The Effects of a 20mg Dose of a Tryptamine for a First-Time User


Table of Contents:


  • Introduction
  • Participant Profile and Dosage
  • Initial Onset of Effects (9:30 AM - 10:10 AM)
  • Changes in Physical and Mental State (10:10 AM - 11:10 AM)
  • Persistent Lack of Effect (11:10 AM - 12:20 PM)
  • Insights on Dosage and Body Weight Sensitivity
  • Conclusion



Introduction


On February 11, 2017, I had the opportunity to observe a friend's first psychedelic experience with a tryptamine. I was not the one taking the substance, but instead was serving as a "trip-sitter" for him. Throughout the day, I took note of his reactions and experiences, which may provide valuable information for future dosage considerations. My own experience with this batch of the chemical, alongside others, had been at a typical 15-20 mg dose, which had consistently proven effective. However, my friend's experience, particularly as a first-time user, offered some interesting insights.


Participant Profile and Dosage


  • Gender: Male
  • Weight: 172 kg / 380 lbs
  • Age: 30


My friend, who had no prior experience with psychedelics, was advised to start with a conservative dose of 20 mg. I had read reports suggesting that tryptamines were less sensitive to body weight than some other substances, and I had heard from friends with higher body weights that even 30 mg doses could be quite intense. Therefore, we decided to avoid starting with a higher dose, opting instead to start on the lower end.


Initial Onset of Effects (9:30 AM - 10:10 AM)


The chemical was ingested at approximately 9:30 AM. My friend, having no prior experience with psychedelics, was cautiously awaiting the effects. By 10:10 AM, he began to report feeling the onset of the substance's effects. At this point, we put on some music to create a relaxing atmosphere, and he tried to settle into a comfortable space.


I continued to read my book, occasionally observing his behavior. Over the next 30 minutes, he seemed relaxed and possibly sedated, with his eyes closed, which I took as a sign that the experience was beginning to unfold as expected. However, I noted that, after about 40 minutes, he got up and walked to the bathroom without issue. This struck me as unusual, as during my first psychedelic experience, I found it difficult to move and had to crawl to the bathroom. While this may not be typical for everyone, it raised a minor concern for me about the intensity of his experience.


Changes in Physical and Mental State (10:10 AM - 11:10 AM)


At 11:10 AM, I checked in with him, asking how things were progressing. He reported that he wasn’t feeling much and described a slight sense of respiratory depression and some closed-eye visuals (CEVs), though they were manageable. He mentioned that he could feel “a bit of something,” but it was not present anymore. This response was somewhat surprising, given that the typical effects of tryptamines at this dose should have been more pronounced by this point.


I noted that he seemed somewhat sedated, but there was no significant change in his mental state. This lack of effect seemed strange, especially since others with similar body weights and dosages had reported feeling quite intense effects by this time.


Persistent Lack of Effect (11:10 AM - 12:20 PM)


By 12:20 PM, an hour after his initial description, he reported still feeling very little. His state could be best summarized as “not great,” with a strange, somewhat uncomfortable physical feeling. He felt mentally detached, with no strong visuals or profound thoughts. He described it as being “kind of off,” physically uncomfortable but without any real psychedelic experience unfolding. This lack of effects after over two hours of waiting raised questions for me regarding the dosage and the impact of his physical size.


Insights on Dosage and Body Weight Sensitivity


This experience provided an interesting case in understanding the relationship between body weight and the effectiveness of tryptamines. Based on previous experiences and reports, I had assumed that body weight wouldn't dramatically alter the effects of this substance. However, given that my friend experienced no meaningful effects despite a relatively standard dosage of 20 mg, this experience led me to consider that body weight could, in fact, play a more significant role in the intensity of the effects than initially assumed.


Tryptamines are often said to be less sensitive to weight, but this experience suggests that there might be some merit to considering the mg/kg ratio. For someone of my friend’s size, a higher dose could have been more appropriate, but there’s also the possibility that other factors—such as individual metabolism or tolerance—could have played a role in his muted experience.


Conclusion


In summary, the experience of my friend offers important insights into the variability of psychedelic responses. Despite the chemical being of high quality and having proven effective for others at the same dosage, my friend’s larger body weight and lack of prior psychedelic experience may have contributed to a significantly diminished effect. This case reinforces the idea that dosage recommendations are not one-size-fits-all, and it may be important to adjust doses based on individual factors, including body weight. Further observations and studies on how tryptamines interact with different body types may help refine dosage guidelines for first-time users.