Content analysis of Reddit posts about coadministration of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and psilocybin mushrooms.
Kimberly Sakai, Ellen R Bradley, Joseph A Zamaria, Gabrielle Agin-Liebes, D Parker Kelley, Alexander Fish, Valeria Martini, Michelle C Ferris, Emma Morton, Erin E Michalak, Aoife O'Donovan, Joshua D Woolley
Psychopharmacology August 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-024-06585-x via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractPeople who take SSRIs and use psilocybin mushrooms together often report a less intense psychedelic experience, though many report no change in intensity. About 8% of Reddit posts describing coadministration mention negative physical or psychological effects, including a small number of reports that may indicate serotonin toxicity and one possible psychotic or manic episode. The interactions appear complex and likely depend on multiple factors. Prospective studies are needed to determine whether psilocybin treatments are safe and effective for people using SSRIs.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Qualitative content analysis of social media posts Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 443 |
| Population | Reddit users describing coadministration of psilocybin mushrooms and SSRIs |
| Interventions | Psilocybin mushrooms SSRIs |
| Topics | Psilocybin Serotonin |
| Keywords | Drug-drug interactions Psychedelics magic mushrooms Antidepressants ssris |
| Citations | 10 |
| Key finding | 54% of posts reported reduced intensity of the acute psilocybin experience with SSRI coadministration, while 39% reported unchanged intensity; 8% reported negative effects. |
Abstract
Treatments with the serotonergic psychedelic psilocybin are being investigated for multiple neuropsychiatric disorders. Because many patients with these disorders use selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), understanding interactions between psilocybin and SSRIs is critical for evaluating the safety, efficacy, and scalability of psilocybin-based treatments. Current knowledge about these interactions is limited, as most clinical psilocybin research has prohibited concomittant SSRI use. We aimed to explore potential interactions between psilocybin and SSRIs by characterizing peoples' real-world experiences using psilocybin mushrooms and SSRIs together. We conducted a systematic search of Reddit for posts describing psilocybin mushroom and SSRI coadministration. We identified 443 eligible posts and applied qualitative content analysis to each. 8% of posts reported negative physical or psychological effects resulting from coadministration. These included 13 reports that may reflect serotonin toxicity, and 1 concerning for a psychotic/manic episode. 54% of posts described reduced intensity of the acute psilocybin experience, but 39% reported unchanged intensity with SSRI coadministration. Psilocybin's interactions with SSRIs are likely complex and may depend on multiple factors. Prospective studies are needed to evaluate whether psilocybin treatments are reliably safe and effective in the setting of SSRI use.