Emily Johnson
Psilocybin mushrooms, often called shrooms or magic mushrooms, are a hallucinogenic drug that can induce an altered state of consciousness, hallucinations, and intense emotional experiences. While some users seek these effects for recreational or spiritual purposes, others may experience an unpleasant bad trip, characterised by feelings of anxiety, paranoia, and loss of control. As interest in psychedelics has grown, so has the demand for methods to terminate bad trips, leading to the emergence of trip killers—additional mind-altering substances that purportedly counteract the effects of psychedelics. However, the use of trip killers is potentially dangerous, with popular suggestions on social media including substances like benzodiazepines, which carry risks of overdose, addiction, and adverse side effects such as respiratory depression.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Drugs that block 5-HT2A receptors | Xanax, quetiapine, trazodone, diazepam, olanzapine, mirtazapine |
| Other drugs | Alcohol, herbal remedies, opioids, antihistamines, sleep medication, cannabinoids |
| Potential side effects | Addiction, overdose, low blood pressure, respiratory depression, hypotension |
| Symptoms of a "bad trip" | Anxiety, paranoia, panic attacks, fear of death, distorted sense of time, place, and reality |
| Symptoms of mushroom abuse | Dilated pupils, increased heart rate, nausea, vomiting, muscle weakness, flashbacks |
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What You'll Learn
- Drugs like Xanax, quetiapine, and trazodone can block 5-HT2A receptors to end a trip
- Benzodiazepines are popular trip-killers but can be addictive and cause overdoses
- Antipsychotics like quetiapine and olanzapine are also used but in high doses
- Antidepressants, alcohol, opioids, antihistamines, and sleep medication are other options
- Bad trips can be transformed into valuable experiences through storytelling
Drugs like Xanax, quetiapine, and trazodone can block 5-HT2A receptors to end a trip
The use of drugs to end a \"bad trip\" is a concerning practice that has gained traction on social media. While some drugs can help alleviate the anxiety associated with a trip, others can block the 5-HT2A receptors and end the trip.
Psychedelics like LSD and magic mushrooms (psilocybin) 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 can take a drug that blocks these receptors. Drugs like Xanax (alprazolam), an anxiolytic, are often suggested for this purpose. However, it is important to note that benzodiazepines like Xanax can be addictive and have been implicated in overdose deaths.
Other drugs that can block 5-HT2A receptors include quetiapine, an antipsychotic, and trazodone, an antidepressant. These drugs work similarly to how naloxone is used to treat opioid overdose by blocking the mu opioid receptors in the brain. While these drugs can end a trip, it is important to note that the doses suggested on social media platforms like Reddit may be high and potentially harmful.
In addition to these drugs, other antipsychotics like olanzapine and risperidone, and antidepressants like mirtazapine, have also been mentioned as effective in blocking 5-HT2A receptors. These drugs are also known as serotonin receptor antagonists and can be used clinically to manage the effects of hallucinogens, providing anxiety relief and sedation. However, the use of these drugs to end a trip is not without risks, and the lack of safety warnings on social media platforms is concerning.
While ending a bad trip may be desirable, it is important to approach the use of these drugs with caution. The doses suggested on social media may be excessive, and the combination of psychedelics with other mind-altering substances can lead to adverse effects and increase risks. Seeking professional medical advice and exercising caution when experimenting with substances is crucial to minimize potential harm.
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Benzodiazepines are popular trip-killers but can be addictive and cause overdoses
While psilocybin mushrooms are known for their therapeutic effects in treating mental health disorders, they can also cause "bad trips" characterised by frightening experiences, anxiety, paranoia, distorted sense of reality, and intense emotional experiences. To cut short such unpleasant experiences, people often turn to "trip-killers", which are additional mind-altering drugs. Benzodiazepines, a type of anxiolytic, are one of the most popular trip-killers, accounting for nearly half of the recommendations in a study of relevant Reddit threads.
Benzodiazepines work by decreasing the anxiety associated with a bad trip, helping the drug taker to relax and fall asleep. Alprazolam (Xanax) and diazepam (Valium) are the most popular benzodiazepines used for this purpose. However, despite their effectiveness in mitigating the negative effects of a mushroom trip, benzodiazepines have significant drawbacks and risks associated with their use as trip-killers.
Firstly, benzodiazepines can be addictive. While the addiction risk of psilocybin mushrooms is considered low, the regular use of benzodiazepines to counter the effects of mushrooms can potentially lead to dependence on these substances. This is particularly concerning given that benzodiazepines are typically prescribed for short periods due to their potential for misuse and abuse.
Secondly, benzodiazepines have been implicated in overdose deaths. The doses mentioned in the Reddit posts analysed in the study risked over-sedation, hypotension (low blood pressure), and respiratory depression (slowed or stopped breathing). These side effects can be life-threatening, especially when benzodiazepines are combined with other substances, including alcohol, which was mentioned in 10% of the posts.
Furthermore, it is worth noting that the information and advice available on social media about trip-killers are often lacking in safety warnings. High doses of certain drugs were recommended without considering the potential risks and side effects. Therefore, while benzodiazepines can be effective in killing a mushroom trip, they should be used with caution and only under proper medical supervision to minimise the risk of addiction and overdose.
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Antipsychotics like quetiapine and olanzapine are also used but in high doses
Antipsychotic drugs can be used to stop or reduce the effects of a "trip" from serotonergic psychedelics like psilocybin (found in magic mushrooms). This is because psychedelics activate 5-HT2A receptors in the brain, which are usually activated by the neurotransmitter serotonin (5-HT). Antipsychotics, on the other hand, block these receptors. Quetiapine and olanzapine are two such antipsychotics that have been mentioned in online forums and studies in the context of ending psychedelic trips.
Quetiapine, an antipsychotic drug, was mentioned in a study as one popular example of a "trip killer". Another antipsychotic, olanzapine, was mentioned in 14 posts in the same study. Both of these drugs are known to block the 5-HT2A receptor. In addition to being used clinically to manage the effects of hallucinogens, these drugs are also sometimes used by recreational psychedelic users to end a "bad trip" or challenging experience.
It is important to note that the use of trip killers has raised concerns about safety and possible adverse effects. While trip killers can be useful in managing the intensity of a bad trip and avoiding hospital treatment, they can also pose medical risks, especially when used in non-optimal or excessive doses. For example, high doses of quetiapine (25-600 mg) have been mentioned in online recommendations, with a lack of differentiation between fast and slower-release formulations.
The use of antipsychotics and other trip killers is particularly common among users of Reddit, where various benzodiazepines were recommended in 440 out of 709 posts created between 2015 and 2023. However, warnings about the potential side effects of these drugs are rarely included in online discussions. Doctors and researchers have expressed concern over the potentially harmful effects of trip killers, especially when used to cut short bad trips after taking psychedelics.
While trip killers can be effective in ending a mushroom trip, it is important to exercise caution and be aware of the potential risks involved. It is always advisable to seek professional medical advice before taking any mind-altering substances, including trip killers.
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Antidepressants, alcohol, opioids, antihistamines, and sleep medication are other options
While magic mushrooms have the lowest risk profile of any recreational drug when taken on their own, they can be dangerous when mixed with other substances, including alcohol and opioids. Combining mushrooms with alcohol can lead to unpredictable effects, increased nausea and vomiting, disorientation, dehydration, and a higher risk of accidents and injuries. Mixing mushrooms with opioids can increase the risk of serotonin syndrome, a potentially fatal condition.
If you are looking for ways to end or manage a "bad trip" on magic mushrooms, it is important to proceed with caution. While various substances are touted as "trip killers," many of them carry risks and side effects of their own. Antidepressants, for example, can interact with magic mushrooms, as both can act on serotonin. Combining these substances could potentially lead to serotonin syndrome, a life-threatening condition. Antidepressants such as trazodone and mirtazapine are sometimes used as trip killers, but their effectiveness and safety in this context are not well established.
Alcohol is another substance that people may turn to in an attempt to end a bad trip. Alcohol is a depressant, and it can have a sedative effect, which may help to calm a difficult psychedelic experience. However, mixing alcohol with magic mushrooms can have unpredictable effects and increase the risk of accidents and injuries. Additionally, alcohol can reduce your inhibitions, which could lead to poor decision-making while under the influence of mushrooms.
Opioids interact with the same receptors in the brain as magic mushrooms, and combining these substances can have dangerous consequences. Opioids should not be mixed with other drugs that act on the mu-opioid receptors, as this can lead to severe sleepiness, respiratory depression, coma, and even death. While opioids may be effective in reducing the negative effects of a bad trip, they should be used with caution and only under medical supervision.
Antihistamines and sleep medication can also be used to help manage a bad trip. These substances can have sedative effects, aiding in calming and relaxing the individual. However, as with any substance, it is important to be cautious of potential side effects and interactions when using antihistamines or sleep medication in combination with magic mushrooms.
It is important to remember that the use of "trip killers" is not without risk. While they may help to manage a bad trip, they can also interact with the effects of magic mushrooms in unpredictable ways. Additionally, the doses of these substances recommended by others may be unsafe or inappropriate for your specific situation. If you are experiencing a difficult mushroom trip, it is always best to seek medical advice or support from a trusted source.
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Bad trips can be transformed into valuable experiences through storytelling
Bad trips on psychedelics are common, and they can be frightening experiences. A key feature of a bad trip is the feeling of losing oneself, going crazy, or ego dissolution. However, bad trips can be transformed into valuable experiences through storytelling.
Storytelling can be a potent coping mechanism for users of psychedelics, helping them to make sense of confusing, traumatic, or frightening experiences and integrate them into their life stories. This process, known as narrative sense-making or narrative work, can facilitate continued psychedelic use, even after unpleasant experiences.
Bad trip stories often follow a narrative structure in which the protagonist travels somewhere, has challenging experiences, and then returns with new insights, transforming difficulties into positive outcomes. By imbuing their frightening experiences with a sense of meaning and purpose, users can give them new, positive meanings and integrate them into their larger life stories.
Through storytelling, individuals can feel less alone in their profound experiences. Sharing experiences and receiving feedback in a non-judgmental space, such as integration circles, is common in psychedelic communities and retreats. This practice is consistent with the view that narratives and storytelling are crucial in recovering from trauma.
While some individuals may attempt to end a bad trip prematurely by taking additional mind-altering drugs known as "trip killers," this practice is potentially dangerous and has been flagged by doctors as a concerning trend. Instead of relying on trip killers, individuals can benefit from learning to observe and accept their experiences without judgment, a skill that can be cultivated through meditation.
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Frequently asked questions
Magic mushrooms, or psilocybin mushrooms, are a form of fungi that contain the psychoactive compound psilocybin. They are commonly used as a hallucinogen and can cause changes in perception, thought, and mood.
A "bad trip" refers to an unpleasant or negative experience while under the influence of hallucinogenic drugs like magic mushrooms. It can include feelings of anxiety, paranoia, panic attacks, and fears of death.
Magic mushroom trips can have potential health risks, including nausea, increased heart rate, muscle weakness, and impaired judgment and coordination, which may lead to accidents. In some cases, a high dose may result in long-term mental health issues such as psychosis.
"Trip killers" refer to additional mind-altering drugs taken to cut short or lessen the intensity of a bad trip. Examples include benzodiazepines, antipsychotics, and antidepressants. However, it is important to note that using trip killers can be potentially dangerous and should be approached with caution.
Magic mushrooms create their effects by activating 5-HT2A receptors in the brain. Trip killers work by blocking these receptors. Examples of drugs that can block these receptors include quetiapine, an antipsychotic, and Xanax (alprazolam), an anxiolytic.
