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Psilocybin for Nicotine Withdrawal

T

tryptofan

Greenlighter
Joined
Aug 8, 2013
Messages
34
Dear PD.

Although I don't post here too often, I would like to share with you my story and welcome you to partake in this personal struggle of mine.

Inspired by the promising Hopkins University trials I decided to take refuge in psilocybin containing mushrooms as a means to liberate myself of my nicotine addiction. Approximately 15 grams fresh p. cubensis was consumed a little over six hours ago with this intention in mind. This provided a mild, but insightful experience which further confirmed my spiritual dedication, the driving force pulling me towards self improvement.

In addition to the mushrooms, 200mg/day L-theanine and a healthy dose of B-complex will be administered throughout the withdrawal period, accompanied by proper nutrition and regular exercise.

I'm sure there are others on this board that have used mushrooms for this or similar purpose. Please share with me your experience! Was the dosage I applied a bit conservative perhaps? How many sessions would you dose for such a purpose, and how much space would you put between each session?

Besides mushroom-specific advice, any advice in regards to approaching nicotine withdrawal is welcomed with open arms. Any support gathered will be greatly appreciated in the battle against this senseless addiction.

Om shanti.
 
Good luck with your experiment. I personally found 4 day isolation and the occasional smoke of cannabis to combat the rage helped me no end, but I have heard many stories of psychedelics being used to combat addiction so you might well be onto something. Do you have a link to that Hopkins trial?

I don't have much advice apart from keeping in mind that you are actually not giving up anything. Nicotine is a fucking disgusting drug. All you are doing is GAINING from getting it out your system. Look around for nicotine withdrawal timetables to see how much you can benefit even within a couple of weeks of being off it. The more you see it as a positive rather than a negative the more likely you are to succeed.

The hardest part for me after the nicotine was out my system was just experiencing everything I had usually done while smoking. Because people use it so frequently and it locks into so many experiences it's almost like you have to experience all you usually do again to show your brain you don't need it. The first time I left the house after the 4 days of withdrawal I experienced a panic attack due to the stress of being in a busy area, but then next time it didn't happen. Similarly when I went into work the stress was unreal but after doing it once and knowing I could do it it was no longer a problem.

What I thought was going to be most difficult was going out partying and taking over substances and not smoking. I assumed this would be unbearable but I only got a couple of cravings and when I did I just told myself "You're drunk and high, why do you really need anything else, this is good enough!"
 
i've gotten over a wasp phobia on shrooms, plus a friend gave up tobacco on them, years later he smokes but he was off them for a year at least
 
Thanks for replies so far.

Followed, I appreciate your advice and support. Focusing on the positives of quitting makes a lot of sense to me.

Regarding the Hopkins trials, have a look at these lectures from Psychedelic Science earlier this year:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHc60goAxv8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kanDlKmvZKY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbRbMavHm-8

Matthew Johnson from the second lecture gave a reddit IAmA, which can be found at http://www.reddit.com/r/Drugs/comments/1ais3m/i_am_matthew_johnson_phd_a_behavioral/.

More info is found at their website http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org, for example here: http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/john..._clinical_trials/clinical_trials/smoking.html.

Going on strong still, approaching 30 hours! Feeling increasingly sick though.
 
tryptofan said:
Going on strong still, approaching 30 hours! Feeling increasingly sick though.
Click to expand...

You're doing really well mate! Cheers for that info I'll give it a look through later.

You're gonna feel all sorts of wrong inside and mentally, but you're basically half way through the withdrawal now so not long to go. Every time I got the warm craving feeling I'd literally just tell myself to "fuck off" almost like I was arguing with the addiction. Treating it like an enemy rather than a compulsion seemed to help this....

Before I quit I always worried about how I was going to handle stress and that warm feeling I'd get when I wanted to smoke. Afterwards you simply don't get these feelings as it was the nicotine and habit that was causing them to begin with.

Check out this website if you haven't already........ http://whyquit.com/whyquit/a_benefits_time_table.html

Also if you want to ask any other questions to me feel free. I'm not exactly an expert but I've been off it for over a year so might be able to give you some perspective.
 
That time table is comforting to keep in mind. I got the impression that the whyquit site had an honorable approach to the subject matter in addition to a seemingly scientifically credible foundation. I offer you my sincere gratitude for your support, and you should know it makes a significant impact.

If there is further interest in recent psilocybin research, there is now thankfully no longer a lack of places to look. Professor David Nutt seem to be doing solid work. Here is a lecture by one of the members of his team: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jT5dZDnJ6J4. Franz Vollenweider has contributed with great insights into the biochemical and neurological aspects (http://www.nature.com/nrn/journal/v11/n9/abs/nrn2884.htm, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrEADIJvWLs). And just this previous fall, University of South Florida reported some very interesting results solidifying the proposition of psilocybin as a neuroplasticity enhancer (http://hscweb3.hsc.usf.edu/blog/201...chedelic-drug-erases-conditioned-fear-in-mice, http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00221-013-3579-0).

I may be able to come up with scientific articles if there is interest. Shoot me a PM and I'll do my best to reply despite being a greenlighter.

Will attempt to gather some sleep now. Quite proud of having made it through my first day. Hopefully the worst is over soon.

Good night.
 
I have been experiencing EXTREME anxiety due to my withdrawal from an out of control cannabis addiction that went on for way too long. I've been clean for 3 months and I'm still getting the odd physical panic attack plus extreme generalized anxiety. The first two weeks, I couldn't eat food from the appetite suppression and lost a good 20 pounds, felt I was going to have a heart attack the whole time. I hope that my full recovery from this silly, destructive habit will be measured in months and not years, but only time will tell. I am paying my debt with due interest.

Best decision ever to quit, but it wasn't really a choice. I just started getting horrible, life threatening panic attacks when I was stoned - otherwise I would have smoked it to the grave, even though it was quite obviously wrecking havoc on my life. I'm just happy that I have made it this far, as the stuff has always made me stupid, lazy, depressed, deluded, and both physically and socially anxious while I was peer pressured into it enough when I was younger that I began to develop intense, uncontrollable cravings to smoke that fuelled a very serious habit over time. I don't miss weed at all and rarely think about it. I never even liked it that much, what with all the side effects I get, but I've always found it to be the most strongly addictive drug by far. It has taken me years of attempts to successfully quit, and I really had to keep at it and fuck myself up bad in order to get the point.

My recent experiences with mushrooms have helped to center my being and have left me with a lasting calming effect, which has actually helped me physiologically with the panic symptoms which at times really won't seem to budge. I was on a hiatus from psychedelics for years, as they weren't compatible with my anxiety and panic causing addiction, and I was just too obsessed with the weed. These mushroom sessions have been relaxing, fun, and beneficial for me, so I'm considering trying iboga for the first time, as well as DMT once I work through these anxiety issues a little more. Presently, I am very trusting of the mushroom and I view psilocin as one of the tools that I can use on my journey to help recover from the years of abuse.

Since using psilocin I have not had a single craving to smoke weed, and I have been have obsessive thoughts over it to a lesser extent. I seem to have partially resolved the near-schizo dichotomy in the core of my being caused by my bad habit, as I really do have a split personality on the subject. I mean half of me wouldn't agree with what I have wrote - the side of me that praises cannabis. But that evil part of myself is losing the battle.
 
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Today was easier than yesterday. The L-theanine seems to really be helping to keep stress levels down.

Still wondering when to have my next mushroom session. Do I wait a week? Two weeks? A month? I am cautious not to use tripping as an escape or replacement, and thus don't want to do it too often.
 
tryptofan said:
Today was easier than yesterday. The L-theanine seems to really be helping to keep stress levels down.

Still wondering when to have my next mushroom session. Do I wait a week? Two weeks? A month? I am cautious not to use tripping as an escape or replacement, and thus don't want to do it too often.
Click to expand...

It might be a good idea to look into psilocybin tolerance and decide for yourself. Personally I have never found mushrooms to be moreish in the same way that other substances are, although when they were still legal I'd indulge once every week or 2 for months at a time seemingly without any build up in tolerance. I doubt you'd find them to be a suitable long term replacement for nicotine anyway, especially if you are using them to combat compulsive behaviour. Although I don't know you personally, so you may feel that might not be the case for you. If you tried to do this I have a feeling the mushrooms would teach you a lesson anyway. I once ate a load of them when I wasn't in a good mood and had a really dark and upsetting trip. Afterwards I felt quite refreshed so it wasn't a completely negative experience, but it did lead me to the conclusion that they couldn't really be used to make me forget my problems, as they brought them into shape focus instead.

Maybe wait a week and see how you feel then? If you've gone a few days without nicotine there is no reason why you can't do the same number again, and the more you do this the more positive examples you can relate back to. It really does get easier over time. Eventually you'll simply experience stress without thinking about smoking, and only occasionally consider it.... Which in some ways can be where people slip up cos they feel confident 6 months or a year down the line that they could just have one and it will be fine. Ever so often my brain tries and tricks me but I always remember that what I imagine smoking to be, and what it actually is, are two different things.

You're doing really well anyway. Keep at it!
 
rave_itsrealfun!!! said:
I have been experiencing EXTREME anxiety due to my withdrawal from an out of control cannabis addiction that went on for way too long. I've been clean for 3 months and I'm still getting the odd physical panic attack plus extreme generalized anxiety. The first two weeks, I couldn't eat food from the appetite suppression and lost a good 20 pounds, felt I was going to have a heart attack the whole time. I hope that my full recovery from this silly, destructive habit will be measured in months and not years, but only time will tell. I am paying my debt with due interest.

Best decision ever to quit, but it wasn't really a choice. I just started getting horrible, life threatening panic attacks when I was stoned - otherwise I would have smoked it to the grave, even though it was quite obviously wrecking havoc on my life. I'm just happy that I have made it this far, as the stuff has always made me stupid, lazy, depressed, deluded, and both physically and socially anxious while I was peer pressured into it enough when I was younger that I began to develop intense, uncontrollable cravings to smoke that fuelled a very serious habit over time. I don't miss weed at all and rarely think about it. I never even liked it that much, what with all the side effects I get, but I've always found it to be the most strongly addictive drug by far. It has taken me years of attempts to successfully quit, and I really had to keep at it and fuck myself up bad in order to get the point.

My recent experiences with mushrooms have helped to center my being and have left me with a lasting calming effect, which has actually helped me physiologically with the panic symptoms which at times really won't seem to budge. I was on a hiatus from psychedelics for years, as they weren't compatible with my anxiety and panic causing addiction, and I was just too obsessed with the weed. These mushroom sessions have been relaxing, fun, and beneficial for me, so I'm considering trying iboga for the first time, as well as DMT once I work through these anxiety issues a little more. Presently, I am very trusting of the mushroom and I view psilocin as one of the tools that I can use on my journey to help recover from the years of abuse.

Since using psilocin I have not had a single craving to smoke weed, and I have been have obsessive thoughts over it to a lesser extent. I seem to have partially resolved the near-schizo dichotomy in the core of my being caused by my bad habit, as I really do have a split personality on the subject. I mean half of me wouldn't agree with what I have wrote - the side of me that praises cannabis. But that evil part of myself is losing the battle.
Click to expand...

I know what you mean about the almost split personality you get, and I think that is the case regardless of the substance. It seems to be that the thing you're addicted to, the thing you can't do without is the one that fucks you up the most. Smoking is used as an example of cognitive dissonance but I think that same thinking can be applied to any drug. "I like doing this, but it's making me feel bad."

>> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_dissonance

Human beings are weird as fuck!
 
I just quit smoking. I was a very heavy smoker, not in packs, but the way I needed it. I relapsed a few times and have settled back into social smoker like a normal person.
Mushrooms imo will reset tolerance but not help u quit.
You have to confront what is causing u to want to. mushrooms might help with that self reflection. @OP
 
It sounds like an interesting way to get off the nicotine. I'm not sure if it would help with the cravings tbh although in the past when I did shrooms I found myself smoking a lot less. I'm quitting a heavy tobacco habit myself right now, but I'm doing it with e-cigs and niccorette inhalers; I don't think I could quit nicotine cold.
 
Yes, in my understanding, the underlying idea is not using psilocybin as a replacement for nicotine, but rather to strengthen the psychological and spiritual foundation needed to resist relapse is at its most tempting. When quitting cold turkey, there will inevitably be moments of weakness, when the mind will play all its trump cards attempting to get back to the comforts of past indulgence. The quality of presence and strength of will power in those moments will make up the difference between success and failure.

Beforehand, I thought of the mushroom session as a ceremonial, almost ritualistic event that would mark the transition to another phase of life, no longer enslaved by the horrors of the past. During the experience, I did my best to look deep inside myself and explore my true identity, behind external labels and ego constructs. This seemed to me a constructive approach, as I believe much of our attachment to the substances we depend on stems from our identification with the substance in the form of being users. Whether consciously or unconsciously, we tell ourselves "I am a smoker" "I am a drinker" "I am a stoner" and so forth, when in reality these are merely external concepts constructed by our minds through conditioning over time.

Surprisingly, I can report after having reached the 96 hour mark that the cravings have been much less severe than presumed. Perhaps the psilocybin has made a physiological contribution here? Is it possible that it could have a similar effect to Ibogaine in this respect? Parappa mentions resetting tolerance, although I am not 100% sure what is meant by that. Perhaps he/she would care to elaborate.

I can also relate to what Fellowed wrote regarding experiencing everything again without nicotine. The first few times after quitting that a situation occurs where I in the past would use, there is a craving which has to be processed. I am grateful that these situations have been manageable so far, and I am sure it will improve over time.

Dopemegently, I am sure you have in you what is needed to quit. It is probably not going to be as difficult as you think. At least that's what I have gathered from my experience so far. Regardless, stepping down to ecigs and the likes is a step in the right direction and I applaud you for this. Similarly, I stepped down from smoking to using snus a year ago myself, with great health benefits. There is a time for everything.

Thanks to everyone for their contributions.
 
Whereas psychedelics can give me the will to quit destructive behaviour they dont always give me the dicipline to do so.

For example i can some times get into a bad pattern of cannabis/ttobaccoabuse where i smoke daily and even wake n bake sometimes.

I am sure most of the cravings comes from the fact that i mix cb with tobacco sometimes and its more the nicotine giving me issues than the desire to get high.

Well once i decide i want to take a break which i usually can manifest with a psychedelic trip, then i usually just need to take 1day off to get rid ox the worst cravings.

Ive discovered that dissiociative drugs totally takes away any desire for me to use tobacco while under the influence of them.

I esp find mxe and 3meopcp usefull for this, now the problem is that some people find these substances to be even more addictive so tread carefully if you decide to try this.

Usually i only need to take them the first day and after that my willpower is more than enough to keep away.
 
^Cognitive dissonance makes it hard to get off drugs, because a part of you won't agree with it and will be totally against what is happening.

With an addiction there is a painful hurdle that must be surpassed, and there is no way around it you are going to suffer for a while because your body won't be right without your habit going strong. There will probably be a lot of anxiety and confusion. But at the end of the day it will be very much worthwhile.

I had to get help from a doctor who is an addiction specialist to beat my addiction, go on medication too and see a councillor for a while as well. There are plenty of options out there for addicts. There is also an association between Iboga use and addiction recovery, but that should probably only be used as a last resort.

My withdrawal was too intense that I wouldn't even think of doing shrooms during that miserable nightmare, since the suffering was unbearable and I was constantly having panic attacks, but taking them in retrospect called for some good trip vibes and ever since my energy has been well tuned to the cosmic consciousness. Usually for mushrooms it's once a season, but I always know when the time is right (probably some time after I get my hands on some DMT, when I am feeling very calm, have been keeping motivated, and I have exhausted myself with self improvement techniques, awareness practices, and religious scriptures).
 
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I've heard some seriously impressive reports of iboga in addiction treatment. It's a shame it's been so heavily legislated against; the way I see it, no model of treatment should be off the table if it's effective and completely safe.
 
I'm through nine days of abstinence and doing well. Cravings are subsiding, although still occuring up to a few times a day. Sleep is improving.

I have decided to do another run of psilocybin therapy around the two weeks mark, sometime next weekend. Will keep you posted after this event.
 
Why do you need to trip to quit smoking. I smoked 2 packs a day for nearly a decade and quit cold turkey.
It's called mental fortitude, smoking is the easiest drug to quit using.
 
I need to trip because, like most addicts, I'm weak and prone to mind trickery, and tripping strengthens me in these respects.

Congratulations to you for your achievement.
 
Using another psychoactive as a crutch is an unnecessary means to successfully w/ding from nicotine containing products. Self identification as an addict is often times used as a way to deam the use of an extra drug necessary. Cognitive therapy has a very high success rate.
 
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