Vasodilators as remedy for psychedelic vasoconstriction

[What Am I]

I experience vasoconstriction on tryptamine psychedelics, with some causing it worse than others. As anybody who's ever experienced this can attest, it really sucks, and it can sour an otherwise great experience. In addition to a moderate amount of vasoconstriction during the trip, I'll also usually get a large amount of post-trip vasoconstriction that causes a strong pressure headache which lasts the rest of the day until it's slept off. For me, 5-MeO-DMT was one of the worst culprits for causing this, which was very unfortunate since it's my favorite psychedelic.

After doing some research into the methods by which frequent lysergamide users deal with vasoconstriction (LSD can cause it especially bad), I found that some of them use natural vasodilator supplements, such as the amino acid citrulline. Its conversion into arginine, and then into nitric oxide, appears to counteract the vein-constricting effects by providing them the opposite stimulus to expand.

I found a ton of reports claiming success, so I gave it a try. This is preliminary, and I've only tried it once so far, but just 500mg of citrulline consumed an hour before the trip seemed to prevent the discomfort that usually plagues me for the rest of the day. I think I may be able to finally relax and dive deeper into my trips, while also knowing that the rest of the day won't be a wash until I recover. More testing is definitely incoming to confirm, with perhaps a higher dose of citrulline.

Anyone have experience with this kind of thing? Any tips to share?

Edited September 8 by What Am I

[LambdaDelta]

I don't have experience with the natural vasodilators, but it makes sense they work, akin to ginger powder before a mushroom/truffle trip to help with the nausea. There's a pharmaceutical vasodilator called Clonidine, and others, that can do the same job. I hear it also helps to reduce the anxiety, though the primary function is eliminating physical discomfort. Personally I don't really notice the vasoconstriction that much during the actual trip, too busy with insights and all that other crap. It's the comedown that becomes annoying. LSD, DOx, 2C-E are all pretty heavy bodyloads. My method is to kill the trip at that point with benzos, the muscle tension relief is pleasurable on its own. Though that might not work so well if you need to function after the trip. 

[What Am I]

Yeah, I read plenty of examples where people were using pharmaceuticals like Viagra and Cialis. They're supposedly the next level up in terms of effectively combating psychedelic vasoconstriction, but they supposedly come with their own drawbacks such as side effects. Could be worth a try if all else fails though.

I'd say it's the same for me, where the vasoconstriction discomfort from the comedown just plain sucks. Like I mentioned above though, my single experiment was successful in preventing it with 5-MeO-DMT. In the absence of that, it was almost as if I hadn't consumed a substance at all. It's possible that what I was considering a hangover was actually just vasoconstriction.

[Karla]

Interesting. Earlier this year after a 5meo experience I had a dream where I was told to take l-citruline, ha ha. I already had some as it’s great for pre-workout but I wasn’t using it. Then I just started taking it as a supplement daily.

Imagine how it feels to see this topic months later?! I wasn’t sure exactly why.

[TheAlchemist]

Basic ibuprofen should work as a vasodilator (?) It has helped me

Edited September 13 by TheAlchemist

[Rigel]

Niacin & Ginkgo Biloba are also vasodilators you could experiment with. They do work. I was shocked at how effective they are.

[LoseYourvelf]

Preload magnesium a week before

[Nilsi]

On 8.9.2024 at 10:22 PM, What Am I said:

Yeah, I read plenty of examples where people were using pharmaceuticals like Viagra and Cialis. They're supposedly the next level up in terms of effectively combating psychedelic vasoconstriction, but they supposedly come with their own drawbacks such as side effects. Could be worth a try if all else fails though.

I'd say it's the same for me, where the vasoconstriction discomfort from the comedown just plain sucks. Like I mentioned above though, my single experiment was successful in preventing it with 5-MeO-DMT. In the absence of that, it was almost as if I hadn't consumed a substance at all. It's possible that what I was considering a hangover was actually just vasoconstriction.

In this context, you’d likely want something like vinpocetine, which is a PDE-1 inhibitor with vasodilatory effects specifically targeting cerebral circulation.

You don’t need a boner while on DMT - unless, of course, you think you do, lol.

Edited September 13 by Nilsi

[What Am I]

Thanks, everyone. Really helpful suggestions.

6 hours ago, Nilsi said:

You don’t need a boner while on DMT - unless, of course, you think you do, lol.

[Arthogaan]

Citrulline seems to enhance my gym performance.

When I took it before a trip it also seemed to reduce vasoconstriction espacially with a warm shower, but the effect was not noticeable enough to say with confidence it was not placebo.

[Asia P]

Clean your diet, eat a lot of melon, watermelon, garlic, ginger, and celery. Raw is always better. Do cardio exercises.

If you do exercises and long walks everyday, your diet is religiously clean, your gut is healty, and you respect your natural rithms. Your body can handle vasoconstriction from psychedelics once a while. 

Also drink plenty of water during trips. It prevents headackes.