The effects of drugs on the ketogenic brain?

[MyExcuse]

I am planning, carefully so, to embark on a journey to better myself physically and mentally. This journey begins with the utilization of a ketogenic diet.

A few from the bodybuilding crew may be familiar with the diet, but to summarize: It is a low-carbohydrate, moderate-protein, high-fat content diet where more than 60% of ones daily caloric intake comes from fats. I am choosing the CKD (Cyclic Keto Diet) in particular, where weekends you are allowed to carb.-load for the purpose of building/maintaining muscle mass.

My question is this:
I still plain on maintaining drug use during all of this personal betterment, hallucinogens only. During the process of Ketosis, the brain begins to use ketone bodies instead of glucose as energy (up to 75%). What would this mean for the uptake, metabolism or any reaction a drug would have on the brain and in the CNS in general?

It's to my understanding that certain medicines, especially sedatives, are enhanced while on the diet. I have known from reading past studies that glucose consumption and insulin levels are affected in patients under the influence of LSD. I was wondering if maybe someone might have tried this diet and could give some input? It would be much appreciated.

Edit: Also cannabis? How would that work, if cannabis is normally stored in fat would it enhance the users sensitivity if they were in ketosis or at least on such a diet?

 

[sekio]

Low blood sugar is generally associated with fainting and more erratic behaviour while under the influence of mind-laterign substances and will likely exacerbate any hypotensive effects of drugs like marijuana.

 

[bolinas]

There is a lot of misunderstanding about ketogenic diets. Serious misunderstanding.

Serious ketogenic dieting means you are going down to 5% carbohydrate of total caloric intake or less. Real ketogenic dieters are eating less than 50g/day of any carbohydrate source. This is a very strict diet, it takes about two weeks to go from the low carb "flu" to feeling normal again. But it is both an interesting way to lose weight, and also very useful for multiple sclerosis and the whole range of neurological diseases, and of course diabetes. I've done it more than once. Your liver will actually raise your blood sugar by generating it (gluconeogenesis) from fat. Some muscle and brain cells need glucose, period. Everything else can run on ketones (which your body generates from fat in a low-glucose situation). Your cells which do not require glucose (and can use ketones) will become insulin resistant when your food supply switches from glucose to saturated fats. This is peripheral insulin resistance - completely normal (and not the same as diabetic insulin resistance). Your body is preserving the precious blood glucose for your heart and brain cells that require it by tuning out the insulin messenger.

Far from fainting, if you go full ketogenic, you'll experience odd, sudden catecholamine release when your body is kick-starting gluconeogenesis (during the first few weeks). This is rough and serious business. You will not feel good from it all the time. It's a serious metabolic shift. Pot will still be pot. Intoxicants will make you more likely to break your ketogenic "fast", munchies and all. Hallucinogens work fine with a ketogenic diet. Ketogenic diet with stimulants will seriously accelerate weight loss, but it's hard on you.

I drank heavy cream in the morning with coffee to start the day. Still do. No sugar. I generally try to keep my carb intake around 50-150g/day now, enough to stay out of gluconeogenesis and build up glycogen stores. On junk food days I can eat 500g carbs and it really dulls me out. When I stay ketogenic for at least two weeks, the "chatter" goes away and my mind gets much sharper.

Metabolic syndrome and all these things are inevitable for the vast majority who ingest much more glucose and fructose than their bodies can tolerate over the long term.

 

[Wizzle]

Maybe it's bullshit, but I've always wondered if ketogenic diets would help people with bipolar disorder. Does anyone know if this has been studied?