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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2004 >> Does Psilocybin cause vasoconstriction?
        
(Message started by: PaulL on Dec 18^th, 2004, 7:28pm)

Title: Does Psilocybin cause vasoconstriction?
Post by PaulL on Dec 18^th, 2004, 7:28pm

I can't take Imatrex any more, the only medication that's ever worked, because I had a heart attack several years ago, so I'm thinking of trying psilocybin. But after reading about it, psilocybin seems to be closely related to Imatrex. Does it cause vasoconstriction? Do you get a rise in blood pressure during use? What's the risk here?

Title: Re: Does Psilocybin cause vasoconstriction?
Post by catlind on Dec 18^th, 2004, 7:46pm

Paul I'm sure the experts will be along to answer soon, but from what we were told when Roxy had her cardiac event, it does contribute to vasoconstriction.

I'm not sure that I believe this, as it has not ever had a negative effect on Roxy since then.

I'd be willing to bet that using the shrooms together with triptans might be an issue, but I don't believe it is on it's own.

Cat

Title: Re: Does Psilocybin cause vasoconstriction?
Post by Roxy on Dec 19^th, 2004, 12:12am

From what the cardiologist explained, if the shrooms are taken as you are supposed to take them....minus the zomig, imitrex, cigarettes, alcohol, vivarin, coffee,....the effect is negligible.

Taken all together in a short period of time......it's a wild ride!!

T

Title: Re: Does Psilocybin cause vasoconstriction?
Post by forgetfulnot on Dec 19^th, 2004, 4:11pm

I had a heart attack in 1995, no permanet damage, at any rate Imitrex never came up in my rehab discussions. Never had a heart problem from it since then. And I use a bunch. Sometimes these doctors practice CYA instead of medicine.

Lee

Title: Re: Does Psilocybin cause vasoconstriction?
Post by Flash on Dec 20^th, 2004, 9:53am

Yes but the effect is VERY mild. Not in anything like the same league as sumatriptan or ergotamine. The dose is also so low that the effect becomes negligible.

In this instance I'd recommend the sip method as the larger doses can cause a little anxiety and that is something you should avoid. The sip doses are so low that there will be no vascular constriction.

The shrooms do not work by constriction, the mechanism is something else entirely.

Please note that O2 is also a vascular constrictor!!!

Title: Re: Does Psilocybin cause vasoconstriction?
Post by Margi on Dec 20^th, 2004, 9:56am

Flash, I have a question for you - one I asked you in email but never got a response. It's along the lines of this vasoconstriction question.

If someone is not able to take any of the ergot meds, because of Reynaud's disease, would this also prevent them from using shrooms?

Title: Re: Does Psilocybin cause vasoconstriction?
Post by LeeS on Dec 20^th, 2004, 1:01pm

Hi Margi

I'm sure Flash won't mind me jumping in here. The most recent info we have is that shrooms should be avoided if CHers suffer with Reynaud's syndrome (cold-triggered reduction or loss of circulation in fingers and toes) because this condition will be made worse by taking a vasoconstrictor, and mushrooms and LSD are vasoconstrictors.

To what extent it will make it 'worse', I don't know, and I'm sure others will put me right if I'm wrong.

-Lee

Title: Re: Does Psilocybin cause vasoconstriction?
Post by Margi on Dec 20^th, 2004, 1:16pm

thanks very much, Lee! I'll pass the info along.

Title: Re: Does Psilocybin cause vasoconstriction?
Post by pinksharkmark on Dec 23^rd, 2004, 9:31am

Psilocybin is a vasoconstrictor, but a very mild one. The effects are shortlived as well. LSD (being ergot based) is also a vasoconstrictor -- if I recall correctly more so than psilocybin, but again it is mild as vasoconstrictors go. And the effects, though longer lasting than those of psilocybin, are also shortlived.

Should people with Reynaud's Syndrome avoid it? I would guess it would depend on the severity of their case. As has been pointed out already, there are many vasoconstrictors out there. The ones clusterheads typically use (or overuse) being caffeine and nicotine. It's probably not a great idea to "stack" the effects of several vasoconstrictors, but I can't see how using a single mild vasoconstrictor on the very occasional basis that psilocybin is typically taken by clusterheads would throw any but the most severely affected people into any kind of a permanent health crisis.

On the other hand, I don't have a medical degree. My comments above are my personal guesses based on logic and what I have read in the literature on psychedelics. I freely admit that data of which I am currently unaware could change my opinion. Too bad there haven't been more studies in the literature on the interaction of psilocybin with Reynaud's.

pinky

Title: Re: Does Psilocybin cause vasoconstriction?
Post by Margi on Dec 23^rd, 2004, 10:15am

on 12/23/04 at 09:31:27, pinksharkmark wrote:

Too bad there haven't been more studies in the literature on the interaction of psilocybin with Reynaud's.

pinky

Hopefully, Pinky, we'll be able to collect some data on this in the coming years. Thanks for your input, Mark. Merry Christmas to you my misplaced Canadian friend. :)