Bilateral sixth nerve palsy associated with MDMA ("ecstasy") abuse

PURPOSE: To report the association of methylenedioxymetamphetamine (MDMA, " ecstasy") abuse and bilateral sixth nerve palsy, METHODS: Case report. RESULTS: A 17-year-old male presented with horizontal diplopia in all direc tions of gaze after having taken MDMA tablets at 5-day to 7-day intervals d uring a 2-month period. Examination showed bilateral sixth nerve palsy. Ocu lar motility returned to normal within 5 days without use of MDMA and with no other treatment. CONCLUSION: Methylenedioxymetamphetamine "ecstasy" abuse should be consider ed in the differential diagnosis in otherwise unexplained sixth nerve palsy . (C) 2000 by Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.