A very common question amongst people is if it is safe to consume mushroom microdoses while taking pharmaceuticals (especially antipsychotics and antidepressants). Well the short answer is that yes, generally it is safe. However there are some important things to keep in mind.
Before we begin, please keep in mind that this is not medical advice and should not be taken as such. This is strictly for educational purposes. Please speak to your doctor before consuming microdoses or mushrooms, especially if you are currently taking any pharmaceutical drug.
What Is A Mushroom Microdose?
So first thing is first… What exactly is a “microdose” of mushrooms? Well a microdose is when you consume a small quantity of psilocybin mushrooms. Generally this is anywhere from 50mg to 300mg. Most people do well with about 100mg, however this varies greatly depending on each individual, so you will need to experiment to find what works best for you.
The idea of a microdose is that it should offer a strong enough effect that you notice a shift in your awareness / perception, but that it is not so strong that you are not able to perform your daily tasks. Imagine a cup of coffee. It alters your awareness / consciousness slightly, however you are able to do all of your normal tasks without trouble. This is about how much a microdose should “alter” you.
Generally people consume a microdose first thing in the morning on an empty stomach, with intention. They do this for 5 days in a row, followed by 2 days without any microdose to integrate and prevent building a tolerance. Some people prefer to take their microdose once every 3rd day (so you would take a microdose one day, and the two following days you would not consume any microdoses). Whereas other prefer to consume the microdose on a more intuitive basis. Once again, play around and find what works best for you.
People also microdose substances such as ketamine, MDMA, and LSD, however in this article we are focused strictly on psilocybin mushrooms.
Is Microdosing Safe?
Yes. Microdosing mushrooms is extremely safe. Even taking large amounts of mushrooms is extremely safe. The fungi itself is non-toxic, meaning it will not kill you or make you seriously ill, even in massive quantities. Microdosing will not cause any physical harm to your body, and is safe mentally and emotionally.
But what about if you are suffering from a serious mental health issue?
Yes, microdosing is still safe. That being said, if you are prone to suicidal tendencies, psychotic breaks, or other serious mental health issues, we strongly suggest you speak to your Doctor first. Furthermore, be sure to inform those close to you, and have someone you can talk to about your experience. Go slow, and watch carefully. If you start experiencing an increase in negative tendencies, either stop microdosing or reduce your dose and consistency.
Microdose Mushrooms for Mental Health
One of the primary reasons microdosing (and psychedelics) have become so popular, is because of their remarkable impact on mental health. People are finding amazing results from microdosing mushrooms, oftentimes exceeding the results they were receiving from pharmaceuticals and antidepressant drugs!
Some benefits of microdosing include…
Reduction in anxiety and depression
Balanced mood
Increase in creativity
Relief / reduction in PTSD related symptoms
Increase in self awareness
Helps prevent aging in the brain
Helps regenerate nervous tissue
A greater sense of interconnectedness with self, others and nature
Increased social abilities
As you can see, it is no wonder that people suffering from mental health challenges are turning to microdosing!
How Can Microdosing Mushrooms Work So Well For Mental Health?
You may be wondering… How is it possible that microdosing can help such a broad range of mental health issues? Well, microdosing supports all four aspects of mental health.
Mental health is not just in the mind and the brain. There are very real physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual components to mental health. Microdosing helps all of these
Emotional Aspects To Mental Health
Emotional traumas and wounds can last a lifetime, unless they are properly addressed and felt. Often those who have experienced emotional trauma, have emotional dysregulation. This often expresses itself as either an inability to feel emotions or an excessive amount of emotions. Regardless, emotions are a natural part of being human, however they are meant to wax and wane. Think of a child: One minute they are angry and upset, and the next they are happy and laughing. They do not hold on to their emotions. We have a lot to learn from children!
Microdosing mushrooms is highly supportive to emotional regulation. They can help you to feel buried and suppressed emotions, heightening your emotional sensitivity. However they can also support you in calming and grounding your emotions, so you do not need to feel emotional all day long, or have emotional outbursts that cause unneeded stress for you and your loved ones.
The mushrooms' have an innate capacity to increase your self awareness, and offer a window into your unconscious mind. Through this process, microdosing can gently support you in addressing your emotional traumas and suppressed emotional energies. Through being aware and present in your body, you can feel, release and let go of those stored emotional energies, memories and imprints. Remember to work with a professional if you have serious emotional traumas, or if you feel overwhelmed.
Mental Aspects To Mental Health
The primary mental aspects include beliefs and conditionings. Often we pick up these unconsciously as children, depending on the cultural and familial backgrounds we come from, as well as our experiences.
A primary example of this is if you have grown up in a home with any kind of emotional or physical abuse. Naturally, a belief is created that the home, family, and those closest to you are untrustworthy and unsafe to be around. This belief will influence your nervous system and your emotions towards stress and an overactive “fight or flight” response. This could result in depression, anxiety, anger issues are any other mental health problem. As a result, it will be difficult to have a happy and fulfilling intimate life.
Microdosing can help you become aware of these hidden beliefs and conditionings, so that you can free yourself from them, and replace them with more positive ones.
Physical Aspects to Mental Health
The body, mind and emotions are all connected. When your body is stressed from unhealthy food or lifestyle choices, your mind and emotions become stressed as well. And vice versa.
There is a direct connection between your gut and your brain. In fact, your gut is considered the “second brain”, as it contains the 2nd largest concentration of nervous tissue, and produces more neurotransmitters like serotonin, than your brain does! When your gut is stressed, it literally produces and releases toxins that will make your brain inflamed (and stressed).
Furthermore, when your mind becomes stressed, your body produces stress hormones like adrenaline. Adrenaline and other stress hormones cause your gut to become stressed and inflamed. And so a deadly cycle perpetuates itself.
Microdosing can help your physical health by reprogramming, healing and regenerating nervous tissue and neural pathways, which translates into a change in the ways you think, feel and relate to the world. This can improve your gut health, as well as support you in making better and healthier choices for your body.
Spiritual Aspects to Mental Health
Through a spiritual connection, we feel connected to ourselves, each other, to nature, and to something greater (some call it God, Spirit, or the Universe). Most people suffering from mental health issues describe a feeling of disconnection. Like there is a “hole” inside of them, or that they feel isolated and lonely.
Spirituality heals this. Feelings of emptiness, isolation and loneliness dissolve through a spiritual connection. All that darkness fills with light. Microdosing mushrooms has an amazing capacity to remind us of our interconnectedness with all of creation. We are one piece of a whole, and we are never truly alone.
So, Can I Microdose Mushrooms With Pharmaceuticals?
Often people turn to microdosing mushrooms as a “last resort” for treating their mental health. It is not uncommon for these individuals to be consuming pharmaceuticals, antidepressants, and/or antipsychotics. So, is it safe to microdose with pharmaceuticals? What if you are taking medication for other physical problems?
Well, the good news is that microdosing is extremely safe, even while taking pharmaceuticals. There are nearly no known contraindications between psilocybin and pharmaceutical drugs. That being said, there are a few important drugs to watch out for.
Lithium
In some rare cases, it appears that psilocybin can interact with lithium and lead to heart problems, and potential heart attacks. If you are taking any lithium based drug, we advise avoiding all psilocybin products. That being said, these effects were observed in large “macro” doses of psilocybin. Microdoses are likely safe, and would not cause these negative side effects, however we still advise against microdosing with lithium.
Tramadol and Antidepressants (SMS, SARI, SSRI, SNRI, MAOI)
These drugs, just like psilocybin, work by influencing your serotonin system. Some people who are taking consuming microdoses and these pharmaceuticals report that the microdosing effects are significantly reduced (or are nonexistent). For this reason, if you are consuming any of these pharmaceuticals, you may need a higher dose to feel the results. Start with 100mg, and work your way up to as high as 200mg-300mg 1-2 times daily.
An important thing to keep in mind is that in some very rare cases, combining SARI/SMS or Tramadol with psilocybin can lead to “serotonin syndrome”. This is highly unlikely, however it is good to keep this in mind and do further research if you are consuming these drugs.
NDRI/NRI (Concerta, Zyban, Wellbutrin, Ritalin, etc.)
Currently there have been no reports of contraindications when combining mushrooms with NDRI or NRI. However, we recommend that if possible you reduce your dose of any other psychoactive substances on the days you choose to microdose (consult your doctor first).
Other Pharmaceuticals
There are no reported contraindications between psilocybin and other pharmaceuticals. Of course, research is still early so consult your Doctor if you plan on microdosing and you are taking any other medications.
Using Microdoses To Reduce or Stop Your Antidepressants
Some individuals have reported such amazing results through microdosing, that they have been able to reduce or completely stop taking their prescription antidepressants. This is a miracle and a dream come true for some. That being said, if you plan on experimenting with microdosing and reducing or stopping your antidepressants, be sure to talk to your Doctor about this first. Tapering slowly off of antidepressants is important, as it can be a shock to your system. Even if you are having amazing results with microdosing, go slow and work with a professional
To Conclude…
Generally speaking, yes you can microdose mushrooms with pharmaceuticals. However, talk to your Doctor first. It is highly recommend not to consume any psilocybin if you are taking a lithium medication, though. If you are taking serotonin based antidepressants, you may need a higher dose of mushrooms (200-300mg 1 to 2 times daily), and there is a risk of serotonin syndrome. So once again, consult your Doctor and go slow.
