Posted by Adam on October 26, 1999, at 22:40:01
I've not seen such a thread here, the subject came up, and, well
I'm one who likes things on the table. I will not judge, and do
not expect to be judged. I do wish to get a useful discussion
going.So, a friend asked me if I would like to try ecstacy, otherwise
known as MDMA. Not even thinking of potential drug interactions,
I said I would think about it, and then, considering I am in a
drug study and the impact of any psychactives on that study, declined.
Out of curiosity, I did some research online, for future reference,
and discovered that it would have been a REALLY BAD idea for me to
have done X on an MAOI. MDMA is a potent sympathomimetic acting
on both the dopamine (less so) and serotonin (very much so) systems.
The result of such a combination could well have been lethal. What
I found through my research was the potentiation of LOTS of things
by MAOIs, with some very disturbing potential outcomes. One thing
that stood out in my mind was the quantitative and qualitative
intensification of hallucinogens, with people describing all kinds of
horrific experiences.The only substance I use, really, is beer. I have very infrequently
tried other things, and am generally open to such experiences if I feel
it is reasonably safe. I might have eschewed X under any circumstances
given its inherent risks, but other things are less clearly harmful,
and the potential for interactions less obvious. I probably will stay
away from any and all illicit substances for good, given my low
tolerance for psychic pain, but others might be inclined to experiment
anyway.I don't want to encourage drug use or discourage it. But maybe some
would like a forum to discuss frankly the use of all these interesting
chemicals, and how they might interact with, A) Our illness, and B) the
other drugs we are using to combat it.Like I said, the issue came up, and I figured it could be relevant to
some.
poster:Adam
thread:13986
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19991016/msgs/13986.html