Microdosing mushrooms has an amazing capacity to support mental health and well being… People have turned to microdosing to support them in their anxiety, depression, PTSD and other psychological / behavioral problems.
But many people suffering from severe mental health issues may also be suffering from disorders like schizophrenia, bipolar, dissociative identity disorder (once called “multiple personality disorder”) as well as many other issues that may result in the use of antipsychotics.
So… If this is the case. Can someone consuming antipsychotics also consume mushroom microdoses?
Well, this is not a simple yes or no answer… And you will need to do more research than just this article. However we hope the information below can be supportive for your healing journey!
However, to be clear… We are not doctors nor do we claim this as medical advice. This article is purely for educational purposes. Please consult your healthcare provider before making any changes or additions to your current medical treatments.
Why It Is Not A Clear Yes or No Answer…
When it comes to psychosis, mental health, and antipsychotic medications, there are so many variables to consider… Every diagnosis, case and individual will be unique, so it is impossible to have a one size fits all approach when it comes to introducing a microdosing protocol.
One important detail to consider is the type of antipsychotic an individual is consuming… And as you may already be aware, there are a wide variety of psychosis medications, and it is not uncommon for a patient to be taking several different types, including antidepressants.
Below is a list of the common antipsychotic medications prescribed to patients…
First generation or typical antipsychotics
chlorpromazine (Largactil)
flupentixol (Depixol)
haloperidol (Haldol)
levomepromazine (Nozinan)
pericyazine
perphenazine (Fentazin)
pimozide (Orap)
prochlorperazine
promazine
sulpiride (Dolmatil, Sulpor)
trifluperazine (Stelazine)
zuclopenthixol (Clopixol)
Second generation or atypical antipsychotics
amisulpride (Solian)
aripiprazole (Abilify, Abilify Maintena)
clozapine (Clozaril, Denzapine, Zaponex)
lurasidone (Latuda)
risperidone (Risperdal & Risperdal Consta)
olanzapine (Zypadhera. Zyprexa)
quetiapine (Seroquel, Seroquel XL)
paliperidone (Invega, Xeplion)
Generally speaking, second generation antipsychotics (developed in the last few decades) have less severe side effects than the first generation antipsychotic medications… Although both can cause undesirable effects.
Combining Psilocybin With Antipsychotics
Research is limited when it comes to psilocybin use in combination with antipsychotics. Especially in regards to microdosing psilocybin, as much of the research is conducted with large doses of psilocybin.
In terms of larger (“macro”) doses, it is highly recommended that you consult your doctor first… Sometimes large doses of psilocybin and other psychedelics can exacerbate psychosis and other severe mental health issues like bipolar, schizophrenia, and dissociative personality disorder…
At the very least it would be wise to find a trained professional that can be a “sitter” or “space holder” for your trip… That way if you have a psychotic episode, you have someone that can guide you back to your center.
When it comes to microdoses… The debate is still open… However due to a microdose’s very subtle effects, the risks are significantly reduced… And if you were to start experiencing negative side effects, you can simply stop taking your microdose.
That being said, consult your Doctor first…
Psilocybin and Antipsychotic Medications…
When it comes to psilocybin and its specific interactions with antipsychotics, we do have some initial research and information…
Lithium
If you are taking any Lithium containing drugs, avoid psilocybin, especially in large quantities… This is because there is evidence that combining lithium and psilocybin can lead to heart complications, and even heart attacks… This is with large (“macro”) doses of psilocybin though. Microdosing is likely safe, especially in the short term… However we still encourage extreme caution.
NRI/NDRI (Wellbutrin, Zyban, Ritalin, Concerta, etc.)
There are no known complications or contraindications between psilocybin and these drugs, however it may be wise to take a break from these drugs on the days that you choose to microdose…
Tramadol and Antidepressants (SMS, SARI, SSRI, SNRI, MAOI)
These drugs work in the serotonin system of the body, and so does psilocybin… This is not necessarily a bad thing… In fact this is likely one reason psilocybin and microdosing can be so effective for mental health issues…
However in some very rare cases, combining psilocybin with this class of drugs could lead to a serious side effect called “serotonin syndrome”. This is extremely unlikely (if not impossible) to occur when taking a microdose of psilocybin though… Still it is something you should take into consideration with your Doctor.
That being said, if you are taking drugs under this classification, you will likely need a higher “micro” dose to feel the effects… Something like 200mg-300mg rather than 50mg-100mg. You will need to play around and find what works best for you…
Other Antipsychotics / Antidepressants…
When it comes to antipsychotics and other medications not listed above, there are no known contraindications between them and psilocybin… That being said, you should consult your Doctor before you begin microdosing, so you can be sure you are safe and sound.
What You Should Keep In Mind If You Decide To Microdose Mushrooms With Antipsychotics…
Ok so you have decided to microdose (or you have already began) and you are taking antipsychotic medications. Here’s what you should keep in mind…
One important note is that microdosing contains such a small amount of psilocybin compared to a “conventional” dose, that your risks of contraindications are significantly reduced.
So here’s what you should know if you decide to try microdosing…
Talk To Your Doctor…
As we said above, speak to your Doctor first! Ideally, your Doctor will be on your “side”... If not, you should still inform them as they may have words of advice, or they may adjust your medication…
Choose Dose and Frequency…
You will need to find the dose that works for you… Generally, people taking antipsychotic medication need a slightly higher than normal microdose… In this case, you will want to start with 100mg but test out the 200mg-300mg range to see if that works better for you. Everyone is different, and it is impossible that you could be more sensitive to psilocybin than others, so start small.
We encourage you not to exceed 300mg, as that is no longer considered a “microdose”...
In terms of frequency, we recommend people follow the 5 days on 2 days off protocol… Meaning you take 1 capsule daily for 5 days and then you take 2 days off… However, due to the sensitivity of your situation, we suggest starting slow… Consider microdosing just one or two days a week.
So it may look like this…
You microdose two days in a row (saturday and sunday) or you microdose on 2 separate days (Saturday and Tuesday for example)... This gives you the opportunity to benefit from the microdose, without as much risk for contraindications with your medication or your general mental health…
Pay Close Attention…
As we said… Start slow… And pay very close attention.
The effects of microdosing are sometimes immediate but other times they may take 2-4 weeks to start to show their effects… This is why it is good to communicate your choice to microdose with your doctor and any other significant person (parent, friend, caregiver, or partner) in your life, so that they can help track any changes… Positive or negative… In your behavior.
DON’T Stop Taking Your Antipsychotics
Some people notice such amazing effects from microdosing that they think that they may no longer need to take their antipsychotic or antidepressant medications… But please do not stop taking any prescription drugs unless your Doctor is supporting you…
Coming off of an antipsychotic or antidepressant medication is serious, and can have serious side effects… That is why it is so important to titrate off your drugs slowly!
Many people who do notice these profound benefits from microdosing do well with a slow reduction in their current medications…
Some people are able to come off of drugs entirely, while others are only able to lower their dose…
Taking Large (“Macro”) Doses of Psilocybin With Anti-Psychotics…
When it comes to consuming larger doses (often called macrodoses) of psilocybin with antipsychotics… You should take far more caution than with microdosing.
There are 2 reasons here.
The first being that you are taking far more of the active constituents of the mushrooms, which may result in complications with your medication… Especially because those taking antipsychotics or antidepressants generally need larger doses of psilocybin to feel the full effects…
The second is that a macrodose of psilocybin results in a full on hallucinogenic experience… These experiences are unpredictable. Anything can happen, even for those that are sound of mind… Sometimes psilocybin can exacerbate problems like bipolar disorder, disassociative personality disorder, schizophrenia and other serious mental health issues…
However, psilocybin also may help you get to some of the root emotional problems and traumas that could be causing you pain and suffering… Which when resolved, may significantly improve your mental health. So it is a double edged sword… That is why we recommend that you work with a trained professional that can guide you in your macrodosing (and ideally your microdosing) journey!
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