Tag: psychedelics

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Is LSD Addictive?

Research on LSD indicates that LSD is not considered to be addictive, nor to cause compulsive use.

What makes LSD so different from highly addictive drugs such as opioids or other stimulants like cocaine?

  1. The intensity of the trip: One reason for LSD to be considered difficult to become addicted to, is the intensity of its effect. The intense and long-lasting experience that comes with using LSD non-medically can be physically and mentally challenging, leading people to limit their frequency of use.
  2. Tolerance: LSD has a quick tolerance build-up, making it difficult to have any effect after more than four days of repeated usage. This is another great reason why it is not recommended to take LSD frequently. Additionally, due to the similar brain receptors involved in their effects, cross-tolerance occurs with psilocybin and LSD, so if someone takes psilocybin mushrooms one day, the effects of taking LSD the next day will be greatly diminished. This is an important point to consider when deciding whether or not to use LSD.

Can you become psychologically dependant on LSD?

While LSD is not considered to be physically addictive, it can have a significant impact on a person’s mental health and lead to the development of a psychological dependence.

Repeated use of LSD can result in the person becoming psychologically dependent on the drug and feeling that they need it in order to cope with the demands of daily life. This can lead to a pattern of continued use, despite negative consequences and a desire to quit.

Why is cocaine addictive and LSD is not?

Cocaine is considered to be addictive because it directly affects the brain’s reward system, increasing the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with feelings of pleasure and reward. This results in a powerful reinforcement of drug-seeking behaviour and a cycle of continued use, despite negative consequences.

In contrast, LSD does not have the same direct effect on the brain’s reward system, and although it can cause profound changes in thoughts, feelings, and perceptions, it is not considered to be physically addictive in the same way that cocaine and other drugs of abuse are.

How can we reduce the risks associated with using LSD?

  1. Dosage: Keep in mind that LSD is active at very low doses, as little as 20 micrograms (0.0000007 oz), and can have vastly different effects depending on the amount taken and the individual.
  2. Timing: It is also important to note that the effects of LSD may not be noticeable for up to an hour after ingestion, and can gradually increase in intensity over the first two hours. To ensure a pleasant experience, it is best to follow the “start low, go slow” method when using LSD.
  3. Setting: LSD has the potential to evoke conscious awareness of subconscious thoughts and feelings, such as repressed memories, feelings about life circumstances, fantasies, or deep fears. If you choose to use LSD, it is important to be in an environment where you feel safe and with people you trust.
  4. TEST YOUR DRUGS. It is thought that is not possible to fatally overdose with LSD. However, due to the lack of quality control regulations under prohibition, doses are often misrepresented and may contain other drugs (DOB, DOI, NBOMe) that do come with more physical risks, including the potential for fatal overdose.

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Microdosing for Beginners

What is Micro-dosing?

Micro-dosing involves taking a tiny dose of psychedelic hallucinogens or other drugs. Most popularly, people use magic mushrooms (psilocybin) or LSD (acid), but you could potentially micro-dose on any substance. When taking a micro-dose, you should not experience sensory or cognitive distortion. If you do, decrease the dose!

What are the benefits of micro-dosing?

Most data collected indicating potential health benefits of micro-dosing were collected through self-reporting, which is not the most reliable way. However, more and more studies are investigating their direct effect. Another issue, is that we don’t really know the long-term effects of micro-dosing.

A study in Harm Reduction Journal categorized several possible benefits from reports by microdosers. These benefits include:

  1. Improved focus, concentration, and mindfulness
  2. Improved energy, wakefulness, and stimulation
  3. Cognitive benefits, such as enhanced problem solving
  4. Social benefits
  5. Reduced anxiety
  6. Creativity
  7. Reduced symptoms, such as stress
  8. Improved mood, optimism, and life appreciation
  9. Improved body functioning
  10. Self-efficacy, including improved ambition, productivity, and motivation

Microdosing Protocols

There are different protocols that can help guide you through this journey. All of them include a resting period of 2-4 weeks after finishing a cycle of 4-8 weeks of micro-dosing. This is an essential step to avoid building tolerance and maintain the beneficial effects.

  1. Fadiman Protocol
  2. Micro-dosing Institute Protocol
  3. MDI
  4. Stamet’s Protocol
  5. Nightcap Protocol
  6. Intuitive micro-dosing

James Fadiman’s Protocol

The most well-known micro-dosing protocol is named after Dr. James Fadiman. He created this protocol to observe the effects of micro-dosing by clearly distinguishing between micro-dosing days and non-microdosing days.

Cycle:

  • DAY 1: 1st micro-dosing day
  • DAY 2: transition day (after glow effect)
  • DAY 3: normal day
  • DAY 4: 2nd micro-dosing day

CYCLE: Continue this cycle for four to eight weeks
RESET: Two to four weeks of rest

Micro-dosing recommendations:

  • Be conservative when it comes about dosage and days between doses. Dr. Fadiman recommends something like one-tenth of a normal dose. For LSD, a normal dose could be between 100-120 micrograms (mcg), so a micro-dose should be between 6 and 12 mcg. However, you are your own expert, listen to your body!
  • Follow your nomal patters: make sure you eat as normal, drink water, take your medication, have restful sleep, and any normal activity you follow.
  • Be discreet about who you tell about your experience.
  • Test your substance! No benefit will come from a laced substance.

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Combining Psilocybin Mushrooms & Antidepressants

If you’re thinking about taking magic mushrooms with antidepressants, read this post.

What is Psilocybin?

Psilocybin is the main psychoactive component of psychedelic mushrooms. Once ingested, psilocybin is converted to psilocin, which has the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier. Psilocin works by bringing a partial agonist effect on mainly the 5-HT 1A receptors.

Psilocin has the ability to activate serotonergic receptors, which causes a flow of excitatory activity in the brain. This wave spreads throughout the main perceptual centers of the brain and can alter normal waking consciousness.

Reported effects:

  1. Unusual and colourful visuals with eyes open or closed
  2. Disintegration of ‘self’ or ‘ego’
  3. Unconstrained explorative thinking, cognitive, affective and perceptual changes
  4. Sense of connectedness to self, others and the world

Therapeutic benefits of psilocybin

There’s more and more research indicating the positive benefits of psilocybin in a therapeutic context. Psilocybin has been shown to significantly reduce symptoms in people suffering from severe depression. Also, psilocybin seems to prolong these positive effects more than typical treatments, especially when combined with therapeutic integration programs.

In addition to depression, psilocybin has been shown to reduce symptoms of anxiety, PTSD, substance abuse and end-of-life distress (people struggling with terminal diseases).

Can you take psilocybin while on antidepressants?

Like psilocybin, most typical antidepressants work on the serotonergic system . Mixing antidepressants and psilocybin could lead to an overstimulation of serotonin, known as the serotonin syndrome.

Serotonin is a natural chemical that helps regulate many different functions, such as: mood, sleep, digestion, sexual desire, among others. Depression has been linked to an imbalance of serotonin in the brain, but too much serotonin is no good either.

Symptoms of serotonin syndrome:

Serotonin syndrome symptoms usually occur within several hours of taking a new drug or increasing the dose of a drug you’re already taking.

Symptoms:

  1. Agitation or restlessness
  2. Insomnia
  3. Confusion
  4. Rapid heart rate and high blood pressure
  5. Dilated pupils
  6. Loss of muscle coordination or twitching muscles
  7. High blood pressure
  8. Muscle rigidity
  9. Heavy sweating
  10. Diarrhea
  11. Headache
  12. Shivering
  13. Goose bumps

Severe serotonin syndrome can be life-threatening.

Severe Symptoms:

  1. High fever
  2. Tremor
  3. Seizures
  4. Irregular heartbeat
  5. Unconsciousness

Treatment:
Serotonin syndrome generally doesn’t cause any problems once serotonin levels are back to their original levels. It often resolves within 24 hours of discontinuing the serotonergic agent. Attention with drugs with long half-lives or active metabolites as they may cause symptoms to persist. Irreversible monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) carry the greatest risk, and symptoms can persist for several days.

SSRI & Psilocybin:

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most commonly prescribed medications for depression, OCD, PTSD, and other anxiety disorders. Some of the most well-known SSRIs include:

  • Citalopram (Celexa, Cipramil)
  • Escitalopram (Lexapro, Cipralex)
  • Fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem)
  • Fluvoxamine (Luvox, Faverin)
  • Paroxetine (Paxil, Seroxat)
  • Sertraline (Zoloft, Lustral)

While in rare cases, it has been hypothesized that this can lead to serotonin syndrome. With proper dosage, guidance and supervision, such risks can be mitigated. Treatment programs tend to accepts individuals on SSRIs, usually taking into account their medical history, and other factors.

SNRI & Psilocybin:

Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs) boost both serotonin and norepinephrine levels in the brain. Some typically prescribed SNRIs are:

  • Desvenlafaxine (Pristiq, Khedezla)
  • Duloxetine (Cymbalta)
  • Levomilnacipran (Fetzima)
  • Milnacipran (Ixel, Savella)
  • Venlafaxine (Effexor XR)

Just like with SSRIs, we would expect SNRIs to overlap with the effects of psilocybin. However, there are no reports of serious adverse effects of combining the two. There’s data suggesting that SNRIs actually reduce the effect of psychedelics.

MAOIs & Psilocybin:

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs) work by preventing the breakdown of monoamine neurotransmitters (dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine) and thus, boosting their levels.
Common MAOI medications include:

  • Bifemelane (Alnert, Celeport)
  • Caroxazone (Surodil, Timostenil)
  • Isocarboxazid (Marplan)
  • Metralindole (Inkazan)
  • Moclobemide (Aurorix, Manerix)

There is the small possibility of serotonin syndrome if MAOIs are combined with psilocybin. It is advised to avoid taking large doses of psilocybin if you are taking MAOIs. However, some people have reported that combining MAOIs with classic psychedelics reduces the effect of the psychedelic. As always, it is recommended to start with small doses.

*Attention! Mixing MAOIs with MDMA has potentially fatal effects as the risk of serotonin syndrome is much higher. Do not mix MAOIs with MDMA.

Least Common Medication Combined with Psilocybin for Depression:

TCA/TeCA: Data suggest that they can cause death by their effects on the heart. Is not recommended to mix these with psilocybin.

NRI/NDRI: There’s not enough research to know what the interaction would be between psilocybin and NRIs/NDRIs, thus, is better not to combine them.

SMS/SAR: work on the serotonin system in a potentially less predictable way than SSRIs (activating and deactivating specific receptors). Thus, is not recommended to mix these substances.

Lithium: Its mode of action is not completely understood, but there is research indicating that Lithium is a dangerous substance to combine with psychedelics. It has been reported to cause seizures, heart failure, and even death.