In this blog we’re going to talk about an important topic: who is better off not using psychedelics. While psychedelics such as magic truffles can be helpful for many people, they aren’t right for everyone. It’s really important to understand the possible risks and to check whether they’re actually safe for you before you try them.
We’ll go over a number of specific health conditions that can make psychedelics dangerous. We’ll also explain why it’s so important to be honest about your medical history when you work with a facilitator. So let’s dive in and learn more about how to engage with psychedelics safely.
The importance of your medical history
Picture this: you have a friend who loves weightlifting. He keeps telling you how amazing it makes him feel. You think, "I'd love to try that too!" But then you forget to tell him about that old shoulder injury. When you try to lift those weights, the pain shoots through your shoulder. You're gutted.
Using psychedelics while you have certain health conditions is a lot like weightlifting with a sore shoulder. It’s simply not a smart plan and can only make things worse. Before you start with magic truffles or other psychedelics, it’s therefore important to take a good look at your health first. Check whether there are reasons it might not be safe for you.
Your medical history is an overview of your past and current medical issues, treatments and how you respond to medications. This information is really important because it shows whether there are risks involved in using psychedelics. For example, if you’ve had heart problems, it can be dangerous to take something that raises your heart rate and blood pressure. Or if you’ve reacted badly to certain medications before, you might not respond well to psychedelics either.
Talk to your guide
Before you begin a psychedelic experience, it’s really important to speak openly and honestly with your facilitator. They need to know your full medical history to be able to keep you safe. So tell them about any mental or physical conditions and which medications you take. A good facilitator can then assess whether psychedelics are safe for you. And if you decide to go ahead, they can also create a safe and supportive environment.
Mental Health and Psychedelics
Have you experienced mental health issues, especially if you struggled to perceive reality clearly? Then you’re better off not using psychedelics. This applies to conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder with manic episodes, or if these run in your family. With PTSD, severe depression or panic attacks, you’re also better off not taking psychedelics.
Your mind is like a well-tended garden. Using psychedelics when you have these conditions is like adding a strong, unpredictable kind of fertiliser. Some plants might grow well from it, but others may react badly.
Schizophrenia and psychotic disorders
With schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, you lose touch with reality. You can then see or hear things that aren’t there. Psychedelics can make this worse, which can be very frightening. For people who have these conditions themselves or in their family, there’s a much greater risk of a psychotic episode.
Bipolar disorder
With bipolar disorder, especially if you become manic quickly, psychedelics can trigger or worsen a manic episode. During mania you feel super elated, hyperactive and act without thinking. Add psychedelics to the mix and this can become dangerous. You could have accidents or hurt yourself.
PTSD and severe anxiety
For people with PTSD or severe anxiety, psychedelics can bring up intense emotions and distressing memories. Without proper guidance, this can lead to panic attacks, extreme stress and a worsening of symptoms. Psychedelics are sometimes used to treat PTSD, but only under strict medical supervision. Never attempt this on your own.
Physical health and psychedelics
Even if you’re mentally well, certain physical conditions can make using psychedelics dangerous. Be extra careful, for example, with heart problems, epilepsy and pregnancy.
Your body is like a finely tuned instrument. Using psychedelics while you have certain physical conditions is like striking a hard chord on a fragile string. It can put on too much pressure and make the string snap.
Heart problems
Psychedelics can raise your heart rate and blood pressure. That’s risky for people with heart problems. Do you have high blood pressure, an irregular heartbeat, or have you ever had a heart attack? Then the extra strain psychedelics put on your heart can be very dangerous. It can even lead to a heart attack or stroke.
Epilepsy
For people with epilepsy, psychedelics can increase the chance of a seizure. The intense sensory and emotional experiences you get from psychedelics can trigger a seizure. Such a seizure can then be harder to stop and become more dangerous if medical help isn’t quickly available.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
During pregnancy and breastfeeding, the substances the mother takes in can affect the child. The effects of psychedelics on a developing foetus or a nursing baby aren’t yet known, but the risk of possible harm is an important reason to be cautious.
Medications and Psychedelics
Some medications, especially SSRIs and MAOIs used for depression and anxiety, can be dangerous in combination with psychedelics. The risk of serotonin syndrome then increases, and that can be life-threatening.
Think about someone with diabetes who takes medication. That person has to watch their blood sugar carefully and avoid things that can throw off their medication. The same goes for people who take SSRIs or MAOIs. They need to watch out for bad reactions with psychedelics and put their health first.
Your brain chemistry is like an intricate recipe, where each medication is a specific ingredient. When you add psychedelics to that, it’s like adding a strong spice. For some people that makes the dish tastier, but for others it can ruin everything and even be harmful.
Summary
Psychedelics can be very valuable for some people, but they aren’t right for everyone. Do you have certain mental or physical conditions, or do you take specific medications? Then psychedelics can be risky or even dangerous for you.
The most important thing is that you stay safe and healthy. So always be honest with your facilitator about your health and the medications you take. Not sure whether psychedelics are right for you? Then talk it over with a healthcare provider you trust. They can help you make a good choice.
At FLO Coaching you can do guided sessions with psilocybin truffles. Experienced coaches support you along the way. Do you have questions or would you like help preparing for your first psychedelic experience? Then get in touch with us. We’d love to introduce you to the remarkable world of expanded consciousness in a responsible way. That’s how we guide you towards a new phase of holistic health and wellbeing.
Frequently Asked Questions about Contraindications
Some health conditions can make using psychedelics dangerous. Not sure? Then talk to a healthcare provider you trust. They can help you make a good decision based on your medical history and how healthy you are right now. A good conversation with a healthcare professional is important. They can find out whether you have certain conditions that could make psychedelics bad for you. That way you make sure you stay safe and healthy.
People with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder with manic episodes, or a family history of these conditions should avoid psychedelics. Those with PTSD, severe depression or panic attacks are also at increased risk.
Psychedelics can make hallucinations and delusions worse. This can lead to psychosis and severe mental health problems. Psychedelic experiences are often intense and unpredictable. You can lose your grip on reality. Anxiety and paranoia can also increase. This can become too much and difficult to keep under control. Sometimes the psychological effects linger long after the drug has worn off. This can cause lasting harm. Medical help is then needed.
People with bipolar disorder are better off not using psychedelics. Especially if you become manic quickly, it’s dangerous. Psychedelics can trigger or worsen a manic episode. They alter your consciousness and produce strong sensory experiences. This can throw your mood badly off balance and worsen the symptoms of bipolar disorder. If you’re prone to manic episodes, the stimulating effect of psychedelics can cause problems. You can end up with far too much energy, act without thinking and need little sleep. This can escalate into a full manic episode. Because of these significant risks, it’s important that people with bipolar disorder don’t use psychedelics. That way you stay more stable and your symptoms don’t get worse.
Psychedelics can put considerable strain on the cardiovascular system – your heart and blood vessels. They can raise your heart rate and blood pressure. This can be dangerous if you have heart problems. Think, for example, of high blood pressure, an irregular heartbeat, or if you’ve ever had a heart attack.
Psychedelics can increase the chance of an epileptic seizure. They affect the electrical activity in your brain. This can disrupt the nerve pathways in your brain. Especially if you’re already prone to seizures, this risk is greater. So this applies particularly to people with epilepsy or other conditions that can cause seizures. Without quick medical help, such a situation can become very dangerous.
SSRIs and MAOIs can react dangerously with psychedelics. This raises the risk of serotonin syndrome. This is a life-threatening condition caused by too much serotonin in the brain. If serotonin gets too high, you can develop all sorts of symptoms. Think of confusion, fever, a rapid heartbeat, dilated pupils and stiff muscles. In severe cases, seizures or loss of consciousness can occur. These symptoms can worsen quickly. You then need immediate medical help to prevent serious complications. Combining psychedelics with SSRIs or MAOIs is especially dangerous because they both raise serotonin. Your body can then no longer regulate serotonin properly, which is how serotonin syndrome can arise. So it’s really important that people who take SSRIs or MAOIs understand how dangerous it can be to combine these medications with psychedelics.
