Antidepressants as a tool taking the bus

[Lucilius]

The other day I tried taking some SSRI which I have been prescribed for a long time and got reminded of why I had stopped taking them since the very beginning. Not only it screwed the next night's sleep, but also gave me a very strange feeling the next morning. Relatively energetic and full of anger and disdain towards everything, but especially myself. A cold powerful rage. Almost reptilian, as goofy as it sounds.

I think this sort of drug can actually be a useful tool once the conclusion has been reached. It makes taking that final forceful step easier. I can even see myself experiencing some sort of violent satisfaction in that very last moment able to drown the fear of death. It is also trivial to get them prescribed. They are everywhere.

 

[AnonymousL]

As far as I have seen on this forum, anti depressants are not adviced for ctb. Why? I cant tell you but I assume some people can explain

 

[Lucilius]

As far as I have seen on this forum, anti depressants are not adviced for ctb. Why? I cant tell you but I assume some people can explain

I am not talking about overdosing on antidepressants. Only to use them to make success easier to achieve.

 

[AnonymousL]

I am not talking about overdosing on antidepressants. Only to use them to make success easier to achieve.

Ah apologies then
I thought you wanted to use them as a method

 

[MathConspiracy]

SSRIs are pretty much useless in CTB. I'm not an expert so I can't elaborate but that's what I've read. I guess they wanted to make the new generation antidepressants safer since their users are more likely to intentionally overdose. The only type of ADs with some chance of success are tricyclics like amitriptyline. My OD plan involves combining amitriptyline with pregabalin (the latter will do the job, the amitriptyline is simply there to increase my chances). I don't recommend this method, though. It's my last option and I'm really scared of it.

 

[Tarnished_anachrom]

The other day I tried taking some SSRI which I have been prescribed for a long time and got reminded of why I had stopped taking them since the very beginning. Not only it screwed the next night's sleep, but also gave me a very strange feeling the next morning. Relatively energetic and full of anger and disdain towards everything, but especially myself. A cold powerful rage. Almost reptilian, as goofy as it sounds.

I think this sort of drug can actually be a useful tool once the conclusion has been reached. It makes taking that final forceful step easier. I can even see myself experiencing some sort of violent satisfaction in that very last moment able to drown the fear of death. It is also trivial to get them prescribed. They are everywhere.

I might be some help because I overdose on my sertraline to just hurt myself around 10+ times now (I have a weird form of self harm where yeah I do just cut myself but sometimes I self poison myself), ranging from 1500 mg to 4000 mg.

I think it really depends on how much of an SSRI you take, what sort of psychological effects you get. And I think generally the psychological affects of SSRI OD/overconsumption aren't positive. I have no clue how much you took but sounds like you might have gotten a mix of agitation and hypomania. Agitation is a super common side effect but can be really distressing at higher doses, and hypomania is a side effect of more mild SSRI miss use but isn't very common unlike agitation.

In my experience/research from lowest to highest dosage the psychological you may experience are as follows (please take this with a grain of salt):

• Hypomania (rare).
• Restlessness.
• Insomnia.
• Anxiety.
• Agitation.
• Akathisia.
• Hypervigilance.
• Easily startled/hyperactive startle response.
• Confusion.
• Hallucinations.
• Delirium/delusions.
• Coma (rare).

It seems to work in your favour though! I don't think it'd work the same way for other people, I guess for the best outcome you'd have to try and balance between not too much and not too little? It might be worth trying out though?

How much did you take?

 

[wiggy]

It does seem like some drugs include an increased risk of suicidality as a side effect in the label, although I suspect this is moreso to avoid liability than because it is a legitimate phenomenon. For my part I'd prefer to check out without too much mental interference.

 

[KillingPain267]

SSRIs are pretty much useless in CTB. I'm not an expert so I can't elaborate but that's what I've read. I guess they wanted to make the new generation antidepressants safer since their users are more likely to intentionally overdose. The only type of ADs with some chance of success are tricyclics like amitriptyline. My OD plan involves combining amitriptyline with pregabalin (the latter will do the job, the amitriptyline is simply there to increase my chances). I don't recommend this method, though. It's my last option and I'm really scared of it.

Pregabalin? Where did you get info on that? I have lots of pregabalin prescribed and occassionally take more to trip. They help me have a "fuck it" attitude but for ctb I think are they not unreliable?

 

[MathConspiracy]

Pregabalin? Where did you get info on that? I have lots of pregabalin prescribed and occassionally take more to trip. They help me have a "fuck it" attitude but for ctb I think are they not unreliable?

Well, I've read some Wikipedia articles and also asked an AI. I know I shouldn't trust an AI but I believe that since Lyrica has sedative effects and is poisonous, I'll drift into sleep and die of heart failure or something. This method still requires a lot of research and I'm considering adding some amitriptyline as that's toxic too. I believe pregabalin might be reliable in big amounts. I did some rudimentary calculations and the person who owns the pills (prescribed by a doctor) has about 1g left. Would that be lethal enough? No idea.

 

[gothbird]

You're right that SSRIs are widely prescribed and easy to access but they are not effective tools for OD, and here's why:

1. High Survival Rates:
   SSRIs have a high therapeutic index, meaning the lethal dose is significantly higher than the prescribed one. Many people survive extremely large overdoses—sometimes 70x+ the normal daily dose—with minimal longterm harm if treated quickly.
2. Delayed Onset of Severe Symptoms:
   Unlike fastacting agents (like opioids or barbiturates), SSRIs take hours to produce peak plasma levels, and longer still for any serious toxic symptoms to manifest. This often results in survivors regaining consciousness in emergency settings sometimes without even significant organ damage.
3. Serotonin Syndrome Risks (Without Lethality):
   Overdosing on SSRIs often leads to serotonin syndrome, a dangerous but non lethal cluster of symptoms including agitation, confusion, tremors, hyperthermia, and seizures. It's terrifying and painful but not reliably fatal, especially if medical intervention occurs.
4. Most Cases Result in Hospitalization, Not Death:
   According to toxicological databases and emergency medicine studies, the vast majority of SSRI overdoses result in temporary ICU stays, not fatalities.
5. Organ Toxicity Is Rare:
   Unlike drugs like acetaminophen (paracetamol), SSRIs don't typically cause organ failure (like liver or kidney damage), meaning the OD often doesn't "progress" lethally without secondary complications.

What you felt is something many report when their brain chemistry shifts rapidly. SSRIs modulate serotonin, but in the early stages (or after reintroduction), it can destabilise mood rather than stabilise it, especially in those with bipolar traits, PTSD, or BPD. That "rage" is a red flag for akathisia or emotional disinhibition—not clarity or empowerment.

I get what you're saying—about needing that last push, about wanting to mute the fear—but please don't mistake a chemical side effect for courage. There are more effective, more merciful paths, and there are also alternatives that involve staying. Both deserve thought. Both deserve science. Both deserve you being fully in control.

Read this post about non-methods!

 

[KillingPain267]

Well, I've read some Wikipedia articles and also asked an AI. I know I shouldn't trust an AI but I believe that since Lyrica has sedative effects and is poisonous, I'll drift into sleep and die of heart failure or something. This method still requires a lot of research and I'm considering adding some amitriptyline as that's toxic too. I believe pregabalin might be reliable in big amounts. I did some rudimentary calculations and the person who owns the pills (prescribed by a doctor) has about 1g left. Would that be lethal enough? No idea.

I have 11g of pregabalin in my bag right next to my bed, lol. I wish it was a reliable method because yeah it feels nice and calming with just 400mg of it. A little bit tachycardia though. But I wouldn't experiment with something that is not even mentioned in the Peaceful Pill Handbook. I'm extremely cautious and non-impulsive when it comes to ctb. But now that you mentioned it, it sounds tempting to try because it's just... right here next to me. If it works it would be one hell of a trip before death, lol.

I did some rudimentary calculations and the person who owns the pills (prescribed by a doctor) has about 1g left. Would that be lethal enough? No idea.

1g is very unlikely. I've also mixed pregabalin with alcohol, opioids, benzos, sleeping pills and mirtazapine (not all at once though and not as an attempt) but it never gave any dangerous effect.

 

[MathConspiracy]

I have 11g of pregabalin in my bag right next to my bed, lol. I wish it was a reliable method because yeah it feels nice and calming with just 400mg of it. A little bit tachycardia though. But I wouldn't experiment with something that is not even mentioned in the Peaceful Pill Handbook. I'm extremely cautious and non-impulsive when it comes to ctb. But now that you mentioned it, it sounds tempting to try because it's just... right here next to me. If it works it would be one hell of a trip before death, lol.

1g is very unlikely. I've also mixed pregabalin with alcohol, opioids, benzos, sleeping pills and mirtazapine (not all at once though and not as an attempt) but it never gave any dangerous effect.

Thanks a lot for the info, it clarifies things. Not gonna attempt with 1g, then. I really thought that amount would be enough haha.

 

[Haematemesis]

tried antidepressants by mixing it with schizophrenia medicines last year, didn't work

 

[KillingPain267]

Thanks a lot for the info, it clarifies things. Not gonna attempt with 1g, then. I really thought that amount would be enough haha.

Here is a good study with some more info on it:

Pregabalin poisoning: Evaluation of dose‐toxicity relationship - PMC

Pregabalin poisoning is mostly benign, although coma and convulsions occasionally occur. To determine the dose‐toxicity relationship of pregabalin. Dose‐toxicity data of isolated pregabalin poisonings were collected from (1) a prospective study ...

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov