National Institute of Mental Health researcher studies co-administration of antidepressants and entheogens
Dr. Katherine Bonson
E-Mail: kbonson@earthlink.net

Bonson KR, Buckholtz JW, Murphy DL (1995). Chronic administration of serotonergic antidepressants attenuates the subjective effects of LSD in humans. Neuropsychopharmacology 14(6):425-436.

For those who don't have easy access to a medical library, the bottom line of this paper, and a companion one in another journal, was this: In people who had taken an SSRI or an MAOI for 3 weeks or more, there was a reduction or an abolishment of their response to LSD. In contrast, people who had been taking a tricyclic antidepressant or lithium for 3 weeks or more had a potentiated response to LSD, usually to an unpleasant degree. Actually, there were some reports of what happens once people had gone off their antidepressant and then took LSD - the change in response to LSD returned to normal after a couple of weeks off the medication. In add ition, there was one person who reported on the effects of Prozac (fluoxetine) after only one week's administration and then taking LSD - there was a potentiation of the response (in a good way).

Personal Accounts Requested

Although I am no longer collecting data on the interactions of classic antidepressants and LSD (since these papers are published), I am still collecting data on the interactions of antidepressants with other entheogenic substances, particularly psilocybin and MDMA. I am also trying to work up an appropriate interview for documenting the combined use of LSD and MDMA ("candyflipping"). If any MAPS reader either has personal information on these topics, or has a friend with information, I would be very happy to send along a questionnaire (by E-mail or by postal service). All information is kept confidential and you can use a pseudonym as long as I have a reliable way to contact you.

Thanks - Dr. Katherine Bonson

E-mail: kbonson@earthlink.net