PhD in getting high, here. It’s not a psychedelic and doesn’t resemble one at all. Tripping is not even the right word for what happens on this drug. On a chemical level, it’s more similar to taking ambien and staying awake than taking shrooms.

Psychedelic shrooms, like all psychedelics, act on the serotonin system, specifically 5-HT2x receptors. Think surfaces breathing, swirling patterns, fractal geometry, euphoric feelings of connection, introspection.

Amanita Muscaria/Pantherina/etc. contain Ibotenic Acid and Muscimol (you will also ideally need to process the mushroom to convert more of the IA to muscimol) which are hallucinogenic in that they cause hallucinations, but they are GABA-ergic. Think sedation, confusion, tiredness, trancelike states, sleep filled with absolutely insane dreams that seem to last for hours or days.

Large doses have their place, but it’s not fun like psilocybin and it certainly isn’t a social experience. Dosing can also be unpredictable and going overboard can result in really long and really uncomfortable, confusing, potentially dangerous experiences. Small doses of Amanita preparations with higher Ibotenic Acid content can be enjoyable in social settings, but at such a low dose there is no “trip” aspect to it at all. Just increased energy and everything is a little more interesting.

One other disclaimer, it’s an oft repeated fact that Ibotenic Acid is used to create brain lesions in lab animals. While this is true, the IA is injected directly into the brain in large doses to do this. There is no evidence at all that this occurs through oral administration or in doses even far normal than a human could/would take. But I thought it only fair to mention it.

TL;DR - Shrooms are awesome at all doses and you should find some and eat them ASAP after doing research and preparing yourself. Amanitas are not remotely similar, and while they can be useful are not “fun” per se, and have the potential to be really miserable or even dangerous.

[–] DurbanPoison@feddit.nl 6 points 2 days ago

My brother used to take Ambien

Like, too much Ambien. I heard that in the USA, you could only get 3-5 tablets or something like that prescribed. Over here in ZA, you can get a 6 month prescription with 30 tablets each repeat.

We shared a bathroom. On multiple occasions I'd walk in with the floor coated in piss. One time, I walked in while he was lying face down, dick out, on the floor completely soaked in urine.

I helped him up, he said something incompressible and tried to get him a fresh pair of clothes.

Another time he woke me up to convince me he could make things levitate. I said "nah man you're on Ambien, go to bed", but he kept insisting. Eventually I just caved so I could go back to sleep and watch him unsuccessfully levitate his keyboard.

I played cod once after taking 10mg. I felt like I was in the fucking jungle. Heart pounding, terrified, adrenaline flowing, tunnel vision. Fucking dominated that match though.

I then blacked out and I told someone who I haven't spoken to in years, that I was in love with them. (I wasn't). Deleted the message when I woke up. No follow ups, thank god.

The memories are either blackout or vaguely choppy.

Weird-ass drug. Wouldn't recommend unless you really struggle to fall asleep. You gotta take the pill and immediately jump into bed and try to fall asleep or else face the consequences of shit you don't remember doing.

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