The drug that has been widely reported to produce an increase in "empathy," or a feeling of closeness to others, is ecstasy, a stimulant drug that can cause hallucinations. . Ecstasy - colloquial for MDMA, an empathogenic drug causes a trance or trance-like state in which a person transcends normal consciousness. Ecstasy increases heart rate and can cause dry mouth, clenched teeth, blurred vision, chills, sweating, or nausea.