The context of Pynchon's MDMA saying

[Cjhurtt6 at aol.com]

In a message dated 11/13/99 1:12:15 AM Pacific Standard Time, 
lorentzen-nicklaus at t-online.de writes:

<< compares MDMA to the mythic drink of the ancient 
 Greek gods, NEPENTHE - the banisher of sorrows. The state of transcendent 
 ecstasy temporarily dispels our psychic darkness, filling us with the light 
that 
 heals. The therapeutic effects of this modern NEPHENTE has its origin in the 
 capacity to banish the mental traumas and depressions that cloud minds, 
giving 
 us a glimpse of what it's like to be truly happy." (p. 137). >>

but what about the post-experiance depression? everyone i know who has taken 
it has complained of a terrible feeling the next day or while coming down. it 
seems to make sense that being that artificially happy would have to be 
equaled out somehow.