Psilocybin after years of antidepressants — what you actually experience
456 replies · Therapy
I was on various SSRIs for 11 years. Tapered off 4 months ago under my psychiatrist's supervision. Everything I've read says SSRIs blunt psychedelics. Does the effect come back fully after tapering?
The blunting effect is real and the recovery is gradual. At 4 months post-taper you may still be in receptor recovery — 5-HT2A receptors downregulated from years of SSRI exposure take months to fully normalize. Many people find the full psilocybin response doesn't return until 6-12 months off SSRIs.
My experience at 5 months off SSRIs: substantially more effect than during the SSRI period but still not what I experienced before I started antidepressants. At 14 months, the effect felt complete.
Important: SSRI discontinuation itself can cause emotional turbulence for 1-6 months. This period is not ideal for significant psilocybin sessions. Wait until you're genuinely stable off SSRIs before proceeding.
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