There's a bit of misinformation on this thread, including what @Living sucks pointed out.
The most recent version of the PPH says meto is recommended, not required, and that propanolol is a potentiator which the authors strongly recommend. I don't recall the exact wording, but it is to keep the heart from working to pump blood to the brain and therefore lose consciousness more quickly.
Some people were conscious for up to 40 minutes. It seems that many lose consciousness around 20 minutes or less, but it's not guaranteed.
@soulreaper, we have no way of knowing if any accounts are real, including Stan's. It's an anonymous forum, we can't know for sure about anyone, only make reasonable guesses based on how things are presented and if accounts are similar with regard to symptoms and following the protocol. Personally, I've read through all of the accounts, and listed symptoms and percentages of each experienced, and paid attention to red flags that indicate bullshit, all so I can get a reasonable idea of what to expect.
I'm confused by your statement that some didn't go unconscious or pass out. Are you talking about people who survived due to not doing the method properly or aborting the attempt and getting help? Even those who aborted, as I recall, at some point lost consciousness. Perhaps I've forgotten some individual accounts.
I get hoping that you'll black out quickly and experience no pain, it seems very few have experienced pain, which is not the same as discomfort or distress from other symptoms. I would caution that if you're not prepared for all symptoms, to consider if you'll be able to follow through if it's not as you wish, and to consider how you'll manage if you're not able to follow through -- such as having to go to the hospital and potentially having to go to a psych ward, or what would draw attention and result in being interrupted. The more symptoms and outcomes you prepare for, the more confident you'll be and be able to have a reasonably solid plan. If you're rationally afraid and haven't addressed as best you can all uncertainty, then I think you're taking a risk you're not yet prepared for, and that there's potential in that for unnecessary suffering and other risks. However, that's only my opinion. Ultimately it's up to you to do for yourself as you see fit and I respect that.
