Harmala side effects #2

[Rabbit]

I'm writing this thread mostly so that others understand that, while a useful substance and important to what we seek to accomplish here, harmala does do some heavy work on the body's chemistry which can result in some side effects one should be prepared for.

My rabbit has now used harmala alkaloids enough to understand their side effects in its own body. Aside from nausea, which it has learned to work around/accept, here are the most prominent ones it experiences.

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Nightmares:
The most prominent side effect for my rabbit is formation of nightmares a night or two after the experience.

The rabbit had me write about nightmares being a side effect, briefly, in the previous harmala post actually. Recently, it had done harmala again (110mg with 30mg smoked DMT 1hr later). Two nights after, it reported some hellish nightmares which woke it up about two hours early and left it in a frightened, creeped out state, unable to fall back asleep.

At first, the rabbit thought this was perhaps just coincidence, but the timing and intensity of the dreams have pointed out a rather strong correlation. It definitely does seem to have an impact on dreaming, and perhaps the nightmare aspect is tied in with the second side effect:

"Crash":
Another thing my rabbit's noticed is that while it's on harmala, it feels quite calm and peaceful. Content with all. However, when it wears off, the rabbit gets rather moody. Things worry or irritate the rabbit more easily. It gets nervous more readily, it feels "bored", loathes chores more than normal etc. My educated guess is that this is a mild form of the typical MAOI discontinuation syndrome, and based on what my rabbit tells me, I can definitely understand how much influence it can have over a person.

Insomnia:
It seems that harmalas give my rabbit insomnia when actually under its effects. Sleep is difficult, and any sleep gotten is very light. I imagine this is a result of a buildup of amines and similar substances in the body, which can't be broken down efficiently by MAO due to harmala.

What are everyone else's experiences with its side-effect profile?

 

[slewb]

Out of curiosity, what plant source and method of extraction has your rabbit been using? All my harmala use has been with either chewed and swallowed rue seeds or smoked rue alkaloids, and I haven't noticed any side effects apart from nausea. I have nightmares and insomnia most nights though.

 

[ouro]

Re: insomnia - this is fairly common from people I've spoken to: harmalas can induce a state of wakefulness. Sometimes at low doses I would even describe it as alertness. Some people advocate harmalas as a sleep aid, but I do not find that to be an appropriate use.

Re: nightmares - I haven't heard this before. I've heard of harmalas inducing vivid dreams, but perhaps the dark nature of your dreams has another origin?

Re: crash. I haven't personally noticed this. Of course returning from an elevated mood to baseline could be interpreted as a crash, depending on where you are coming from.

 

[Jees]

I won't sleep on a good harmala vibe, but who wants to?
Can't relate to your other phenomena, probably personality induced?

 

[awnoka]

Have engaged in harmala usage in 2 ways: 1. pre-launch about 45min to 1 1/2 hours before 3-4 capsuled powdered grams. 2. as a daily supplement for 6 months about .75 grams. Regarding the daily use harmala supplement definitely noticed huge uptick in remembered and lucid dreams. The dream life became a vivid time of conscious awareness where positive work could be accomplished.
One has the distinct sense of a continuous 'higher' awareness. If one has relationships with 'others' they may find a clearer communication signal present in day to day, moment to moment, sober situations.
Just one mans experiences. Am looking forward to a string of month with harmala & ormus daily supplementation...

 

[Synkromystic]

Harmalas will affect each person differently because each persons neuro chemistry is unique.

Moodiness and irritability can be signs there there are too many neurotransmitters and not enough binding sites (due to harmalas preventing the breakdown of neurotransmitters)

I don't find there to be any side effects at all. Occasionally I do notice an increase in the vividness of dreams.

 

[Rabbit]

Regarding the crash..excepting dmt/harmalas and the like, the rabbit is generally drug free nowadays and spends most of his time under a relatively normal state of mind, excepting caffeine and occasionally alcohol. The crash is mild compared to that of say, ecstasy, and is more psychological (aka physically he feels fine).

Re: personality. Can't say the rabbit has a particularly depressive personality or anything. He's a bit introverted at times, but generally hops around happily throughout his days. He has gone through some pretty tough times in his life, but I doubt that has much impact. Dreams are common for the rabbit, but nightmares are generally not.

I imagine the nightmares are a result of the vivid dreams caused by harmala, combined with the emotions that he was feeling at the time. Perhaps other factors come into play as well. Food, various noises, etc. And maybe if some of these variables are tweaked a bit, the dreams will still be prominent but more pleasant.

 

[DreaMTripper]

Regarding the crash..excepting dmt/harmalas and the like, the rabbit is generally drug free nowadays and spends most of his time under a relatively normal state of mind, excepting caffeine and occasionally alcohol. The crash is mild compared to that of say, ecstasy, and is more psychological (aka physically he feels fine).

Re: personality. Can't say the rabbit has a particularly depressive personality or anything. He's a bit introverted at times, but generally hops around happily throughout his days. He has gone through some pretty tough times in his life, but I doubt that has much impact. Dreams are common for the rabbit, but nightmares are generally not.

I imagine the nightmares are a result of the vivid dreams caused by harmala, combined with the emotions that he was feeling at the time. Perhaps other factors come into play as well. Food, various noises, etc. And maybe if some of these variables are tweaked a bit, the dreams will still be prominent but more pleasant.

I would say thats true, they are trying to tell you something it is a reflection from your sub-concious. I thought harmalas were good for dream work, possibly through inhibiting the breakdown of melatonin? Who knows..
I smoked syrian rue extract for weeks on end and then once the message had been received fully the dream-visions stopped.