Fair enough, thanks for clearing that up and sharing that knowledge. I never tried 2CE and never intend to and I assumed it was the same as 2CI, so sorry for the misinformation. 2CB was my first psychedelic experience and I agree it's a good entry level psychedelic for new users.
The 2C's can vary pretty widely in their effects:
* 2C-B, 2C-C and 2C-D are generally considered the more forgiving ones with the shortest half-lives, making them ideal beginner psychedelics. 2C-I probably isn't too harsh either, although it lasts longer and is often considered more stimulating.
* 2C-T-2 and 2C-T-7 are said to produce the most stunning visuals with a relatively clear headspace, albeit at the cost of significant nausea, and the risk of a physically dangerous overdose.
* 2C-E, as mentioned, produces intense tactile sensations and a very intense headspace (I have taken 2C-E twice now, once at 25 and once 20 mg, and both times I barely remember anything about the normal open eye visuals because I was so blown away by the headspace), with an LSD-like duration. 2C-P is probably closest to 2C-E, except the duration is even longer.
* 2C-G is not particularly noteworthy for its intensity, but the duration truly stands out, with trips easily lasting as long as those on DOC/DOB/DOI.
* 2C-B-FLY has been reported to be more on the mellow and entactogenic side a la 2C-C or 2C-B, although the duration is similar to LSD. The elderly Shulgins loved it, although some users found it so mellow as to be almost underwhelming.
Of course intensity depends on dosage, but also on sensitivity, tolerance and body weight, I was just trying to put things into perspective for him. Smoking weed 3 times to dropping lsd seems pretty reckless and a leap into the dark to me.
Few people were lucky enough to start with 2C-B as their first psychedelic... LSD may not be an ideal beginner's psychedelic, but I would say most of the recklessness lies in people dosing too high, taking it in a suboptimal set and setting, combining it with weed and not having emergency downers on hand. If OP acknowledges that there may be risks in trying such a drug and is actively seeking info on minimizing these risks, that sounds like a more humble and rational approach than your average tripper.
As for SSRIs, it sounds all too risky and complicated to me. I had celexa prescribed to me when I was going hard on MDMA, and I didn't dare to try taking both inside a relatively close time frame. Why risk losing out on a trip because you took something that acts exactly in the opposite way on your brains neurotransmitters?
But they (i.e. LSD and SSRI's) *don't* act in exactly the opposite way. SSRI's increase serotonin levels in the synapse by blocking the serotonin
transporter. LSD directly activates a specific type of serotonin
receptor called 5HT2A. The "exact opposite" of a psychedelic ("5HT2A agonist") is an atypical antipsychotic ("5HT2A antagonist").
I would ascribe the mild psychedelic-dampening effects of SSRI's to a general downregulation of serotonin receptors due to higher baseline serotonin levels.
