Effects - Question concerning down regulation of serotonin receptors from antidepressant use

[DHCletsmeBe]

How long does it take for this to occur generally? Swim has been on Cymbalta (duloxetine) 60mg for about 3 weeks now for generalized anxiety disorder. Swim says it works fantastic for that btw. Previously swim was on Lexapro (escitalopram) for 10mg for about a month and then 20mg for about a month. The reason why swim asks this question is because he is planning on doing some LSA soon, perhaps some shrooms as well. He knows that down regulated serotonin receptors are responsible for the lack of psychedelic effect when a person combines hallucinogens and ssri's/snri's. Is it possible swim will get a significant effect from LSA or shrooms, seeing as he (a) has not taken these types of drugs for years and (b) he is not taking a particularly high dosage?

If the answer is that the down regulation occurs soon after taking these types of medications then how long would it take for swim's serotonin receptors to become re-sensitized after stopping?

[DHCletsmeBe]

Swim went ahead and did a test.

Results of taking 5 HWBR seeds (from Hawaii, apparently those are most potent): resulted in very mild visuals and a great body high. So it seems like there is some negation of the effect but doubling the dose should solve that

[wespawloski]

SWIM didnt really feel a detox from SSRIs after about two months... He shroomed while under the influence of prozac and lexapro, with no noticible decline in trip potency.

Has SWIY noticed any difference to the effects of alcohol or THC? If SWIY feels he is feeling some drugs normally, he probably wont end up wasting his money.

SWIM feels he got even a slightly better experience being on a SSRI, passively (did not induce extra during or before his trip, etc).

If SWIY is concerned, or just wants to give it a try, he could try taking some 5-HTP supplement to increase his serotonin levels (usually, its only mild :P).

The timeperiods you reference for "down regulation" is different for every person, and the intensity at which serotonin affects you must be taken into account.

[DHCletsmeBe]

Well, alcohol is about the same, maybe a little more potent. Weed is the same as far as swim can tell.
Swim did do another test last night with 10 HWBR seeds: Got every effect except for hallucinations, basically. Disappointing, but still a very interesting experience. Sounds like shrooms may be worth a shot.

[wespawloski]

SSRIs are known to increase alcohol potency... and in that case may be shown to be affecting you decently. Let us know how it goes :P

[Jasim]

Originally Posted by wespawloski

SSRIs are known to increase alcohol potency...

I've never heard of this. Could you provide some sources? I would be very interested in learning more.



There is still a lot that is not known about the serotonin system and even less understood about how antidepressants work.

The typical time period for antidepressants to begin to show efficacy (resulting from changes in receptor density) is at least 2 weeks.

I would just be repeating a lot of information already on the forums to go much into this.
Look here for some great info: Up and down regulation of serotonin receptors