Combinations - Cymbalta/Duloxetine (SSNRI anti deppressant) and dosing LSD

[durd123]

SWIM takes cymbalta daily and is dosing for the first time soon. Should SWIM not take cymbalta for a few days prior to and after dosing? Any reccomendations would be greatly appreciated!

[Shampoo]

Abruptly halting the use of a mixed SSNRI can result in very negative withdrawal symptoms, and is not recommended. DO NOT stop taking an SSNRI for a few days if it has been taken daily for an extended period of time. Withdrawal effects include severe headaches, nausea, dizziness, anxiety, reduced appetite and more. Ceasing the use of a 5-HT/NE reuptake inhibitor is a process that involves tapering over time, and usually takes several weeks to a few months, depending on the original daily dosage.

Additionally, due to the downregulation of 5-HT/NE receptors (i.e. the antidepressant effect of longterm SSNRI admin.) the effects of the potent 5-HT agonist LSD will be significantly blunted. In other words, your buddy may not get the effect they are looking for, especially if they have been on this SSNRI for a long time.

Can you give more details regarding dosage and length of daily administration?

[durd123]

Swim takes one 60 mg and one 30 mg pills of cymbalta and one 25 mg pill of seroquel for sleep before bed. Would it even be worth taking acid for him? He has been on the cymbalta for a few years now and seroquel for around a year. Also he took mushrooms and didnt notice much of an effect. Could this be from the medications?

[Shampoo]

Originally Posted by durd123

Swim takes one 60 mg and one 30 mg pills of cymbalta and one 25 mg pill of seroquel for sleep before bed. Would it even be worth taking acid for him?

Probably not.

First of all, the effects will most certainly be blunted.

Second of all, set & setting can completely define the psychedelic experience! Set, the first half of that equation, refers to the mindset of the user. Where they are 'at', so to speak. If someone is taking multiple significant doses of an antidepressant every day, do you think that they are consistently in a 'good place'? Perhaps they are, but one thing is for certain, this person has issues with depression.

Psychedelics can act as a great big magnifying glass, and for most people, mixed with a little euphoria or excitement, this can be bliss. For others, those who have 'darker' topics at heart, this magnification applies to their dark, depressing, self-deprecating...etc. emotions to an equal or greater degree. Now, I will go no further, as this has been said in nearly every thread asking this question. Here is the bottom line, though:

Taking a psychedelic drug with an antidepressant has a few major caveats/complications. First, the downregulation of 5-HT receptors induced by long term antidepressant administration will lessen/blunt the effects of the psychedelic, 5-HT-targeting drug. Second, any person diagnosed with/suffering from depression, suggested by the fact that they are taking antidepressant drugs, is at a much greater risk to bad trips, uncomfortable experiences, and potentiation of their depressed mood/disposition than those individuals who do not suffer from depression. Third, there is a risk of serotonin syndrome occuring when combining reuptake inhibitors and agonists. Serotonin syndrome can result in a slew of negative symptoms from severe dysphoria to tachycardia, nausea/vomiting to tremors and death.

He has been on the cymbalta for a few years now and seroquel for around a year. Also he took mushrooms and didnt notice much of an effect. Could this be from the medications?

Yes.

[durd123]

Thanks so much for the info shampoo! And swim is on these drugs because of severe depression from being in the hospital a few years back. He doesnt need the medication anywhere near as bad as he did previously. He is happy with his life now except for the fact he got busted for pot a few months ago. Swim is confident he is ready to drop acid.