Emily Johnson
Ketamine and psilocybin, also known as magic mushrooms, are both largely considered safe and have been used for therapeutic and recreational purposes. While ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic with psychedelic properties, psilocybin is a tryptamine psychedelic. Both drugs have the potential to produce feelings of connection, insights, and mystical experiences. However, ketamine works on the glutamate system in the brain, while psilocybin increases serotonin levels. Ketamine was developed in 1962 as a safer option for anesthesia and has been studied for its therapeutic applications. Psilocybin, on the other hand, occurs naturally in certain fungi and has been used ceremonially throughout history. While ketamine journeys typically last about 40 minutes, psilocybin trips can last for 3-5 hours. Despite their differences, both drugs have shown potential in treating depression and other mental health disorders.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Classification | Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic with psychedelic properties at higher doses. Psilocybin, the compound in magic mushrooms, is a tryptamine psychedelic. |
| History | Ketamine was developed in 1962 as a safer option for anesthesia. It has been used in operating rooms, emergency departments, and battlefields. Magic mushrooms have a long history of ceremonial and illicit use. |
| Administration | Ketamine can be administered via injection, infusion, intranasally, or orally. Psilocybin is typically consumed orally. |
| Duration | Ketamine journeys average about 40 minutes, while psilocybin trips can last 3-5 hours. |
| Neurotransmitters | Ketamine primarily affects GABA and glutamate levels, while psilocybin affects serotonin levels and mimics its effects. |
| Therapeutic Effects | Both ketamine and psilocybin have been studied for their therapeutic potential in treating depression and other mental health disorders. They can induce mystical, insight-giving, and transcendental experiences. |
| Safety | Ketamine and psilocybin are generally considered safe, but they should be used in supervised therapeutic settings due to safety concerns and legal restrictions. They can trigger psychotic or manic episodes, especially in individuals with a history of mental illness. |
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What You'll Learn
Ketamine and psilocybin mushrooms are largely considered safe
Psilocybin is a serotonin receptor agonist that occurs naturally in some mushroom species. Ketamine, on the other hand, is an NMDA receptor antagonist that modulates glutamate levels. Both substances have been studied for their therapeutic potential in treating various conditions. Ketamine was developed in 1962 as a safer option than other anaesthesia available at the time. It is a dissociative anaesthetic with psychedelic properties at higher doses. Similarly, psilocybin has been used ceremonially throughout history due to its natural occurrence in certain fungi. However, the precise dosage from natural sources can be challenging to determine.
Ketamine and psilocybin have both demonstrated antidepressant and anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) effects. They are also used to treat trauma-related disorders, chronic pain, and substance use disorders. While the exact mechanisms and toxicity of these substances are not yet fully understood, clinical studies provide evidence of their potential as fast-acting antidepressants. Ketamine, in particular, has been shown to rapidly reduce suicidality by affecting GABA and glutamate levels in the brain. Psilocybin, on the other hand, mimics serotonin, a neurotransmitter often targeted by antidepressant medications.
Despite their therapeutic potential, there are safety considerations associated with the use of ketamine and psilocybin. Ketamine has significant abuse liability, and its long-term use may present certain risks. Additionally, both substances can cause changes in blood pressure and heart rate, making them potentially unsuitable for individuals with unmanaged heart health conditions. Furthermore, psilocybin-induced serotonin syndrome is a legitimate concern, as it can lead to oxidative stress, mitochondrial impairment, and cellular damage.
While ketamine and psilocybin have shown promising results in treating various conditions, further research is needed to fully understand their mechanisms and long-lasting effects. Detailed comparison studies and careful exploration of their safety profiles are necessary before they can be widely adopted as standard treatments for mood disorders.
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Both substances have been shown to have antidepressant effects
Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic with psychedelic properties, while psilocybin, the active ingredient in "magic mushrooms", is a tryptamine psychedelic. Although they work through different receptors, both substances have been shown to have antidepressant effects.
Ketamine works on the glutamate system in the brain instead of increasing serotonin levels. Glutamate is a chemical that plays a role in brain function and helps nerves send signals throughout the body. It may also impact self-perception. Controlled ketamine therapy may improve glutamate levels and create connections in the brain. These connections may decrease suicidal thoughts and ease symptoms of depression.
Psilocybin, on the other hand, appears to work by mimicking serotonin, a neurotransmitter that is often targeted by antidepressant medications. It has been shown to have notable and lasting antidepressant effects. However, its therapeutic effects are not yet fully understood.
Both substances have been shown to produce mystical, insight-giving, and transcendental experiences, which may include visuals, physical sensations, messages, or other perceptual changes. The ketamine experience varies tremendously from person to person. Some may see different colors and shapes, or have a vivid waking dream-like experience. Others may feel a pleasant sense of floating, or a profound sense of healing, love, and empathy.
In addition to their antidepressant effects, ketamine and psilocybin share the ability to induce a neuroplastic state and decrease the default mode network, which is involved in depressive thinking and rumination. This combination of decreased negative thoughts and new nerve growth and connections may play a powerful role in changing negative habits and dysfunctional thought patterns.
While ketamine and psilocybin show promise in treating depression, it is important to note that their safety and long-lasting effects should be carefully explored if they are to be used as standard treatments for mood disorders.
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Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic with psychedelic properties
While ketamine is not classified as a psychedelic medicine, it does have psychedelic effects at higher doses. Classical psychedelics, such as psilocybin (found in magic mushrooms), LSD, DMT, and mescaline, work on a specific serotonin receptor. In contrast, ketamine is an NMDA receptor antagonist that modulates glutamate levels. Despite working through different receptors, ketamine and classical psychedelics result in similar changes in the brain, including neuroplasticity and a decrease in the default mode network, which is involved in depressive thinking and rumination.
The ketamine experience varies from person to person. Some individuals may see different colors and shapes or have vivid waking dreams. Others may feel a pleasant sense of floating or a profound sense of healing, love, and empathy. While most people feel relaxed with ketamine, it can occasionally provoke anxiety, especially in those who try to maintain control during the experience.
Ketamine has been studied for its therapeutic potential, particularly in the treatment of depression. It has been shown to be effective in cases where other treatments have failed, and its effects are almost immediate. This makes it beneficial for reducing suicidal ideation. However, the safety and long-lasting effects of ketamine should be carefully explored, as with any psychedelic substance, to ensure responsible and effective use.
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Psilocybin is a tryptamine psychedelic
Psilocybin, also known as 4-phosphoryloxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (4-PO-DMT), is a tryptamine psychedelic. It is a naturally occurring tryptamine alkaloid found in more than 200 species of mushrooms, including Psilocybe mexicana and Psilocybe cubensis. Psilocybin has hallucinogenic and serotonergic effects, including euphoria, changes in perception, a distorted sense of time, and perceived spiritual experiences. It can also cause adverse reactions such as nausea and panic attacks.
Psilocybin is typically consumed orally, either in the form of psilocybin-containing mushrooms or through synthetic production. When consumed orally, the onset of effects is about 20 to 50 minutes, with peak effects occurring after around 60 to 90 minutes, and a duration of about 4 to 6 hours. In comparison, a ketamine journey typically lasts about 40 minutes.
The effects of psilocybin are believed to be due to its interaction with serotonin receptors in the brain, specifically the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor. This receptor is responsible for the hallucinogenic effects of psilocybin and other serotonergic psychedelics. Psilocybin is a prodrug of psilocin, which is chemically related to serotonin and acts as a non-selective agonist of serotonin receptors.
Psilocybin has been used since ancient times in sociocultural and ritual contexts, with imagery in cave paintings and rock art suggesting that its use predates recorded history. In Mesoamerica, psilocybin mushrooms were consumed in spiritual and divinatory ceremonies before being documented by Spanish chroniclers in the 16th century. In the 1950s, Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann isolated psilocybin and psilocin from Psilocybe mexicana, and his company, Sandoz, marketed and sold pure psilocybin for use in psychedelic therapy.
Today, psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy is gaining interest as a potential treatment for difficult-to-treat mental health symptoms. However, it is important to note that psilocybin is a controlled substance and its legality varies internationally and nationally. While it has shown therapeutic potential, it can also cause adverse effects, and its safety and long-lasting effects should be carefully explored.
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Ketamine journeys are substantially shorter than psilocybin trips
Ketamine and psilocybin (aka "shrooms" or "magic mushrooms") are both psychedelic medicines with therapeutic uses. However, one key difference between them is the duration of their effects. Ketamine journeys are substantially shorter than psilocybin trips.
Ketamine journeys typically last around 40 minutes to an hour, with some sources stating 75 minutes, while the effects of psilocybin can be felt for 3 to 5 hours, or even up to 6 hours according to one source. Additionally, ketamine's effects usually onset within 10 minutes, whereas psilocybin can take up to an hour to take effect. This makes ketamine journeys feel more bite-sized in comparison.
The shorter duration of ketamine journeys can be advantageous for those seeking healing through psychedelic medicines. It allows individuals to set a clear intention, gain insights, and return with a manageable amount of material for processing. The shorter duration also makes ketamine a good option for novice psychonauts, as it provides a less anxiety-provoking experience and can serve as a foundation for longer sessions with other medicines.
While ketamine and psilocybin have different durations, they both produce mystical, transcendental, and insight-giving experiences. These experiences can include visuals, physical sensations, messages, or other perceptual changes during the peak of the trip. Both substances have demonstrated antidepressant and anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) effects and are used in the treatment of trauma-related disorders, chronic pain, and substance use disorders.
In summary, ketamine journeys are significantly shorter than psilocybin trips, making them more manageable and less overwhelming for individuals seeking therapeutic benefits from psychedelic experiences.
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Frequently asked questions
Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic with psychedelic properties at higher doses. It was developed in 1962 as a safer option for anesthesia. Psilocybin, also known as "magic mushrooms", is a tryptamine psychedelic that occurs naturally in certain fungi worldwide.
Ketamine works on the glutamate system in the brain, while psilocybin mimics serotonin, a neurotransmitter often targeted by antidepressants. Both drugs result in a state of neuroplasticity, where nerve cells grow and make new connections.
Ketamine journeys often include a sense of unity, with some people experiencing a vivid waking dream-like state, and a pleasant feeling of floating. Psilocybin journeys produce more visual alterations and imagery, with hallucinations that can sometimes lead to uncontrollable panic.
While both drugs are largely considered safe, they can trigger psychotic or manic episodes, especially in those with a personal or family history of mental illness. They should only be used in supervised therapeutic settings or under the direction of a qualified medical professional.
