Candyflipping: Could mixing LSD and MDMA have therapeutic effects?

Can the combination of MDMA and LSD, a mixture known as «candy flipping», alleviate some of the side effects? effects of LSD alone? A team of researchers has set out to find out whether combining these two substances has any therapeutic benefits.

A study recently published in Nature, entitled « Acute effects of MDMA and LSD co-administration in a double-blind placebo-controlled study in healthy participants » (Acute effects of MDMA and LSD co-administration in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study in healthy participants), explores the benefits of combining MDMA and LSD.

«There is renewed interest in the use of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) in psychiatric research and practice,» the researchers write.

«Although the acute subjective effects of LSD are predominantly positive, negative subjective effects, including anxiety, can occur. The induction of overall positive acute subjective effects is desired in psychedelic-assisted therapy, as positive acute experiences are associated with greater long-term therapeutic benefits. 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) produces marked positive subjective effects and is used recreationally with LSD, under the name «candyflipping.»»

A small group of 24 participants randomly received four different combinations of treatment drugs: MDMA, LSD, MDMA and LSD combined, or a placebo. Participants who received a combination of LSD and MDMA reported higher levels of well-being, happiness and confidence during their experience, compared to those who took LSD alone. It's important to note that the study size is small.

«LSD and the LSD + MDMA combination produced comparable subjective effects without significant differences,» the researchers write. «However, co-administration of MDMA and LSD prolonged the psychedelic experience compared with LSD alone. Overall, the effects of LSD and LSD + MDMA were significantly stronger and longer than those of MDMA alone. There was no significant difference in peak euphoria between the substances alone and the combination».

Lucid News reports that the anxiety felt by some people when first taking LSD could be relieved by the effects of MDMA. «The acute subjective effects of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) are mainly positive; however, negative effects, such as anxiety, can occur,» said Isabelle Straunmann, PhD in clinical research at UHB, who led the study.

«MDMA produces marked positive subjective effects, and we hypothesized that when combined with LSD, it may induce an overall more positive experience than LSD alone.».

Straunmann adds that LSD is a very powerful hallucinogen in its own right, and that the researchers found no statistically significant difference between these effects and the effects of combining LSD and MDMA.

Explanation of Candy Flipping

The idea of combining the two substances is based on anecdotal reports that they mix well. According to the first entry in the’Urban Dictionary, candy flipping is «taking LSD (acid) and MDMA (ecstasy) together».

«The effects of MDMA give the user a very optimistic feeling, which usually translates into a positive acid trip,» he continues. Urban Dictionary. Since MDMA triggers a fairly «reliable» high, which acid doesn't (there can be bad trips), the MDMA high helps stabilize the acid trip.

Medical properties begin with anecdotal evidence before being proven in medicine by peer-reviewed research.

But does combining the two drugs present harmful drug interactions? Adam Waugh, a harm reduction expert, told Lucid News that «the combination of MDMA and LSD is generally considered a low-risk combination, in the sense that it is not likely to harm a person's physical health». However, he added that psychologically, «MDMA can significantly increase the intensity of a trip, which for some people can lead to an unpleasant experience».