphan, which is an over-the-counter cough suppressant
- caffeine
- cocaine
- heroin
- ketamine
- methamphetamine
- phencyclidine
If a molly tablet or powder contains these substances, metabolization times can vary greatly.