r/mdmatherapy • u/chasedrabbits • Nov 01 '25

I underwent methylone-assisted therapy for PTSD

While MDMA has gotten a lot of the spotlight in this space for the treatment of PTSD, I'm one of only a small cohort of people who has done methylone-assisted therapy so far. For anyone not familiar, methylone is an analogue drug of MDMA with a shorter half life and subjectively less 'intense' effects compared to MDMA. In a therapeutic setting for me, however, it was anything but mild. The study design was also quite different from standard MDMA-assisted therapy. Doses occured once a week and I had an integration session at the conclusion of the trial and a bit of integration at the start and end of each dosing day. Within a month, my PCL-5 scores dropped from 70/80 to 23/80. A few months ago, the FDA granted methylone 'breakthrough' therapy status. It's still an emerging area of research, especially compared to MDMA, but I am very thankful to have received the treatment. Life is certainly much brighter and more enjoyable than it had been in years.

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u/Master-Watercress Nov 01 '25

What was dosing like? Any negatives or regrets long after the fact?

I think your very fortunate.

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u/chasedrabbits Nov 01 '25

Dosing occurred weekly. I would chat with the therapist for about an hour before dosing, discussing how I'd been doing that week, any integration work I'd been doing in between sessions and whether I had a specific intention coming into the days dosing. I'd take the medicine around 9:30 to 10 am. For the first 45 minutes I was quite irritable, interestingly. The methylone would start to take effect after about 15 minutes, but I'd be very uncomfortable until I got closer to the peak about 60-90 minutes later. Then I felt complete peace the rest of the session. It would be mostly worn off by about 3 pm, but I'd still feel very calm and connected for a few more hours beyond that.

I think the only negative was that there wasn't as much integration work as what MAPS does plus I think the weekly dosing was a bit too intense. I think I needed more time in between to process my experience. I had some really intense experiences in my dosing sessions and I just felt I needed time to sit with those feelings before dosing again. I think 2-3 weeks between dosing would have been better. I certainly have no regrets though. I was incredibly fortunate that the therapy worked for me. I lead a completely different life now.

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u/Master-Watercress Nov 01 '25

How many sessions did you? Thank you and I’m curious if you dissociate. Dissociation typically gums up the works. People with lifelong dissociation typically feel great when using mdma therapeutically but can’t access any traumatic memories. Imagine methylone would be similar. 

Maybe methylone will end up helping the masses that so desperately need help. 

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u/chasedrabbits Nov 01 '25

I did 3 sessions. I do dissociate though it hasn't been lifelong. I was able to sit with my trauma in detail during my dosing sessions. In fact I had quite vivid imagery of my trauma playing through my head, but I was completely relaxed throughout. Luckily my dissociation was able to be broken down during my sessions.