Posted by pinksharkmark (64.32.122.1) on May 07, 2001 at 20:00:03:
In Reply to: Medication to avoid with shrooms? posted by Annie on May 07, 2001 at 06:00:37:
Please remember that there have been few clinical studies done on interactions between psilocybin (the active ingredient in magic mushrooms) and other medications, and none at all in the last few decades. The recommendations below are based on reports from those who have tried the mushrooms and posted their results here, reports from recreational users, and informed speculation. The truth is that no one can say FOR SURE yet, except in the case of MAO inhibitors and ergot-based compoinds.
Category A -- Drugs that DEFINITELY interact:
MAOIs, or MAO inhibitors. This class of drug will intensify and prolong the effects of psilocybin. Very few drugs prescribed these days are MAOIs, as the more modern replacements tend to be more effective with less side-effects, but there are still a few out there. Any pharmacist can tell you whether or not the drugs you are taking are MAOIs. DO NOT TAKE MAOIs with hallucinogens!
Any ergot-based compound. This includes cafergot, ergotamine tartrate, Sansert (methysergide) DHE-45 (dihydroergotamine), ergotamine citrate, and any brand-name versions of these compounds. Because of their chemical structure, this class of drug will lessen the effect of psilocybin or LSD, to the point of negating it completely depending on when the last dose of ergot was taken. All of these drugs should be stopped at least three days before dosing with mushrooms... five days is better.
Category B -- Drugs that PROBABLY interact:
Anti-psychotics such as Lithium, Neurontin, Topomax, Thorazine. Wellbutrin and Prozac may also be suspect. These drugs will almost certainly lessen the effect of hallucinogens, and may eliminate the effects completely. Thorazine, for example, was the drug of choice for decades to "bring down" people "tripping" on very high doses of LSD.
Opioids, both synthetic (Ultram, methadone) and naturally-derived (morphine sulfate, heroin, opium, laudanum, demerol, etc.). It is best to detox completely from the opioids before taking psilocybin. Codeine is a fairly mild opioid, and fairly short-lived, but it is probably best to avoid it as well.
It well-known in the "recreational" drug culture that junkies avoid the hallucinogens, considering them a waste of money. Opiate addicts just don't seem to experience the same intensity of effect from the hallucinogens that others do. Also, from reports posted on this board, at least half of the few people reporting failure with the mushroom treatment have also been on fairly high levels of fairly potent opioids at the time they tried the mushrooms.
Category C -- Drugs that MIGHT interact:
Any of the triptans (Imitrex, Zomig, Amerge, Maxalt) such as sumatriptan, zolmitriptan, naratriptan, etc. These drugs have a chemical similarity to the hallucinogens and will probably interact with them to some degree. Amerge has the longest half-life, Imitrex the shortest. It is probably best to stop all triptans at least twenty-four hours before dosing with psilocybin.
Tranquilizers such as valium and its analogs.
Category D -- drugs that PROBABLY DO NOT interact:
Barbiturates (butalbital, found in Fiorinal), calcium channel blockers (such as verapamil), beta blockers (propanolol), oxygen, steroids (such as prednisone), anti-inflammatories (aspirin, tylenol, ibuprofen), and antibiotics.
This list is probably incomplete, and will doubtless change some over time as more data becomes available to us. The good news is that with the possible exception of the triptans (Imitrex, etc.), the most tried-and-true preventatives and abortives (verapamil, prednisone, oxygen) seem not to interfere with the action of the hallucinogens.
My personal belief is that it is probably best to stop ALL other meds for at least a day or two before taking mushrooms in order to give it the best possible chance to work completely, but I have to admit I would be awfully hard-pressed not to reach for my Imitrex out of pure reflex.
pinky