Hippie Flipping: What to Know About Mixing MDMA and Mushrooms

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The term “hippie flipping” refers to the combined use of MDMA (a.k.a. molly or ecstasy) and mushrooms. Curious explorers of consciousness generally pair the two as a means of experiencing the synergy of their combined effects: The trippy visuals and laugh track of psilocybin mushrooms converge with the sensory elevation and empathy-soaked social rapture associated with MDMA.

That’s the balanced effect most people aim for, but mixing two or more substances introduces more neurochemical complexity and additional risks and challenges. Because of their illegal status, rigorous studies on psychedelics are in short supply, and even more scarce is research examining the effects of such combinations.

What is Hippie Flipping?

Hippie flipping, sometimes called “flower flipping,” describes the simultaneous or overlapping use of both MDMA and psilocybin mushrooms. There is avid discussion around the ideal dose combination and timing; based on experiences shared on Reddit, the Shroomery, and other forums, most people prefer starting with mushrooms and adding MDMA after the initial peak—about one to two hours into the psilocybin experience. Many people experience an unpleasant comedown with MDMA after a few hours, and if you’re still tripping on mushrooms during that comedown, it can be a challenging experience.

“Flipping” is a broad term used to describe several different MDMA drug combinations. In addition to hippie flipping, you’ll find candy flipping (MDMA and LSD), kitty flipping (MDMA and ketamine), nexus flipping (MDMA and 2CB), and many more, as one might expect from the creativity and curiosity of the psychonaut community.

What are the Effects of Hippie Flipping? The Hippie Flipping Experience is Different for Everyone. 

The effects of hippie flipping will depend on several factors: the order in which you take the mushrooms and MDMA; how long you wait in between; the dose of each; the correct identification and purity of the MDMA; your environment; and your unique biology and psychology. Given the many factors involved, it’s no surprise that the experience and subjective effects of hippie flipping can vary immensely from person to person. 

Throughout your experience, you’re likely to experience a mosaic of different emotions and sensations—highs, lows, and all areas in between. It’s impossible to describe the full spectrum of effects, but based on a collection of online reports, some common themes emerge from these subjective experiences:

• Euphoria and social bonding: This compound feeling of joy and camaraderie is the purpose of hippie flipping for many.
•  Strong visual effects: Objects may appear to morph, “breathe,” or “grow.” Moving objects may appear to trail off or blur.
•  Elevated senses: Lights, music, color, and touch may feel extra captivating. This sensory enhancement can feel overwhelming for some—especially when the dose is too high.
•  Confusion: At times, it may be challenging to interpret social cues or assess the “reality” of a situation. 
•  Intense emotional experiences: Although many report pleasant experiences from beginning to end, it’s wise to anticipate emotional challenges. Psychedelics can bring a magnifying glass to our inner experiences, memories, and emotions—and if you aren’t grounded in a feeling of comfort and safety, these can be particularly challenging ideas to confront.

It’s worth emphasizing that psychedelics, especially when combined with other drugs like MDMA, can provoke powerful and challenging states of mind. Those with a personal or family history of mental illness or health concerns should seriously consider the risks associated with psychedelics and MDMA.

How Long Does Hipping Flipping Last?

The length of your hippie flip depends on how you timed your two doses. The effects of mushrooms typically last four to six hours from the initial dosing, and MDMA’s duration generally falls between three and six hours. Both magic mushrooms and molly have different onset times as well; it can take up to 30 to 60 minutes to feel the effects of psilocybin mushrooms. MDMA can kick in a little faster, between 30 and 45 minutes. 

So, depending on when you decide to add MDMA to your mushroom trip, the experience could be anywhere from six to twelve hours. Although the effects may fully taper off after half a day, some people report feeling some lingering side effects—like lethargy, gloominess, or headaches—for a day or two.

Read: The “Candy Flip” Explainer: What Happens When You Mix Acid and Molly?

Hippie Flipping Precautions: How to Hippie Flip Safely

MDMA and psychedelics—especially when combined—can bring about powerfully altered states of mind, and those with mental illness or health issues should avoid use without medical supervision. Even without pre-existing health concerns, the intensity of the experience demands careful consideration and safety nets such as a trusted friend, a safe and comfortable refuge, and a plan for getting home safely if venturing elsewhere.

DanceSafe, a non-profit organization dedicated to harm reduction and peer education, offers information on risks and tips for safe experiences. Referring to their educational material on MDMA, here are some risks to be aware of:

• MDMA bought from the illicit market could contain unknown and potentially dangerous ingredients and adulterants, and it’s impossible to know how those will affect you in various doses and combinations. About half of the alleged molly that DanceSafe tested between 2011 and 2013 contained no MDMA whatsoever. That’s why it’s essential to test your drugs. DanceSafe has an MDMA test kit we love and trust.
•  MDMA can interact with other medications, such as MAOIs or medicines metabolized by the same liver enzyme (CYP2D6) as MDMA. 
•  MDMA can increase heart rate and blood pressure, posing extra risks to those with heart conditions.
•  MDMA is associated with an elevated risk of seizure, heatstroke/dehydration, and hyperthermia.
•  With MDMA, it’s essential to stay hydrated—but too much water can also pose health risks (aim for a bottle per hour if you’re moving around a lot).

Because molly may contain so many questionable additives if it isn’t pure,  test your MDMA before use and avoid mixing ecstasy from different sources to reduce further contraindications. Mushrooms generally aren’t a Trojan horse for adulterants, but they aren’t without risks:

• Toxic varieties of mushrooms that look like psilocybin but which aren’t in actuality pose the greatest danger inherent in shrooming. 
•  Mushrooms, especially when combined with MDMA, can impair judgment and motor skills (i.e., don’t flip and drive).
•  Mushrooms can invoke frightening experiences and exacerbate mental health issues.

“Both MDMA and mushrooms are capable of lowering the seizure threshold—MDMA more so than classical psychedelics,” Rachel Clark, programs and communications coordinator at DanceSafe, tells DoubleBlind. “An overstimulating environment, excessive heat, and other factors that can induce seizures or other physical complications might be more high-risk than they would be if you were to do just one of those two drugs.”

“Both MDMA and mushrooms are capable of lowering the seizure threshold—MDMA more so than classical psychedelics.”

According to Clark, hippie flipping should be approached cautiously by anyone with a personal or family history of mental illness (particularly psychotic and mood disorders) and “anyone with a predisposition to epileptic activity, high blood pressure, and other things that can be triggered by stress.”

Clark zealously emphasizes that hippie flippers be aware of potential medication interactions, especially with MAOIs, tramadol, and other medications that either influence serotonin production or drug metabolization. “I cannot stress enough that mixing with medication is a prominent cause of visits at medical tents at festivals,” she says. To summarize:

• Assess any pre-existing health risks.
• Research potential medication interactions.
• Test your MDMA.
• Make sure you have safe places and people to turn to if things go south.

“[When you’re] attempting to self-medicate with any substance,” Clark says, “it’s important to tell other people how much you’re taking, when you’re taking it, where you’re taking it, and to be exceptionally cautious when preparing your set and setting [in order] to reduce the likelihood of adverse effects.”

Hippie Flipping Dosage: Shrooms & Molly Ratio

Traditional wisdom urges a practice of starting with a lower dose of your substance and adding more after you’ve gotten a sense of the effects of the initial dose. Gradually adding to the initial dose makes you less likely to pass the threshold for uncomfortable impacts and challenging trips. 

“Psychedelics and MDMA are very synergistic, generally speaking, and there’s a reason people combine them,” Clark says. “But a major mistake people make is doing their regular dose of both drugs at the same time.”

To give you a baseline understanding of what an MDMA dose can look like, the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) team has studied doses between 80 to 120 milligrams in their clinical trials, albeit these doses were administered in a safe, supervised setting with trained psychotherapists to guide the experience. Lower doses between 50 to 75 milligrams have also been studied. It’s also worth acknowledging that potency and purity of MDMA can vary wildly in illicit markets, further justifying caution.

Start small with mushrooms, too. As Michelle Janikian points out in her DoubleBlind guide to shrooms, a low dose of dried cubensis falls under two grams. With other types of psilocybin mushrooms, consider starting even lower in the spirit of caution. Turning to Clark for dosing guidance, she hesitates to use hard numbers because of the many factors that affect how one uniquely experiences any given dose, including metabolism, body weight, brain chemistry, and prior drug use. Clark instead offers more universal advice: “An individual who would normally take what they consider a ‘moderate’ dose of a single drug should drop to a ‘light/moderate’ dose of that drug, whatever that means to them.” In addition, she suggests familiarizing yourself with the potency of each batch of drugs individually before combining them.

Mixing Molly and Shrooms Together: Side Effects

All the different factors that can impact your hippie flipping experience should also be considered when anticipating potential side effects. Again, it’s imperative to be intentional with your dosing since most challenging experiences and side effects result from overestimating how much was needed to have a good time. 

One cause of adverse effects is “serotonin syndrome,” which occurs when the brain experiences an excess of serotonin. “It can lead to heightened body temperature, excess sweating—in severe cases, muscle stiffness, disorientation, agitation,” Clark says. “If supportive care is not available, it can become quite dangerous, especially if a person’s body temperature is spiking and there’s too much activity in the brain, which can lead to seizures.” Serotonin syndrome can be especially dangerous with the use of MAOI medication, Clark adds.

MDMA purchased illicitly may contain unknown and misrepresented ingredients, so it’s essential to understand that any list of side effects cannot possibly account for the full array of risks and side effects. Based on reports from combined use of MDMA and mushrooms, some of the acute side effects associated with MDMA and psilocybin include:

• Tightness and clenching of jaw
•  Confusion, fear, anxiety, and paranoia
•  Challenging emotional experiences
•  Impaired judgment, cognition, and coordination
•  Elevated heart rate and/or palpitations
•  Dry mouth and thirst
•  Transient or prolonged psychosis/hallucinations
•  Heaviness or restlessness in legs
•  Feeling cold
•  Perspiration
•  Weakness
•  Headache
•  Nausea
•  Tingling skin
•  Rapid eye movement
•  Muscle tension

Other side effects may come a day or two later, including:

• Depressed mood
•  Dizziness
•  Diminished appetite
•  Suppressed immune system
•  Insomnia

To reduce risk, always test your MDMA, dose modestly, avoid frequent use, and know what safety and medical resources are available to you. Although no one is free of risk, seriously consider avoiding the experience altogether if you have pre-existing health conditions or mental illness.

Was this article on the hippie flip helpful? Deepen your learning here.

Drug testing kits can save lives. MDMA and other substances procured in underground markets can be contaminated. Learn more about checking your drugs here.

Psychedelic experiences can be enlightening—and also challenging. Dr. Erica Zelfand talks about how to work through difficult trips.

Psychedelics can make it difficult to give consent. Read about how to set and respect boundaries from sex educator Britta Love.

Disclaimer

This article is intended for harm reduction purposes and should not be used in place of medical advice. DoubleBlind does not advocate participating in illicit activities. Always consult your local drug laws before engaging with any unregulated substance.

In the event of an emergency, please dial local emergency services. For substance abuse in the U.S., please dial the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration National Helpline at +1 (800) 662-4357.