Coming down can be rough as hell. One moment you’re in a bubble of euphoria, then the bubble pops and everything turns horrible in a matter of seconds. Even if it’s not sudden and dramatic, when reality starts to return you can be left feeling a bit blah and missing the way you felt only a little while ago. What goes up must come down, and coming down is absolutely normal and happens to everyone who takes drugs.
Stages of comedown
Much like Dante’s hell, comedowns have a few levels to get through while your brain gets back to its serotonin and dopamine baseline.
Days 0-2
1. The Sigh
This is the stage that happens immediately after your drugs wear off. Basically your body is trying to do things using a normal amount of serotonin (or other neurotransmitters) when you’ve dumped it all out into your brain when you peaked. This can bring on feelings of emotional fragility, sorrow, or anxiety that can sometimes get overwhelming depending on where you are. Feeling this is a good sign to head somewhere safe and comforting to chill out as you re-enter normality.
2. The afterglow
Depending on which drugs you’ve taken, the day after your big night out can be kinda pleasant, in a super chilled out, peaceful way. People can still feel a sense of connection and affection to the people around them the next day, but this is generally restricted to serotonergic drugs.
Days 2-4
3. People? No thank you
The next couple of days can be challenging in terms of dealing with other humans, especially if you’ve had stimulants like amphetamines or MDMA which mess with your ability to sleep, or psychedelics which give experiences that can be profound but take some time to process. You might be on a distinct low energy vibe, and your ability to make polite small talk with people will probably go out the window. It’s a good idea to clear your calendar for the next couple of days after a big experience and spend some quality time with your couch, going for walks in your favourite places, or watching movies with your friends. Low energy activities that you know you enjoy when you’re not coming down are a good thing during this time.
4. Solid food? Also no thank you
Many stimulants and some psychedelics affect digestion while you’re high, and they can knock your appetite out for a couple of days after you’ve taken them. Not only will you not feel hungry, but it could be that the idea of eating food will feel like hard work and give you a bad case of the Don’t Wannas.
The problem here is that you do kinda need food to make your body work properly and build your neurochemistry back up to baseline. For those who jaw-clench, things that don’t require a lot of chewing are a good plan. Go for low-prep, soft food in easy flavours. Things like smoothies, soup, muesli bars, and fruit are good ways to get fuel into your meat suit and avoid the hangry without overwhelming your belly.
5. Tuesday Blues and Washout Wednesdays
Not everyone feels this and it can be specific to certain drugs, but if you do get it, it can be a challenge. This kicks in at about the second or third day after your big night out, most commonly a Tuesday or Wednesday. Your body is trying to do its normal everyday things, but on minimal serotonin. So while the last couple of days might have been manageable, this is where things can get particularly unpleasant. People might start feeling depressed, angry, or anxious.
The important thing to remember with Tuesday Blues and Washout Wednesdays is that what you’re feeling, while valid, is based on a chemical process in your brain and nothing that’s actually happening in the world. Avoid making important decisions during this time, and maybe wait until you’re back to baseline before blowing your life savings on that second hand little black dress and diamond-sapphire necklace outfit to show your ex a thing or two.
Days 4-7
6. Meh
Once you get through the Tuesday Blues, everything may kinda ease out into a state of Meh.
Your energy is slowly returning, but the idea of doing anything with that energy just kinda sucks. The cbf is real and it might feel like you’re doing life while swimming through concrete. The Meh can last for a day or two, but most people should be feeling pretty normal after this.
The 5HTP debate
Some folks swear that taking 5HTP will mitigate a comedown. There’s some question as to whether taking it before or after you take your drugs is better, and we couldn’t find anything peer reviewed to back these theories up.
What we did find is an article from Mount Sinai medical school that says it takes about 6-8 weeks of daily usage for 5HTP to reach an effective dose in your body to help with sleep and other problems you might take it for. So if you are going to take 5HTP for a comedown, make sure you plan well ahead.
5HTP and serotonin syndrome – a note for folks who pre-load, side-load, or post-load with it
5HTP supplements act on the same serotonin receptors that SSRIs and serotonergic drugs like MDMA, methamphetamine, ketamine, and LSD affect.
This can lead to serotonin syndrome, where there’s too much serotonin in your body for your system to deal with because your serotonin receptors have the 5HTP in them slowing the serotonin absorption down. We made a Tiktok that explains serotonin syndrome and the serotonin system in more detail if you want to get a better understanding.
@knowyourstuffnz Replying to @tiffyleebaby Fiiiiine I’ll info dump if you insist 😁 #knowyourstuffnz #educational #harmreduction #serotoninsyndrome
If you are preloading with 5HTP, it pays to be cautious. We recommend that you
- Take a smaller amount of your substance than you would without 5HTP
- Avoid redosing
- Have someone who’s not partaking with you, just in case.
Mild serotonin syndrome feels like
- Fever-like symptoms (overheating, sweating, goosebumps, shivering)
- Vomiting and/or diarrhoea
- Muscle rigidity
- Headache
- Confusion and/or anxiety
- Insomnia
Severe serotonin syndrome feels like
- Unconsciousness
- Seizures
- Irregular heartbeat
In closing
Almost all drugs have some kind of a comedown. It may be shorter, longer, more or less intense than we’ve described here, but most follow this process in some form.
Regardless of what you’re feeling, remember – the comedown will finish and you won’t feel like this forever. Be kind to yourself. Become one with the couch, watch some low-engagement high reward tv, and ride it out. You’ll be ok, it just might take a little while.
Further reading
Be serotonin syndrome savvy
Partying in winter — Why are winter comedowns the worst?