Following our recent conversation with Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris on the neuroscience of SSRIs and psychedelics, this bonus episode takes the next step—focusing on clinical realities, tapering strategies, and patient safety.
Find full show notes and links here: https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-313b/?ref=278
Dr. Dave Rabin—a board-certified psychiatrist, neuroscientist, and co-founder of Apollo Neuro—joins Paul F. Austin for a candid, protocol-driven conversation. Together, they unpack why combining SSRIs with psychedelics can be dangerous, how to safely taper with support tools like ketamine and CBDA, and how to prepare clients for deeper psychedelic work.
If you’re a facilitator, therapist, or simply someone navigating antidepressants and interested in microdosing, this episode offers practical, medically-grounded insights.
Highlights:
- How SSRIs blunt emotional range and alter awareness
- The neuroscience of serotonin and psychedelic receptors
- Serious risks of serotonin syndrome when mixing with SSRIs
- Ketamine’s role in tapering and unlocking neuroplasticity
- Practical tools to regulate the nervous system during SSRI withdrawal
- Recommended psilocybin strains for sensitive or anxious clients
- How long-term SSRI use may (or may not) affect psychedelic response
- Safety-first protocols for psychedelic integration
- The future of microdosing as a sustainable antidepressant approach
Episode Links:
Curious about becoming a certified psychedelic coach? Join Paul F. Austin Thursday, July 31 2025, 10:00 AM PT for a free info session exploring the Psychedelic Coaching Institute’s Practitioner Certification Program—an immersive training that blends science, ceremony, and real-world coaching to help you lead others through lasting transformation. Learn More.
Episode Sponsor:
