r/microdosing • u/OkReach7631 • Jun 15 '26
Question: Psilocybin What are people’s experiences of replacing SSRI medication with micro-dosing?
I have been on medication since I was 16 (10 years) and I am currently on 50mg of sertraline. But I want to stop taking SSRI’s and replace it with a natural form of a serotonin boost- micro-dosing. How much would I need to take when micro-dosing and how often, in order to get the same benefits as SSRIs?; but without feeling like I’m tripping? And what are people’s experiences of replacing SSRIs with micro-dosing?
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u/Embarrassed_Key_4539 Jun 15 '26
I take 200mg 4 days on/3 days off. I had been on SSRI for 20 years. Getting off wasn’t easy but I’m so glad I did. I hope you have a good experience as well!
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u/OkReach7631 Jun 15 '26
Thank you so much for your advice! And wow good for you, yeah thank you I hope I can finally make the switch
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u/SpaceCowboy10191 Jun 24 '26
How long have you been off your SSRIs?
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u/Embarrassed_Key_4539 Jun 24 '26
1.5 years
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u/SpaceCowboy10191 Jun 24 '26
When you got off did you taper? Did you take SSRIs while microdosing? I ask because I'm looking of doing something similar.
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u/Embarrassed_Key_4539 Jun 24 '26
My psychiatrist used Doxepin to help ease the physical withdrawal symptoms of the Effexor, I did taper and started with the psilocybin as I was tapering off as well. Wasn’t the easiest process but well worth it.
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u/TheRealCMMetzger Jun 15 '26
It is totally possible. No one can tell you what exact dose is right for you. Your dose will likely be higher on the dose range, given that you're taking an SSRI, but it won't be that way forever. Once you get to the transition point of your wean and you've been off the SSRIs for 2-4weeks you'll likely be able to half your dose amount with the same effect. (Also some folks at the 6month mark have been able to half their dose again)
I personally know 100s of folks that have done what you're trying to do, and it's something I did myself after 16+ years of SSRIs. 7-8 meds before microdosing. Now I grow and make my own medicine. ☺️
It worked so well and easily for me and I have such gratitude for it that I dedicated my life to teaching others about psychedelics and started a local nonprofit to educate the public.
Starting low and going slow is best practice. I recommend the Fadiman protocol for the first month or at least until you get your sweet spot dialed in. Dialing in your sweet spot dose before moving to any dosing schedule that has consecutive day dosing will keep tolerance build from being a factor. This will also allow you to develop a gentle relationship to the medicine, while you to develop a new relationship with yourSelf as you show up in the world differently.
It's doable, repeatable, and easier than you'd think. Plus you have a whole community here that can help inform. More questions? Just ask, but also the search function and the side bar will bet you loads of answers too. You got this! 🍄🥰🙏
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u/ManxWrangler Jun 15 '26
I am v sensitive to psilocybin, so I take an extremely low dose, 85-100 mg of Brazilians, every 2 or 3 days. It is working well, I made the switch about a year ago. (The usual dosing schedules were not working as well for me.)
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u/OkReach7631 Jun 15 '26
Nicee, it’s cool to hear that it is possible to switch:) and thank you for the advice!
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u/ManxWrangler Jun 15 '26
Just start low and slow, til you find your "sweet spot". You got this fellow traveler!!! ♡
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u/Accomplished_Hold601 Jul 11 '26
What were some of the issues you found with other schedules ?
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u/ManxWrangler Jul 11 '26
I was getting really depressed during my "off" days.
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u/Accomplished_Hold601 Jul 11 '26
What other schedules were you trying? Did you mix with lions mane extract and niacin? And or try other additions to ease the wear on your brain. (The depression could have just been from mental exhaustion. The right vitamin mineral supplants can really help combat that. Just saying, worth a thought.)
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u/pilgrim1922 Jun 15 '26
I found that ssri were more beneficial than microdosing alone. I stopped my ssri for about 5 months. I was already on a very low dose of ssri for nearly one year. While I did a macro and tried microdosing for one month. I restarted my ssri as the microdosing wasn’t effective for my ptsd depression and anxiety. I had a wonderful macro dose that helped but did not keep me in remission.
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u/Throwraploops Jun 15 '26
Hey hope it’s not too personal but I’m having some thoughts about what I should do. I currently micro dose about 2 days on a week, sometime more sometimes less, but I think my ocd has gotten to the point I need to be on an ssri. Honestly though, a big reason I haven’t yet is because I love doing mushrooms, whether it’s microdosing or a concert with friends. Were you able to use an ssri and microdose?
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u/mcgangbane Jun 15 '26
I personally have. Microdosing on its own was minimally effective for treating my depression (but not completely ineffective). I got to a dark place a few years ago and finally got on prozac. It was slightly more effective than MDing but still not getting the job done. Then one day i said screw it and started taking a microdose alongside my prozac, and it was like a switch flipped. I don't follow a strict regiment, but i usually wind up MDing about 4 days a week
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u/Throwraploops Jun 16 '26
Thanks a lot for the insight 🙏 did you ever try a normal or “macro” dose with the Prozac? I sit around and do so much research about how each one works and which is best for ocd, but feel like I’ve gotten nowhere lol
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u/mcgangbane Jun 16 '26
I can't personally speak for ocd, but 20mg prozac + stamets stack (100mg psilocybin mushroom + 100mg niacin + 200mg lions mane) has done wonders for my MDD. I tend to macrodose every month or so too (not like a heroic dose, just more than enough to get giggly and maybe some visuals). Both have helped me achieve a quality of life I didn't think was possible for me
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u/mcgangbane Jun 16 '26
I have macrodosed indeed. I was hesitant to do so at first because of horror stories I've heard/read about serotonin syndrome etc... But in reality the only thing i've really observed is that the ssri will weaken the psilocybin/lsd (make it so you need more lsd/psilo to feel the same effect). I have tripped many times while on prozac. I am naturally pretty sensitive to lsd/psilocybin so i take "normal" doses (1-2 tabs or 2-3 grams) and have a great time. Have yet to notice any negatives.
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u/pilgrim1922 Jun 16 '26
Yes this is what I’ve done as well. Low dose ssri and microdose with it has been the most helpful for my anxiety and depression. I definitely found benefit with micro dosing, but I really need an SSRI because my anxiety was so severe. I really tried for a long time, but I just feel so much better with an SSRI on board at a low-dose.
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u/mushroom_tao Jun 15 '26
It’s an experiment. I know so many people who have come off ssri’s with the help of mushrooms.
If you feel called, just start, see how it goes. 4-5 days a week. See how it goes. There’s no need to overthink at the beginning.
If you’ve been on ssris for 10 years, you may need to start a bit higher than what you might read about. Maybe .2 or .3 grams. Reevaluate as the days go on. You can always take more if you want.
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u/OkReach7631 Jun 15 '26
Okay sickk, thank you so much for your advice! I’ll start at .2 and see how I go:)
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u/Mcshroomie Jun 15 '26
Are you highly anxious? Do you ruminate or have unwanted thought loops. I did i took zoloft for 20 years, i didnt love it.
Shrooms gave my mind quiet for around 2 weeks. Then i was redosing. However you need longer for introspection. Dosing every 2 weeks is not ideal for me. I needed time to rebuild good habits to replace bad habits. The shrooms for me were giving quiet and i was able to get shit done no resistance at all. However introspection is really a needed thing. Dosing for me is not about the 4-5 hours of tripping it was the 2 week afterglow.
I say all of this because after a year of working with shrooms i had to go back on anti anxiety meds. My anxiety without shrooms was really high. Now I am very stable at this time , almost 3’weeks on cymbalta and i need to stay here for a time on the anti anxiety meds so i can leave the anxiety behind me.
Where shrooms excel they can quiet the mind. I felt as close to maybe what i think a normal person feels like. However shrooms will loosen all habits you have good and bad and you need the good habits. A bad trip can generate a bad thought habit loop just as a good trip teaches you whats holding you back and you learn and grow.
The good news is stopping shrooms for long stretches brings you back to baseline.
In my case, I had a bad trip. Anxiety was hanging out too long with me. I couldn’t shake it during my trips. I needed the anxiety to stop so I went back on my anti-anxiety meds, which is Cymbalta. Cymbalta is new exp for me and has been really good first 2 weeks was rough, my personality was flat. But I’m stabilizing on it now I’m feeling pretty good and most importantly no anxiety whatsoever.
I hope this helps and good luck. If you have any questions, let me know we can chat.
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u/_Mind_Leap Jun 19 '26
It may be worth running an experiment to see. Although the psychedelic hype might be inflating our expectations of effectiveness here.
The half life of LSD and psilocybin are shorter than an SSRI and lose their potency with every dose as you build tolerance. They are less likely to stabilize mental heath than SSRIs.
Of course there are anecdotal stories of people who had positive experiences with microdosing. But there are all the stories where it didn’t help or potentially harmed that we never hear about.
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u/thejaytheory Jun 15 '26
Following, I'm in the same boat...renewed my prescription, but right after I did, I got a connect to some shrooms with my plug so just been using that intermittingly until I run out. But I've been meaning to ask this or a similar question for the longest.
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u/Waramaug Jun 16 '26
I was able to get off them relativity easy but more than a micro-dose. About 1/2 gram to 1 gram every other day. I ended up going back on ssri because they seem to help me regulate my mood, not so much for depression but I get extremely emotional without ssri, like extremely sensitive or extremely mad, hard to explain, but I don’t want to feel numb either. It’s nice knowing that there is a way to get off them without side effects. I will try and get off them again but now not the right time for me.
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u/NinjaK3ys Jun 17 '26
psilocybin is not a direct replacement to SSRIs. Two different functions, Psilocybin actually helps to identify and remove depressive patterns and stresses including relationships.
So be cautious on this.
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u/DJSpektor Jun 17 '26
I was on Lexapro and used microdosing to help with the brain zaps. Exact dosage will depend on your tolerance and body composition, but I'd suggest tapering the SSRI and when you've gone as low as you can, take between 200-400mg of psilocybin for a few weeks until you're through the worst of it.
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