Not getting effects

[Mrs. Mojo Risin]

Hi there! Not sure if I'm writing to the right place, I read it would come from a neurobiological perspective and I think that's just what I need. I can no longer trip on psychedelics. It was helping greatly with my mental health. I thought my medication that I'm on was blocking it (abilify, lamotragine and suboxone) but I could smoke a year ago on the same meds. All of a sudden I get absolutely no results from smoking DMT, taking mushrooms or acid. Other things don't work either. The psychedics were greatly improving my mood and I terribly miss doing them. If there is ANY insight on what could be happening, I would so greatly appreciate it. I really need help here!! Thank you for your time!

 

[blig-blug]

Hi, I wouldn't be surprised if it were the medication. Some questions:
- For how long have you been taking that medication? When did you start?
- When did you first notice this lack of effects from psychedelics?
- Was the loss of effects gradual or sudden?
- Do you get any non-visual effects at all? Bodily feelings, altered train of thought...
- What doses (of psychedelics) are we talking about?
- What are the other things that don't work? Are they psychedelics?

 

[Mrs. Mojo Risin]

Hi there! Thanks so much for getting back to me, I'm so lost! Anyway, I have been on suboxone since 2011. I have been on anti-depressants since I was 18/19. This conconcoction (of anti-depressants) which I'm on now though, I've been on for the last 2 years. Acid hasn't worked for me for years. I tried taking 7 hits of acid like 8 months ago and I got nothing. Shrooms I have to take 8g or more to even get some open eye visuals. I do get SOME closed eye visuals on shrooms, but again I have to take an astronomical amount. DMT has thrown me for a loop though. I did need a larger amount...about .07g...but I was smoking it all just fine 2 years ago and onward until about 8/9 months ago. All of a sudden it slowly started going from black and white minimal visions to now NOTHING at all. The curious thing is, I went off of all of my meds cold turkey for 3 months (besides suboxone) to SEE if it was my medication, and it didn't matter! I still couldn't trip. The other things I'm talking about were I went to a ketamine treatment center to treat my depression, and I didn't get ANYTHING out of it, until she cranked it up as high as she could. Which was the last day of my treatment. (I couldn't afford anymore treatments!) Pot I can smoke til I can't breathe anymore and I don't get high. Not to mention I take 300mg gummies and just get barely giggly. Everything seems to be blocked. I couldn't care less about any of the other things, but the psychedelics really were helping my treatment and I'm even more depressed now that I can't experience their benefits! I just want to thank you for taking the time out to message me. I'm desperate for help and don't know where to turn!! I hope I answered all of your questions. Again, thank you for even trying to help! I really appreciate you!

Hi, I wouldn't be surprised if it were the medication. Some questions:
- For how long have you been taking that medication? When did you start?
- When did you first notice this lack of effects from psychedelics?
- Was the loss of effects gradual or sudden?
- Do you get any non-visual effects at all? Bodily feelings, altered train of thought...
- What doses (of psychedelics) are we talking about?
- What are the other things that don't work? Are they psychedelics?

 

[blig-blug]

So, if I understand correctly, what has changed recently is DMT, as you already needed very high doses to get effects from other psychedelics. Is that correct?

If that's the case, it could be that you're experiencing what they call "DMT lockout", look for "lockout" on the search function of the Nexus to see many threads about it. It's basically that it just stops having most effects, and sometimes people see images that appear to be a "denial of access", such as locked doors. It's currently not understood why this happens, but it tends to happen when people have been smoking it regularly. Is that the case? If so, your best bet would be taking a break from DMT and see if it helps.

As for the lack of effect of other psychedelics, it's very likely the antidepressants, as it has been going on for a long time. In the past, I was for some years on a very heavy med regime (including SSRIs and also at one point Abilify) and it was like you describe it: I needed very high doses to get moderate-to-low effects. I can't say much about ketamine or weed because I didn't try those then.

Do you trust your doctor enough to bring up this topic? If you think they could be understanding and appreciate the fact that psychedelics were helping you with your depression, you could talk to them.

Also, have you tried going some months without any psychedelic? As they don't seem to be helping now it won't make matters worse, and it could also help. How often do you take psychedelics other than DMT?

I couldn't care less about any of the other things, but the psychedelics really were helping my treatment and I'm even more depressed now that I can't experience their benefits! I just want to thank you for taking the time out to message me. I'm desperate for help and don't know where to turn!! I hope I answered all of your questions. Again, thank you for even trying to help! I really appreciate you!

No problem! I understand how it feels like being in a terrible depression and taking many meds while not seeming to get much relief. I hope it goes well for you! And don't hesitate to ask more questions. Just be aware that we can't give medical advice here (not that you have asked for it, just letting you know).

 

[Mrs. Mojo Risin]

So, if I understand correctly, what has changed recently is DMT, as you already needed very high doses to get effects from other psychedelics. Is that correct?

If that's the case, it could be that you're experiencing what they call "DMT lockout", look for "lockout" on the search function of the Nexus to see many threads about it. It's basically that it just stops having most effects, and sometimes people see images that appear to be a "denial of access", such as locked doors. It's currently not understood why this happens, but it tends to happen when people have been smoking it regularly. Is that the case? If so, your best bet would be taking a break from DMT and see if it helps.

As for the lack of effect of other psychedelics, it's very likely the antidepressants, as it has been going on for a long time. In the past, I was for some years on a very heavy med regime (including SSRIs and also at one point Abilify) and it was like you describe it: I needed very high doses to get moderate-to-low effects. I can't say much about ketamine or weed because I didn't try those then.

Do you trust your doctor enough to bring up this topic? If you think they could be understanding and appreciate the fact that psychedelics were helping you with your depression, you could talk to them.

Also, have you tried going some months without any psychedelic? As they don't seem to be helping now it won't make matters worse, and it could also help. How often do you take psychedelics other than DMT?


No problem! I understand how it feels like being in a terrible depression and taking many meds while not seeming to get much relief. I hope it goes well for you! And don't hesitate to ask more questions. Just be aware that we can't give medical advice here (not that you have asked for it, just letting you know).

Yes, technically the DMT and acid I'm COMPLETLY "locked out" from. I have heard of that term once before but it is disheartening for me because I already went on an 8 month long break from trying DMT and it still doesn't work. Have you heard of time needing to be waaaay longer?? That's why I was thinking there HAD to be some other explanation. I hadn't been smoking it too regularly. Maybe once/twice every weekend. Maybe that was too much? The thing is, I stopped my antidepressants cold turkey for 3 months and the drugs should have been out of my system by then (I'm pretty sure) and psychedelics still didn't work.

I do see a doctor that seems to be pretty understanding, I'm just scared to be fully honest. I have brought up wanting taking a mushroom "study" before and tip-toed around my questions for him. I don't know how he'd feel with me talking about taking them recreationally. I guess the only way to find out is to ask, huh? I did bring up an Ayahuasca trip in my far far future too, and he said my meds shouldn't be a problem. I was really trying to ask if my meds would block psychedelics in general, without giving myself up for why I really was asking haha. Maybe I should just be honest though.

As far as going long between psycs...I was trying to shroom 2/3 times a month before, but I've been slowing that down too, because what's the point anymore. I haven't taken any shrooms for over a month and a half now. I suppose I'll try to take a break from that as well for longer and see where I get.

I am sorry to hear you went through a troubling time with meds and I really hope you're doing much better now!! I'm glad I got to hear from somebody who understands and has been through the same thing. Yeah, either my anti-depressants don't work, or I get serious side effects. It's a catch 22 with me. So again, helping me solve this puzzle will help me combat my mental illness in more ways than you know. So again, thank you THANK YOU for taking the time to respond to me! I just opened my profile a little while ago, so I'm not familiar with the Nexus yet, but I'll go check out the info about being locked out!! Much love!

 

[blig-blug]

Yes, technically the DMT and acid I'm COMPLETLY "locked out" from.

The reason I think it could be lockout for the DMT is that when you were getting effects from DMT, you already weren't getting effects from LSD or other psychedelics. So if it were the meds, I assume that woulnd't have happened: the effects of DMT seem to have gone away on their own, without changes in medications. That seems consistent with lockout.

I already went on an 8 month long break from trying DMT and it still doesn't work. Have you heard of time needing to be waaaay longer??

I don't really know. Maybe more experienced members can share their experiences on this. The problem with lockout is that it's not clear what it even is or how it works, so it's difficult to know what can help, other than breaks.

I stopped my antidepressants cold turkey for 3 months and the drugs should have been out of my system by then (I'm pretty sure) and psychedelics still didn't work.

Yes, they should have been out for sure. The only factor that comes to mind is that many of these drugs are lipophillic (they dissolve well in fats) and tend to accumulate in the body fat, and can be released when you lose weight. But I don't think this could be enough to keep suppressing psychedelic effects.

I do see a doctor that seems to be pretty understanding, I'm just scared to be fully honest.

That's very understandable. Many people (including doctors) fear these substances, and are ignorant about them.

I don't know how he'd feel with me talking about taking them recreationally. I guess the only way to find out is to ask, huh?

I would argue that it's not only recreational if they were noticeably improving your mood! Sounds like medical use to me. If he's open and understanding, he may see it this way too.

I did bring up an Ayahuasca trip in my far far future too, and he said my meds shouldn't be a problem.

He sounds pretty open to me! As he didn't react negatively or try to scare you, but gave you information instead.

I was really trying to ask if my meds would block psychedelics in general, without giving myself up for why I really was asking haha. Maybe I should just be honest though.

I think you did well in testing the waters. But if you think you can yes, it's probably better being open with him about this. He's more likely to be able to help if it's related to the meds, and it's good that he's aware of what other psychoactive substances you're taking. In an ideal situation it would always be possible to be open about drug use with doctors without getting scolded or even punished for it.

As far as going long between psycs...I was trying to shroom 2/3 times a month before, but I've been slowing that down too, because what's the point anymore. I haven't taken any shrooms for over a month and a half now. I suppose I'll try to take a break from that as well for longer and see where I get.

It's a good idea. You can try again in a few weeks and see if anything has changed.

I am sorry to hear you went through a troubling time with meds and I really hope you're doing much better now!!

Much better, yes, I've been off any medication for years. Now it's only psychedelics

I'm glad I got to hear from somebody who understands and has been through the same thing.

Quite a few people here have had similar experiences, too.

I just opened my profile a little while ago, so I'm not familiar with the Nexus yet

You could make an introduction post here, if you want: Introduce yourself
Also, be sure to check the Attitude page if you haven't yet: Attitude Page - DMT-Nexus Wiki
Welcome to the Nexus! Happy to have you here.

 

[Mrs. Mojo Risin]

Wow. I can't thank you enough for how thorough you have been with me and responding to my long posts. I can't tell you how grateful I am! I will try to message some other members who have been through the lockout phase and hopefully get some positive answers from them. I'm just so worried I'll be locked out forever and as I'm sure I've said enough, it makes me super sad and frustrated.

You're right. My doctor is pretty open...but I'm sure you know what suboxone is...and so I see him for that medication mainly. I don't want him to think I'm abusing other substances or just trying to "get high" on psychedelics cause that's certainly not the case.
Maybe I will bring it up to him next time I'm in. Wish me luck!! And you're completely right. Doctors should be waaaay more understanding with "beneficial" drug use.

Wow! That's so awesome you've been off medication for years!! Good for you! That's amazing! I'm glad you're getting therapeutic results from tripping/microdosing. It really is the way to go. I HATE having to take pharmaceuticals.

Okay, well once again, you're wonderful and if you happen to find out anymore info by chance please send it my way! Otherwise like you mentioned, I am going to message other people on here!!

Have a wonderful rest of your day!!!
Amy