Source: The West Australian Contact: FAX: +61 8 94823830 Pubdate: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 Author: Wendy Pryer ECSTASY USERS GET MIXED MESSAGE ECSTASY users will get new guidelines on how much they should drink to ward off deadly consequences of taking the drug because health experts are concerned they are getting mixed messages. A British study published in the Australian Doctor magazine this month warns ecstasy users not to drink too much while on the drug because it can result in low blood-sodium levels. That condition, known as hypnotraemia, can cause the brain to swell. But National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre researcher Paul Dillon confirmed yesterday that a survey of ecstasy users conducted by the New South Wales centre last year showed users had received mixed messages about fluid intake and were now ignoring advice. Previously, the advice had been that ecstasy users, who often danced for hours and sweated a lot, should drink lots of fluids to prevent dehydration, but it was now known too many fluids were also dangerous. The centre will soon release new safety guidelines on ecstasy use. Mr Dillon said because people using ecstasy lost track of time, the advice would be to sip, not gulp, water after every 12 dance tracks, which took about an hour. It would also warn people to drink water and not drink iso-tonic or sports drinks, which could cause a dangerous jump in blood pressure. Alcohol was also out. Mr Dillon said he was concerned that many users of ecstasy believed the drug was harmless. Royal Perth Hospital emergency department consultant Tom Hitchcock said some ecstasy users who came to the hospital were either dehydrated, overhydrated or suffering from hyperthermia, which was when the body overheated. "If they take ecstasy and don't drink water they don't sweat, lose control of their temperature and can suffer severe harm from muscle meltdown," Dr Hitchcock said. The hospital treated ecstasy users on most Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights though the drug was rarely taken in isolation. Many of the problems were caused by a mixture of alcohol and ecstasy. - --- Checked-by: Don Beck