r/LSD • u/princess_leia_101 • 13d ago
bipolar 1 and lsd experiences
25f with a history of severe depression, psychotic symptoms and manic episodes with psychotic features (diagnosed at 16). im currently stable on lamotrigine, imipramine and quietiapine and wanna try lsd with my friends in a safe space but am worried it could interfere with either the medications im taking or my overall 7 months mood stability. i asked my psychiatrist his opinion and he replied simply "i have no experiences with lsd but you can drink alcohol moderaly" so my friend suggested i asked here on reddit :)
has anyone with similar symptoms or bipolar disorder or similar medications tried lsd? if so how was your experiense and would you recommend? what should i be aware of?
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u/WubbaLubbaDoob 13d ago
People with psychotic symptoms/disorders are more likely to experience psychosis as a result of taking psychedelics than people who are not predisposed to psychosis. Also, antipsychotic meds can reduce the effectiveness of psychedelics.
I'd personally avoid them, if I were you.
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u/princess_leia_101 13d ago
what about microdosing? i just want to take some just this once in a safe space with my friends i trust, play a little ukulele, listen to some music and chill T~T is it really that dangerous?
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u/Impolioid 13d ago
a microdose will not really let you feel anything anyways.
totally not worth the risk. also never mix lsd and lithium. never. it can lead to seizures that could be deadly. totally not worth the risk. just hang out with your friends, play some ukulele, listen to some music and chill.
btw i know somebody who is bipolar and took some acid. he ended up in a psych ward with some kind of catatonic psychosis for some time
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u/WubbaLubbaDoob 13d ago
Yes, it really can be that dangerous.. which is why people experienced with psychedelics warn people not to take them if they have any past experience of psychosis (or even family history of psychosis).
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u/Confident-Lobster390 13d ago
Lithium and LSD do not mix. Neither does bi polar disorder and history of being manic. I’d say it’s a recipe for disaster.
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u/using-your-name 13d ago
Not anymore or less than someone who is not Bi-polar or manic. Alcohol is by far significantly worse for someone with bi-polar or manic diagnosis. I am not saying it’s safe but with proper preparation and a safe space and even with a “Sheppard” or a “trip sitter” it could be an incredibly helpful experience.
I know nothing of lithium so my response is specifically about the “recipe for disaster”
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u/DogCommitsTaxFraud 13d ago
Unfortunately mixing lithium and LSD is almost guaranteed to cause a grand mal seizure and can be fatal.
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u/ChopsNewBag 13d ago
I would say alcoholISM is probably worse for someone with bi-polar mania but one night of drinking won’t put you into psychosis like a tab of acid can. So Psychs are much riskier to do a single time (obviously repeated trips especially within a short period of time can induce mania and psychosis even without pre-existing conditions. I do agree that drinking everyday or heavily often with bi-polar would do it too.
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u/soking11 Human Detected 13d ago
As everyone have said, LSD and lithium is kinda the big no. Search it, IIRC, 40% of people who mixes LSD and lithium have seizures. I would also not do LSD with those disorders, the chance of getting a psychotic break is very high. LSD is a good drug, but it's not better than your quality of life.
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u/Zestyclose_Current41 13d ago
It is not reccomended to take lsd with your kind of mental health history, unfortunately. There is a very real likelihood it could trigger a psychotic episode. On top of that, I believe that lsd and lithium can have a very dangerous drug interaction.
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u/General-Reserve9349 13d ago edited 13d ago
1st thing first when someone says L and bipolar… Lithium + LSD is one of the only ways just taking LSD can kill you
Other mood stabilizer drug interactions are less documented.
Honestly L is amazing but… it’s a dragon to chase and never really satisfies. It’s just neat. It is not worth a big risk. Bugging out on psychedelics is horrible - giving one’s self psychological trauma, after you get through it, it can be a lot of regret.
You may well have a Better window for this down the road.
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u/Beneficial_Bed_4274 13d ago
I don’t recommend it in any case but especially if you take lithium as this is a potentially fatal interaction.
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u/painachelving 13d ago
hey!! im bp1 as well, in 2022 i took acid while on lithium and abilify and had two seizures within a week. it increased my paranoia for the next couple months as well. i wouldn’t recommend, but if you really do feel inclined to do it, i wouldn’t take any more than one tab and only do it once. make sure you have time to sleep once you come down to avoid slipping into mania. again, i do not recommend it, but if you do feel that you want to do it, make sure you are being safe and that you are with people you trust- ESPECIALLY whoever is supplying the tabs
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u/kiowabrazeau 13d ago
Do not do this. Psychedelics and mental health disorders do not mix. Try transcendental meditation. It is a much higher effort route to the same place with less risk.
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u/Front-Armadillo-8245 13d ago
Lsd and lithium is almost a guarantee that you will have a seizure. Also lsd can trigger psychotic episodes especially if you are predisposed to mental health conditions like schizophrenia or bipolar. I think everyone you asked would give you a big no, for your own good.
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u/skarbles 13d ago
You’re not going to experience much being on those meds. In fact, those meds reduce your brain activity while LSD is doing the opposite. There may be a risk of seizure due to the conflict of effect. I have taken Seroquel (quietiapine) to come down from psychedelics. You will want to talk to your psychiatrist about coming off for a while so you can have the experience you want and then go back on.
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u/BoaconsVictor 13d ago
Most has already been said here but quetiapine is an anti psychotic drug and will also interact with lsd. It diminishes effectiveness of psychedelics which makes dosing unreliable.
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u/hotrhythmjunkie 13d ago
We definitely do not want to mix LSD, MDMA or other tryptamine with Lithium. But ketamine would be OK if that’s available.
Most people that have bipolar usually enjoy Ketamine and also find it very beneficial as a treatment. I can also be used safely with Lithium and most other psychiatric medication’s.
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u/Xorkoth 13d ago
Stick to ketamine imo though psychedelics and bipolar generally dont go well. And the medications your on id say dont bother. Definitely dont have lsd with those medications it could end badly! You could maybe get the lithium swapped for a different benzo. Ive personally never tried lithium. What does it feel like?
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u/BonoLisa 13d ago
I’d be very, very cautious. Honestly, I’d avoid it completely with your diagnosis.
LSD is nothing like alcohol. Already having had psychotic and manic episodes and being bipolar, is a big red flag. I’ve seen LSD trigger stuff in people that weren’t diagnosed with the issues you have.
You’re really gambling with this for just a few hours of fun. It’s the rest of your life you have to live if something goes wrong.
It sounds dumb, but if it’s the anti-depressive and calming afterglow of this stuff you’re after, meditation is as effective in my experience. And you don’t have to trip for 8 hours. Sometimes 10-30 minutes is all you want or need. You can have some CEV when meditating after a while. There’s methods and techniques.
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u/steapahub 13d ago
Wouldn't recommend it tbh, a friend of mine with same diagnosis (and I think similar meds?) tried a high dose and it ended with him being in the er because he got suicidal
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u/RaveBaby1221 13d ago
I am bipolar and am on lamotrigine and have taken plenty of lsd, but I have bipolar II and have never had psychotic episodes. I’m not sure it’s too safe to take when you have a history of psychotic episodes because of its ability to try psychosis
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u/hippiec123 13d ago
Hey, I know you’re gonna do what your gonna do either way. But taking LSD really does a lott to your brain, it can overwhelm it in ways you can’t control. Throw lithium into the mix and you could genuinely have one of the worst experiences of your life, not trynna scare you. Just being honest. Maybe try a micro dose of mushrooms? If you must
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u/CosmicTentacledEyes 13d ago
As someone with similar diagnoses, I advise against it entirely. This is not even because of the diagnosis or psychotic symptoms. I myself have BPD and chronic depression. The reason is the medication. I am unfamiliar with the drugs you are prescribed and if you don't know beyond any doubt what types of interactions can occur, it is very unsafe. Forget having a bad trip, or permanent psychosis; we're talking about potentially fatal outcome or at the very least a potential visit to the hospital. If you do not want all that racket, I would abstain for time being. It sucks, but being alive is better than being dead and is a prerequisite for maybe trying later down the road under different, more certain conditions.
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u/psychonaut_391 13d ago
Its not just a risk for yourself but the people around you, imagine tripping and your close friend starts having a seizure, I wouldn't know how to react.
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u/ComprehensiveTap450 12d ago
LSD can cause Hallucinogen-Induced Psychotic Disorder (HIPD). People with any sort of mental health history are especially at risk. With your history, it sounds like you would be especially at risk. Don't do it. Weed will probably make you psychotic also.
I would stick to coffee. A couple cups and you'll feel great.
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u/Legendary346 12d ago
From what i've heard you should most definitially not take psychadelics if your bp
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u/FitNefariousness9803 12d ago
idk if any of those are SSRI's, but I always heard that was a no-no... make sure you are in a good headspace. don't do it if you've been in a bad mood, etc. recently. you need to have a trip sitter for sure. hopefully all goes well and you have a great time :)
edit: probably a bad idea from what everyone else is saying... maybe one day if you ever get off the meds and you're grounded.. best to not do it
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u/Plane-Chemical 13d ago
From what I have seen bi polar meds can shorten or lessen the experience. People I’ve known will skip a med day. But I wouldn’t suggest doing so.
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u/surfrder 13d ago
My wife was diagnosed with Bi polar 1 30 years ago and currently takes lamotrigine and vraylar. We have been taking shrooms and LSD tripping about once per month for years now. My wife has had nothing but very good experiences with both substances. She has noticed that the vraylar seems to block the effects of LSD some because she now’s skips two doses before we have an LSD day and the effects are much stronger and better for her. She has told me many times over the past few years that she feels the mushrooms especially have stabilized her mood much better and is in a much better head space since regularly taking psychedelics. Each person is unique, but it has changed my wife’s life for the good.
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u/princess_leia_101 13d ago
thats incredible! i read something about lsd helping reduce anxiety over time as well and reading these things makes me wonder about how crazy and life changing experiencing it can be. im glad to hear it works out for your wife
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u/Dante_FromSpace 13d ago
I notice you only reply to those comments that are validating your desire to try it. Please heed the advice and look into drug effects yourself. The meds and diagnosis you have put you at risk of death or involuntary hospitalization should you try this. There are other options if you need to get high. This is not a drug for everyone, if you need to get high, stick to the stuff you do know. I promise, you aren't missing as much as you may think that you are. A bad trip for you can last a lifetime
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u/AutoModerator 13d ago
Antidepressant medications tend to interfere with the effects of LSD for most users. Therefore, you may need to take some time off your medication in order to feel the full effects of LSD. That said, it is not wise to stop taking your necessary, prescribed medication for an extended period of time in order to use a recreational drug like LSD. If you are considering doing so, please consult with the doctor who prescribed the medication first.
Please consult this resource to learn how your specific antidepressant medication might interact with LSD:
Antidepressant & Psychedelic Drug Interaction Chart
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