Posted by pinksharkmark (12.128.190.59) on January 23, 2001 at 14:40:07:
In Reply to: Oh....Pinky!!!!??? posted by Chuck on January 23, 2001 at 10:56:30:
... that is the question, and a damn good one it is, too!
This treatment is still too new for us to know all the parameters that determine success. Presumably, the best chance of success would be in the case of someone who had no lingering traces of other medications that might interfere with the normal mechanism of psilocybin action. Unfortunately, we don't KNOW which medications those might be. Hell, no one even knows for sure the precise mechanism by which psilocybin stops cluster headaches, so the task of determining which medications interfere with it becomes even more of a crap shoot. The only way to know for certain is to have ALL other medications absent from your system.
Unfortunately, for most clusterheads who are getting even partial relief from their current meds, this is easier said than done.
I don't know about the rest of you, but I am a total wimp about pain. If the beast hits, I'll smack him down with whatever is at hand... from Fiorinal to Imitrex!
Most of the posters who had success with this treatment were presumably on various medications when they tried it. I suspect that neither verapamil nor prednisone will have interactions with psilocybin, nor will oxygen or aspirin or tylenol.
Imitrex may or may not make a difference, since all of the triptans (Imitrex, Maxalt, Zomig, Amerge) have a chemical structure fairly close to psilocybin, and may therefore interfere somewhat with its action. Imitrex is the one with the shortest half-life, Amerge the one with the longest half-life. Therefore I would stay away from Amerge.
Sansert (methysergide) and any of the ergot-based compounds such as cafergot, will almost certainly interfere with the action of psilocybin, since they are VERY closely related in chemical structure, and should therefore be stopped at least a week before trying mushrooms.
A class of drugs known as MAO inhibitors will intensify the effects of psilocybin, and must be avoided at all costs. Fortunately, according to Doc Greg, there are very very few MAO inhibitors still being prescribed these days. They have for the most part been supplanted by newer-generation compunds. HOWEVER... it is critical to check with your pharmacist or physician to see if any of your current medications are MAO inhibitors.
Bottom line... due to the pig-headed attitude of the DEA, virtually all research on psilocybin was halted in the early seventies. We are, in a very true sense, medical pioneers.
Brief recap... verapamil and prednisone ... PROBABLY will not interfere.
MAO inhibitors... DEFINITELY not safe.
Sansert and ergot compounds... ALMOST CERTAINLY will interfere with psilocybin action.
Triptans... if you must use them, Imitrex is the one of choice, but may possibly still interfere with a psilocybin dose if the Imitrex is taken too soon before the psilocybin. Twelve hours may be enough time for the Imitrex to dissipate, but longer is better. Injections will clear from the system faster than the pill form.
Opiates, Neurontin, Topomax, Lithium, etc. ..... who knows?
Hope this has been of some help to you. I really wish I could be more definite.
pinky