Stacking Psychedelics with Other Supplements and Medications  

Furthermore, a growing body of research has found that certain psychedelic substances can help relieve anxiety, depression, PTSD, addiction and numerous other mental health disorders. “The biggest misconception people have about psychedelics is that these are drugs that make you crazy,” says Michael Pollan, author of the new book How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence. “We now have evidence that that does happen sometimes — but in many more cases, these are drugs that can make you sane.” 

Stacking medications, supplements, and psychedelics? 

“Stacks” can vary depending on who creates them and who is using them, but generally speaking, the term refers to a strategic blend of supplements, medications, or other ingredients that are used with a specific health or wellness goal in mind. Because healthcare is such an individualized concept (what’s good for me, may not be good for you), stacks are usually customized to fit a person’s individual needs. 

Stacking is a common phrase in hospice care and pain management. For example, patients who don’t respond well to one type of pain medication might have it stacked with another sometime after administering the first pain med to bridge out the last half of the first medication when it starts to wear off. Aspirin, naproxen, or ibuprofen are often alternated with acetaminophen for OTC medication stacking. Each of the meds covers the downtime of the other achieving maximum effectiveness.  

Unsurprisingly, the practice is becoming more prevalent for psychonauts as well. Many people combine at least cannabis with whatever drug they’re using, and that can be considered stacking depending on how it’s done. And people are also pairing different psychedelics together (MDMA and psilocybin is a common combination), and some are using psychedelics along with vitamins, supplements, and even prescription medications.  

While these different compounds and ingredients may work independently and have their own benefits, they can work together to tackle more complex health issues. Separately they are only somewhat effective, but used in combination the sum of their effects is greater than their individual abilities. It’s similar to the idea of the entourage effect, but utilizing a wider range of products.  

Dosage stacking 

Dosage stacking is another common practice for both medical and recreational drug users. I do it commonly when using mushrooms as a matter of fact. I generally start with about 1 to 1.5 grams, see how I’m feeling in about 30 minutes, then take more throughout the night as needed to maintain the level of high that I enjoy.