Sarah Brown
Magic mushrooms, also known as shrooms, are psychedelic drugs that contain the natural compound psilocybin. When ingested, psilocybin is metabolized into psilocin, which induces a host of mind-altering effects. While some individuals experience a warm and euphoric high, others may encounter a bad trip, characterized by frightening hallucinations, a sense of losing oneself, and intense anxiety. As interest in psychedelics has grown, so has the curiosity surrounding methods to halt unpleasant trips. This has led to the emergence of trip killers, additional mind-altering substances that aim to counteract the effects of psychedelics. While trip killers may seem like a quick fix, their use is controversial and potentially dangerous, with limited understanding of their full impact and optimal dosage.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Drugs used to stop a mushroom trip | Ketanserin, Quetiapine, Olanzapine, Trazodone, Mirtazapine, Xanax, Diazepam, Alprazolam, Lorazepam, Clonazepam, Etizolam, Risperidone, Naltrexone, Haloperidol, Cyproheptadine |
| Potential side effects of trip killers | Over-sedation, hypotension, respiratory depression, psychosis, agitation, distress |
| Factors influencing the duration of a shroom trip | Dosage, individual metabolism, mood, environment, mushroom potency |
| Duration of a shroom trip | 4 to 6 hours, peak effects occur around 2 or 3 hours |
| Duration of psilocybin in the body | 24 to 48 hours |
| Duration of psilocybin in urine | 1 to 3 days |
| Factors influencing the detection of psilocybin in the body | Dosage, metabolism |
| Potential risks of shrooms | Overdose, psychological effects, legal ramifications, Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (HPPD) |
| Recommendations to use shrooms safely | Avoid mixing with alcohol or other substances, stick to a safe dose, provide a safe environment |
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What You'll Learn
- 'Trip killers' are drugs that can block the effects of psychedelics, but they can be harmful
- Avoid mixing mushrooms with other substances, especially alcohol
- Dosage and individual metabolism play a role in the length and intensity of a trip
- Shroom trips can cause long-lasting effects, like HPPD, where you see things that aren't there
- Bad trips can be transformed into valuable experiences through storytelling and narrative work
'Trip killers' are drugs that can block the effects of psychedelics, but they can be harmful
As the interest in psychedelics has grown, so has the interest in ways to end a "bad trip". Psychedelic drug users have been turning to "trip killers" to end a bad trip. These are drugs that can either block the direct effects of psychedelics or reduce the anxiety associated with a bad trip. However, the use of trip killers is not without risks and could pose medical risks.
Psychedelics like LSD and magic mushrooms create their effects by activating certain proteins in the brain called 5-HT2A receptors, which are usually activated by the neurotransmitter serotonin (5-HT). To end a trip, one simply has to give the drug user another drug that blocks (rather than activates) the 5-HT2A receptor. Many prescription drugs can do this and they tend to be antipsychotic drugs. Quetiapine is one popular example, while another antipsychotic, olanzapine, was mentioned in 14 posts in one study. Similarly, the atypical antidepressants trazodone and mirtazapine also block the 5-HT2A receptor. One can think of these trip killers as working in the same way that naloxone would be used for a heroin or fentanyl overdose. These drugs activate mu opioid receptors in the brain, while naloxone blocks these receptors.
Serotonergic psychedelics, such as psilocybin (found in psilocybin mushrooms), lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), mescaline (found in peyote cacti), and dimethyltryptamine (DMT) (found in ayahuasca), mediate their hallucinogenic effects by acting as agonists of the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor. As a result, serotonin 5-HT2A receptor antagonists would theoretically be expected to block the hallucinogenic effects of serotonergic psychedelics. Accordingly, the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor antagonists ketanserin, an antihypertensive agent, and risperidone, an antipsychotic, have been shown to block the effects of serotonergic psychedelics in clinical studies.
The use of trip killers to abort the effects of psychedelics is not fully understood, and doses used by recreational users may be non-optimal or excessive and increase risks. For example, benzodiazepines are addictive and have been implicated in overdose deaths. The doses described on Reddit risk over-sedation, hypotension (low blood pressure), and respiratory depression (stopping or shallow breathing). Some drugs that have been reported to potentiate rather than inhibit the effects of serotonergic psychedelics include lithium, reserpine, pindolol, and methysergide. A high rate of seizures has been reported with the combination of lithium and psychedelics.
While trip killers can be used clinically to manage the effects of hallucinogens, anxiety, and psychomotor agitation, their use by recreational users for harm reduction purposes is an emerging concern, warn doctors.
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Avoid mixing mushrooms with other substances, especially alcohol
Mixing mushrooms with other substances, especially alcohol, can lead to unpredictable and complex interactions, which may be dangerous. Alcohol is a depressant that dulls the senses, and combining it with mushrooms can amplify nausea, dehydration, and impair judgment, leading to risky behaviours. Moreover, drinking alcohol while taking mushrooms can increase the risk of a "bad trip", involving hallucinations and frightening emotions.
The effects of mixing mushrooms and alcohol are unpredictable and may vary from person to person. Some people may notice that mixing alcohol and mushrooms can lessen the effect of each drug, but it may also make it more difficult to think clearly. Alcohol and mushrooms interact because they can affect the brain in similar ways. Combining substances that act similarly intensifies the drugs' effects, side effects, and potential risks.
Psilocybin, the active ingredient in mushrooms, interacts particularly badly with stimulants, as both can increase heart rate and blood pressure. Combining mushrooms with depressants like alcohol and opioids can increase the risk of accidents and injuries. Mushrooms also shouldn't be taken with any other substance that acts on serotonin, such as other hallucinogens and antidepressants, as this could lead to serotonin syndrome, which can be fatal.
To minimise the risks of mixing mushrooms with other substances, it is crucial to approach substance mixing with caution and prioritise safety. It is recommended to consult a healthcare professional, especially if taking prescription medications. It is also important to ensure that all substances are from a reliable source and to start with low doses to gauge the body's reaction.
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Dosage and individual metabolism play a role in the length and intensity of a trip
The length and intensity of a trip on magic mushrooms vary from person to person. Factors such as dosage, individual metabolism, and mushroom potency influence the duration and intensity of the trip.
Dosage plays a crucial role in the length and intensity of a trip. The more mushrooms consumed, the more psychedelic compounds circulate in the body, leading to a stronger psychedelic experience. A low dose of 0.1 to 1 gram of magic mushrooms generally leaves the system faster, while a larger dose can remain in the body for several days. A medium dose of 2.0 to 3.0 grams may induce psychedelic effects while allowing the user to still walk around and maintain a sense of self. However, the effects of dosage are relative and individual-specific. For instance, people with a higher body weight may require a higher dosage to achieve the desired effects, but personal metabolism and susceptibility to mind-altering substances are more critical factors in determining the dosage.
Individual metabolism also plays a significant role in the duration and intensity of a trip. A faster metabolism will process substances more quickly, while psychoactive compounds can linger longer in higher body fat percentages. Additionally, the detection time of magic mushrooms in the body can vary depending on how much and how often an individual consumes them.
Other factors, such as the user's environment and state of mind, also influence the effects of magic mushrooms. A comfortable, familiar, and safe setting can positively impact the experience. It is recommended to avoid consuming magic mushrooms if one is in a negative or stressful mindset and to stay away from violent media or social media before consumption.
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Shroom trips can cause long-lasting effects, like HPPD, where you see things that aren't there
While there are drugs known as "trip killers" that can be used to end a bad shroom trip, these are potentially dangerous and are not recommended. Shroom trips can cause long-lasting effects, and in some cases, users have reported experiencing symptoms of poor mental health after using mushrooms. One such long-lasting effect is hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD), a non-psychotic disorder in which a person experiences lasting or persistent visual hallucinations or perceptual distortions after using drugs. HPPD can cause random breaks from reality even when you haven’t recently used drugs. Symptoms of HPPD include visual snow, trails and afterimages (palinopsia), light fractals on flat surfaces, intensified colors, altered motion perception, pareidolia, micropsia, and macropsia. These symptoms can last for 5 years or more and can be very distressing.
HPPD is not a new phenomenon and was first described in 1954, although it was only recognized as a full syndrome in 2000. The specific causes of HPPD are still unknown, but it is often associated with the use of psychedelic drugs such as LSD, magic mushrooms, and cannabis. A 2022 clinical review found no significant difference in the induction of subclinical visual phenomena between MDMA, LSD, and psilocybin. It is estimated that between 4% and 4.5% of people with a history of hallucinogen use develop HPPD, with a higher prevalence among those with underlying conditions such as panic disorder, alcohol use disorder, and depression.
The recurrence of flashbacks without acute or chronic hallucinogen consumption is a key characteristic of HPPD. These flashbacks can occur suddenly, weeks or months after a person’s last use of psychedelics. In one case study, an 18-year-old French student was hospitalized for perceptual impairments and dysphoric mood lasting for 8 months after consuming psilocybin and cannabis. Another study published in 2020 examined 346 reports of mushroom users, finding that those who used multiple doses in the same session or combined mushrooms with other substances had a higher rate of long-term problems.
While the specific neural substrates and risk factors for HPPD are still under investigation, it is believed that anxiety plays a crucial role in the development and persistence of the disorder. Individuals with higher trait anxiety or those who experience elevations in baseline anxiety may be more prone to developing HPPD. Additionally, anxiety can fuel the distress that is characteristic of the disorder, creating a cycle that can be challenging to break.
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Bad trips can be transformed into valuable experiences through storytelling and narrative work
Using drugs, known as "trip killers", to stop a bad mushroom trip is potentially dangerous. Doctors have warned against the use of trip killers, which include benzodiazepines (such as Xanax) and antipsychotics (such as quetiapine and olanzapine). These drugs can have harmful side effects, including addiction, overdose, low blood pressure, and respiratory depression.
Instead of turning to trip killers, bad trips can be transformed into valuable experiences through storytelling and narrative work. Bad trips are common among users of psychedelics, and often involve frightening experiences and feelings of losing oneself or going crazy. Through storytelling, users can make sense of these frightening experiences and integrate them into their life stories. This narrative sense-making facilitates continued psychedelic use, even after unpleasant experiences.
In a survey of 1993 individuals who had consumed psilocybin mushrooms, 39% rated their worst "bad trip" among the top five most challenging experiences of their lifetime. Despite this, some users argued that unpleasant experiences during bad trips had been beneficial, providing deep existential and life-altering insights.
Users of psychedelics possess tacit knowledge of how to avoid bad trips, which is part of symbolic boundary work that distinguishes between drug culture insiders and outsiders. Some reject the term "bad trip" altogether, reflecting a lack of competence in following these rules.
Storytelling can be a potent coping mechanism for users of psychedelics in non-controlled environments. Through sharing stories, users are no longer alone with their profound experiences. Meditation can also help users observe what is happening during a trip without getting stuck in it, which is a necessary skill for surviving intense psychedelic experiences.
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Frequently asked questions
There are no known ways to stop a mushroom trip. However, there are drugs called "trip killers" that are used to cut short or lessen the intensity of a bad trip. These include Xanax, quetiapine, trazodone, and diazepam. However, these drugs can be potentially harmful and should be used with caution.
The side effects of trip killers can include seizures, nasal congestion, and psychomotor agitation. Additionally, the doses of trip killers suggested on social media platforms are often higher than the clinically recommended amounts, increasing the risks of adverse effects.
Some natural remedies that have been mentioned in a small number of posts include alcohol, herbal remedies such as chamomile and valerian, and prescribed sleeping pills. However, it is important to note that there is limited information on the effectiveness and safety of these alternatives.
A typical mushroom trip lasts between 4 to 6 hours, with peak effects occurring around 2 to 3 hours. However, the duration can vary depending on factors such as dosage, individual metabolism, and mushroom potency.
