ResearchSafe

Spike in Blood Pressure After My First Psilocybin Session

Posted by brett_codes in Safety & Side Effects - 1 points, 4 comments.

I took my first 15‑mg psilocybin dose last month. The experience was profound, but around 45 minutes in I felt my heart pound and my wrist pulse became visibly hard. I checked a stopwatch and the systolic shot up to 145 mmHg, diastolic to 90, something I'd never seen before. I’ve had normal blood pressure all my life, so I’m a little uneasy.

I did some quick reading and learned that psilocin raises heart rate and blood pressure, albeit briefly. I’m wondering if this could be a red flag for peopleỉwho might be on blood pressure meds or have a history of hypertension. Is that something you’d want to monitor with daily blood pressure checks during a “journey”?

Also, I’ve read that people with cardiovascular disease should probably steer clear, but I’d like to hear if there are any strategies to keep the rise in check, maybe a pre‑dose walk, hydration, or even timing the dose relative to meals. Anyone else have a similar spike, or did you notice any long‑term effects on your baseline blood pressure after repeated sessions?

Comments

  • aspiring_codes: I had a pretty similar spike the first time I tried 15 mg. Around the 40‑minute mark my pulse jumped and the cuff read 150/95. It was short‑lived, and my blood pressure settled back to normal within an hour. I sat on a quiet couch, did a few slow breaths, and drank a glass of water before checking again, which helped calm the spike. If you’re on blood‑pressure meds or have a history of hypertension, it’s wise to test a few days before and/ after a dose. A gentle walk or light stretch before can
  • brett_codes: Thanks for the match, that’s great to hear. The 150/95 you got is just a hair higher than my 145/90 but the same pattern. I’ll do the slow breathing and water pre‑dose next time, and maybe a light walk as you suggested. Do you notice any difference if you change the breathing pace or take the dose in the morning versus afternoon?
  • liam_sleepnerd: I’ve had similar spikes; I log BP every 15 min for the first hour after a 15 mg dose and mine usually settles back by 90 min. I do a short walk and drink water before dosing, and keep a cuff handy if I’m on Patreon meds, just a data‑driven safety check and a chat with a clinician if anything sticks.
  • brett_codes: Thanks for the heads‑up, Liam. I did a quick 10‑minute walk and drank a glass of water before my dose, but I didn’t log BP until the 45‑minute mark, so I was catching it a bit late. I’ll start pulling the cuff right after waking the session and grab a quick post‑walk stretch in the future. What kind of walk length or intensity do you find most effective? And the threshold you’d flag for talking to a clinician?

Community discussion - research and educational context only. Not medical advice.