polymath
Bluelight Crew
- Joined
- Nov 4, 2010
- Messages
- 1,885
Hi guys,
I had a couple of paranoid psychotic episodes (caused by a stressful life situation, not drugs) many years back, and I was prescribed risperidone, which I still use (3mg a day). I really haven't had any paranoia or other psychotic symptoms for 5 years, so I wouldn't really need the med anymore, but I'm still using it because it helps me get sleep at night. I've also become somewhat physically dependent on risperidone, and I get some kind of panic disorder symptoms and insomnia if I don't take my medication.
The problem is, the risperidone has started causing me erectile dysfunction and lack of libido, which is a common side effect. Also, I'd like to try psychedelics but it would be pointless to take them because risperidone blocks their effects (5-HT2A antagonism). Quetiapine is an antipsychotic that does not lower testosterone levels like risperidone, so switching to that would probably solve the sexual problems. However, quetiapine also blocks 5HT2A, so it would still prevent me from experimenting with psychedelics.
Has anyone been in a similar situation, having to quit antipsychotics for a few days to be able to take psychedelics? Risperidone has a half-life of 24h and an active metabolite with similar half-life, so it would probably take a week of abstinence to get it cleared from my body. I have a few hundred ololiuhqui (turbina corymbosa) seeds in my cupboard, and I will probably ingest about 150-200 seeds when the time comes. Is it possible that my 5HT2A receptors have become hypersensitized during the years of constant blockage by risperidone, and that when I take psychedelics they have a stronger effect on me than normal people?
I had a couple of paranoid psychotic episodes (caused by a stressful life situation, not drugs) many years back, and I was prescribed risperidone, which I still use (3mg a day). I really haven't had any paranoia or other psychotic symptoms for 5 years, so I wouldn't really need the med anymore, but I'm still using it because it helps me get sleep at night. I've also become somewhat physically dependent on risperidone, and I get some kind of panic disorder symptoms and insomnia if I don't take my medication.
The problem is, the risperidone has started causing me erectile dysfunction and lack of libido, which is a common side effect. Also, I'd like to try psychedelics but it would be pointless to take them because risperidone blocks their effects (5-HT2A antagonism). Quetiapine is an antipsychotic that does not lower testosterone levels like risperidone, so switching to that would probably solve the sexual problems. However, quetiapine also blocks 5HT2A, so it would still prevent me from experimenting with psychedelics.
Has anyone been in a similar situation, having to quit antipsychotics for a few days to be able to take psychedelics? Risperidone has a half-life of 24h and an active metabolite with similar half-life, so it would probably take a week of abstinence to get it cleared from my body. I have a few hundred ololiuhqui (turbina corymbosa) seeds in my cupboard, and I will probably ingest about 150-200 seeds when the time comes. Is it possible that my 5HT2A receptors have become hypersensitized during the years of constant blockage by risperidone, and that when I take psychedelics they have a stronger effect on me than normal people?