For sure - the beta blockers pindolol and propranolol (and probably others). I preload with 40mg propranolol 1hr prior to 30mg vaped. OMG !
Method of action cited below with work from Messrs Strassman and and Gallimore.
Designing a Psychedelic State
Lurking here for some years I can't believe this hasn't been discussed more. Definitely at least a two-fold increase in intensity for me - duration is the same.
A.
This is a very cool article! thank you for the read! I found it interesting the discussion of 5HT1A.
“Pindolol is primarily used as a nonselective beta blocker (as an antagonist at adrenergic beta receptors” -to quote the article “Designing a psychedelic state” above.
Interestingly for me, this has connections to what I have been studying about the HPA axis, whose activation I believe to be - generally speaking - antagonistic to trancelike states. Not only adrenaline, but also domaine(highly stimulated by opiates), cortisol, and glucagon are implicated in activating the HPA axis, and even inhibiting the metabolism of the aforementioned molecules while at the same time stimulating the metabolism of molecules like oxytocin/vasopressin and serotonin.
So scientifically, reducing hpa axis activation might help you travel better is my idea. reducing is very simplistic though so perhaps what we are looking for is more dynamic range, or complexity/resolution of responsiveness. Not some stagnant, chronically activated platitude.
I would also like to mention that various trance mediums or other factors like scent can be very synergistic with the psychedelic experience. For instance having darkness, a fire, and a drum are all facilitative of trance. Sitting very still and calmly in meditation is facilitating of trance. I don’t want to reduce these to that, but they definitely help with it. The details really matter and engaging with trance is amazing.
The article was talking about the breadth of activation psychedelics have. DMT has a wider and stronger receptor activation profile than most all other serotonin types such as lsd and psilocybin. But serotonin is not the only psychedelic. Ibogaine and Salvinorin for instance act on opiate pathways, and ibogaine in general is activational all over the brain. I find that LSD + Salvinorin(quid) is extremely powerful, perhaps precisely because they are so different. As antrocles said about the ibogahuasca here on the nexus, it was more powerful than all of every trip they had had up to that point combined, or something like that.
The adrenaline antagonism is very interesting to me, thank you. Also I would be curious that a dopaminergic antagonism does. To me it’s usually scary ~ which has its own appeal since shamanically fear is like a fountain of love.
And I would like to say that living a low-stress, or low-ptsd lifestyle, or just an effortless naturally expressive lifestyle is also significant in relationship to psychedelics.
So to bullet them
-HPA Axis
-Trance methods
-Mixtures of psychedelics for broad spectrum engagement of the mind
-A well lived life (I cannot understate this one enough. Personally for me, it might be the chief most powerful answer to OP question in fact)
Misc thoughts, thank you very much
How you do is what you are