Hey nexus,

I currently take 20mg of an antidepressant called citalopram, once a day.

It is indeed an SSRI and i know taking DMT while i take SSRI's can give me seratonin syndrome, and even death. But i want to experience DMT, I feel like i have a calling to do so. Should i stop taking the citalopram for a month or so to get it out of my system, and then dive into the world of DMT? I don't even really know if it's necessary for me to be taking this medication, I did go through a period of horrible depression, but i feel fine now, and i usually do not rely on pills for anything.

Much Love.

If you feel like you can do without the depression drugs then I believe it would be a good idea to try living without them regardless of whether you decide to take DMT or not. Just be sure you are in a positive mindset before taking the DMT. I recommend meditating beforehand.

Please don't give medical advice on the Nexus unless you are a doctor with experience in these things. Usually, people are put on anti-depressants for a reason and we have no place telling this person to stop his medication.

That said, GroundSound, there are many threads here on the Nexus regarding this particular issue. Please take a moment and use the search tool above. In brief, DO NOT take any form of MAOI with anti-depressants.... ever! Also, if you plan to, make sure you wait at least 3 weeks before doing so.

In my experience, DMT is more or less a dud accompanied by a nice migraine if taken while on these drugs. Remember what their method of action is and you will understand that psychedelics and anti-depressants do not mix well.

All the best to you. And, follow your doctor's advice first.

SSRIs shouldn't be stopped cold-turkey without the approval of your physician/care-provider, especially to avoid SSRI discontinuation syndrome (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SSRI_discontinuation_syndrome). What SSRIs do is that they keep your system from packaging already-released serotonin and returning it to where it belongs. In doing so, they theoretically make you happier due to increased serotonin levels in your body. Due to that, you would actually have to take a mildly stronger dose of DMT to achieve the effects of a lower dose in a person not on SSRIs. It is very unlikely that it would lead to serotonin syndrome. Do not take ayahuasca or harmaline while on SSRIs, though.

I'd like to get this straight.
Is it dangerous to take DMT while on SSRI's? I hear both yes and no again and again.

I have a friend that wants to do DMT but he's on SSRI's and I still haven't got it clear if it's ok or not.

I have heard that it is absolutely NOT okay to take DMT while on SSRI's, on the official dmt-nexus health and safety tab on the top of this page ^^^^

Much love.

But I can't find any information about it here:

https://wiki.dmt-nexus.m...ctions_and_their_effects

And if that info is not here then where?

B/c it doesn't exist. From a doctor:


https://www.dmt-nexus.me...&m=204290#post204290

Copy and pasted from the DMT nexus wiki, health and safety page:

"DO NOT use MAOIs (so for example an ayahuasca brew) together with stimulants (like mdma/amphetamines) or SSRI medication (like prozac), this can cause serotonin syndrome and lead to convulsions or even death!"

DMT is not an MAOI.

Is this not stating that you should not use SSRI medication while taking DMT as it can cause seratonin syndrome or even death? Look on the page under The physical health section:

https://wiki.dmt-nexus.m...s_Wiki:Health_and_Safety

You're confusing DMT with MAOI, like harmine or harmaline -- the 'vine' of the ayahuasca brew. Any oral form of DMT requires an MAOI to make DMT active in the gut. Smoked DMT in the freebase form while on an SSRI should be approached with caution, but is not physically dangerous.

However, as I posted above from corpus callosum (a genuine MD), the underlying issue of why your on these drugs should be addressed before consuming the most powerful psychedelic known to man.

Thank you for clarying, A1pha, My apologies!

What the doctor's told me i had was clinical depression, an imbalance of chemicals in my brain, so they suggested i get on medication to level those out, i don't really even know if i still need these medications, i just take them because i have been, but there is know underlying issue or any issue at all, relevant to me atleast, of why i am taking this medication.

Do you feel the citalopram has helped with whatever symptoms/problems which led to you being on it?

If it has, and youve been on it for a minimum of 4-6 months then perhaps you should have a chat to your doctor about coming off it in a controlled fashion.Abrupt unsupervised cessation can be rather unpleasant and strongly not recommended.

FB DMT with citalopram will not cause serotonin syndrome, largely because vaporised DMT is rapidly 'cleared' by MAO-A mainly.

Its important to realise that SSRIs effects on their targets is different when the drug is initiated compared with its effects once its been used for a few weeks.Thats why initial use of SSRIs commonly causes gastrointestinal effects but these dampen down/settle with ongoing use.SSRIs medium to longer term effects are to a large degree due to changing post-synaptic density and function.

As a1pha has mentioned those who use FB DMT whilst on SSRIs tend to get less of the sought-after effects per mg of DMT, and sometimes undesirable (but not life-threatening) features.

By far the most important consideration is ones mental state and whether or not its 'fit' enough for the potential rigours of vaped DMT.

Ok. So that's clarified for me finally

SSRI's only dampen the effects of DMT and shrooms. Nothing dangerous.

I think it did... gah. i'm just not sure, i'll talk to my doctor about getting off of it for awhile and if my depressive symptoms come back ill just have to get back on the citalopram and deal with dampened effects of dmt, possibly having to smoke more to achieve breakthrough.

I have a friend who uses Citalopram and has no problem vaping freebase.

However if you were to use it yourself starting with a very low dose is essential.

Also you need 100% confidence that what you're doing is going to be safe, even if there is no risk, the mindset can be emotionally destructive under the influence.

For what it's worth, back when I was using DMT, I was taking 100mg of the anti-depressant Zoloft (generic: sertraline) for anxiety and had no problems other than the dulling effect alluded-to by others. After I was off of Zoloft for a while, DMT was definitely stronger and seemed to "hit" me more. While on Zoloft, it was almost as if I was detached from the experience a bit more, by virtue of not getting that "lift off anxiety."

And, just because it's so important that it bears repeating, do NOT take an MAOI if you're on any type of SSRI - it can be deadly at worst, painful & scary at best.