ECSTASY INTOXICATION - AN OVERLAP BETWEEN SEROTONIN SYNDROME AND NEUROLEPTIC MALIGNANT SYNDROME

3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), also known as ''ecstasy'' is a popular recreational drug with potential for abuse. Although its ne urotoxic effects have been established in animal studies, the acute an d longterm effects of this serotonergic agent in humans are still unkn own. We describe a 19-year-old woman with overlapping symptoms of neur oleptic malignant syndrome and serotonin syndrome after a single expos ure to MDMA. We also review 15 other cases reported in the literature to draw attention to the serious neurotoxicity, including fatal outcom es, caused by the use of this increasingly popular, illicit drug.