What is a Tesla Pill and How Does it Work?

A Tesla pill is actually MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine), also known as Ecstasy and Molly — a colorful tablet branded illicitly with the name and corporate logo of Tesla, Inc, formerly Tesla Motors.¹ Branding MDMA pills to make them more appealing, especially to young people, is not a new phenomenon. Besides Tesla, pills branded with the name and logo of Facebook, Snapchat, Skype, Netflix, and others have been available for several years and remain popular.²

MDMA first gained popularity as a “club drug,” so named because of its widespread use by those enjoying the nightclub scene or attending all-night dance parties, known as raves. Users sought stimulating and psychogenetic effects like increased energy, enhanced pleasure, and distorted time and sensory perception.³

While high doses of MDMA can produce dangerous effects, tablets may also contain methamphetamine, ketamine, cocaine, heroin, and other drugs, increasing the risk of harm.^{4, 5} Drug enforcement personnel have also identified substances like rat poison, veterinary anesthetics, and crushed glass in some MDMA tablets.⁶

Because it has a high potential for abuse, the Controlled Substances Act lists MDMA as a Schedule I drug, along with drugs like heroin and LSD.⁷

black market pills, such as these MDMA (Extasy) pills, could include the tesla logo pressed into them

How Does Tesla MDMA Affect the Brain and Body?

MDMA is both a hallucinogenic and stimulant drug⁸ that increases the release of specific chemical messengers (neurotransmitters) in the brain, including serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine.⁹

• Serotonin – regulates mood, appetite, sleep, and trust. Increased serotonin levels may trigger feelings of sexual arousal, empathy, and a desire for emotional closeness in users. Because users may practice unsafe sexual behavior, they are at a greater risk of contracting or transmitting HIV/AIDS or hepatitis.
• Dopamine – affects the reward center of the brain to reinforce drug taking as pleasurable. The chemical also increases energy and activity levels.
• Norepinephrine – regulates heart rate and blood pressure functions. Higher than normal levels of norepinephrine are dangerous for people with heart and blood vessel problems.

Effects of MDMA last from three to six hours. However, users often take additional doses to extend the effects. Users commonly experience adverse effects for up to a week following MDMA use, including irritability, aggression, sleep problems, anxiety, depression, loss of appetite, and less ability to feel pleasure.¹⁰

Researchers believe negative effects after MDMA use may result from the unnaturally large amounts of serotonin released in the brain during drug use, ultimately depleting the brain of levels needed for normal function.¹¹

Side Effects of Tesla MDMA Pills Can Be Dangerous

Pure MDMA is relatively safe when taken in prescribed doses. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently given “expanded access” for doctors to use pharmaceutical-grade MDMA to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) while the drug continues to undergo clinical trials. Experts believe MDMA will receive FDA approval next year.¹²

When a person takes illicit Tesla MDMA, they do not know the dose or purity of the product. The amount of MDMA may be much higher than expected, and the pill may contain other harmful drugs or additives with potentially deadly results.¹³

According to The Loop, a UK drug testing company, Tesla pills may contain 130-200 mg of MDMA, well over the typical dose of 75-125 mg, increasing the risk of overdose.¹⁴ Another drug research group, Safer Party, found more than 230 mg of MDMA in the Tesla pills they tested.¹⁵

Potentially harmful effects of illicit pills include:¹⁶

• Depression
• Paranoia
• Decreased ability to feel pleasure
• Increased risk of long-term problems with memory and learning, which can be permanent
• Dehydration
• Dangerous increase in body temperature

A spike in body temperature can be a deadly side effect. Excessive dancing in a hot environment can raise the body temperature to critical levels, which may damage the brain or other vital organs. High doses of MDMA may also disrupt the normal regulation of body temperature, potentially resulting in life-threatening liver, kidney, and cardiovascular system failure.¹⁷

Adverse effects from frequent, long-term use of MDMA may include sleep disturbances, lack of appetite, trouble concentrating, depression, heart disease, impulsive tendencies, and impaired cognitive function.¹⁸

Is MDMA Addictive?

While researchers have not definitively determined whether MDMA is addictive, studies demonstrate that research animals will self-administer the drug if given the option, an indicator of abuse or addiction.¹⁹

Some MDMA users confirm they continue to use the drug despite negative consequences, have to increase their dose to experience the desired effect (tolerance), and experience withdrawal signs, including cravings, when they stop using, all common indicators of drug dependence or addiction.²⁰

Additional signs of possible addiction reported by some users during MDMA withdrawal include fatigue, loss of appetite, depression, and trouble concentrating.²¹

Whether or not Tesla MDMA is addictive, the fact is the use of any illicit drug carries intrinsic dangers. Sufficient data exists to conclude Tesla pills often contain much higher doses than expected, as well as other drugs or contaminants. Although the colorful pills with trendy logos may look like something fun to consume at a party, the results can be deadly.

Treatment

Like other substance abuse treatment approaches, behavioral interventions are effective in helping a person overcome MDMA dependence. Cognitive behavioral therapy, which allows individuals to identify and change negative thought patterns that may be triggering drug use, may be especially beneficial. The treatment aims to help the patient resolve underlying anxiety and depression while teaching them coping skills to manage stress and other triggers. Behavioral interventions coupled with support group participation increase the chances for long-term recovery.²²

Renowned experts in the field of medical detox, Gallus Medical Detox Centers achieve superior patient outcomes in a safe, soothing environment. Although withdrawal symptoms from MDMA are not usually severe, they can be uncomfortable.²³ However, if your history includes frequent large doses of MDMA or use of alcohol or other illicit or prescribed pain medication in addition to MDMA, withdrawal symptoms may be more severe. Undergoing medical detox ensures you remain physically and mentally safe throughout withdrawal.²⁴

Sources

1. https://gravesassociates.com/what-is-this-new-drug-tesla-that-kids-are-using/#:~:text=There%20is%2C%20however%2C%20MDMA%20pills%20%28often%20called%20ecstasy,Tesla%20logo%20contain%20between%20130-200%20mg%20of%20MDMA
2. https://www.forbes.com/sites/zarastone/2017/08/08/tastes-like-tesla-how-tesla-ecstasy-pills-became-the-hot-way-to-get-high/?sh=71531903762b
3. https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2020-06/Ecstasy-MDMA-2020_0.pdf
4. https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2020-06/Ecstasy-MDMA-2020_0.pdf
5. https://gravesassociates.com/what-is-this-new-drug-tesla-that-kids-are-using/#:~:text=There%20is%2C%20however%2C%20MDMA%20pills%20%28often%20called%20ecstasy,Tesla%20logo%20contain%20between%20130-200%20mg%20of%20MDMA
6. https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/ecstasy-riddled-with-rat-poison-other-chemicals/news-story/ed42db52b667c6187baff7059f37c409?sv=a6c2f69e14c54cab36c3b38dd947048d
7. https://www.dea.gov/drug-information/drug-scheduling
8. https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/mdma-ecstasymolly
9. https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/mdma-ecstasymolly
10. https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/mdma-ecstasymolly
11. https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/mdma-ecstasy-abuse/what-are-mdmas-effects-on-brain
12. https://www.bpr.org/bpr-news/2022-05-11/fda-gives-expanded-access-to-mdma-as-a-treatment-for-ptsd
13. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/297064#what-is-mdma
14. https://gravesassociates.com/what-is-this-new-drug-tesla-that-kids-are-using/
15. https://www.inverse.com/article/20647-mdma-ecstasy-pills-tesla-logo-str
16. https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2020-06/Ecstasy-MDMA-2020_0.pdf
17. https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2020-06/Ecstasy-MDMA-2020_0.pdf
18. https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/mdma-ecstasy-abuse/what-are-effects-mdma
19. https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/mdma-ecstasy-abuse/mdma-addictive#:~:text=Research%20hasn%E2%80%99t%20definitively%20answered%20whether%20MDMA%20is%20addictive%2C,brain%20that%20are%20targeted%20by%20other%20addictive%20drugs
20. https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/mdma-ecstasy-abuse/mdma-addictive#:~:text=Research%20hasn%E2%80%99t%20definitively%20answered%20whether%20MDMA%20is%20addictive%2C,brain%20that%20are%20targeted%20by%20other%20addictive%20drugs
21. https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/mdma-ecstasymolly
22. https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/mdma-ecstasy-abuse/how-are-mdma-use-disorders-treated#:~:text=The%20most%20effective%20current%20treatments%20for%20patients%20with,to%20increase%20skills%20in%20coping%20with%20life%27s%20stressors
23. https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/mdma-ecstasy-abuse/mdma-addictive
24. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/alcohol-and-molly#treatment

Shannon Weir, RN

Shannon Weir, RN is the Chief Nursing Officer at Gallus Medical Detox Centers. She has been a Registered Nurse for 30 years, Shannon’s experience ranges from critical care to flight nursing, medical detox, sexual assault exams, and SWAT nursing. Shannon has been with Gallus Medical Detox Centers since 2010 and is a vital part of our organization.