[Solved] 2 days after anesthesia, a session with psychedelics (was under general anesthesia)

It is difficult to give an exact answer based on your question. Perhaps you could provide us with the list of anesthetics to get a better look at the situation. For now, I will answer based on the most commonly used agents, the half-life (T½), and the expected time for them to be almost completely out of the body (elimination time (5 × T½)). This way, we can determine if there is enough time between the anesthesia and the use of psychedelics such as MDMA., psilocybin (truffles/magic mushrooms) or LSD.

In the Netherlands, combinations of agents are almost always used. The most likely choices for an average operation are propofol, sevoflurane, fentanyl (or sufentanil), and rocuronium. Often, ondansetron or dexamethasone is also administered to treat nausea.

Sleep aids (induction and maintenance)

1. Propofol – T½: 1–3 hours → Elimination: 5–15 hours → very frequently used in the Netherlands

2. Etomidate – T½: 2–5 hours → Elimination: 10–25 hours → less frequent, sometimes in heart patients

3. Midazolam – T½: 1.5–3 hours (may be longer in the elderly) → Elimination: 7.5–15 hours → sometimes premedication

4. Thiopental – T½: 6–12 hours → Elimination: 30–60 hours → nowadays rarely used in the Netherlands

Inhalation anesthetics

5. Sevoflurane – exhaled within minutes; functional recovery 15–30 min → very frequently used in the Netherlands

6. Desfluran – the same, rapid efflorescence, but less common in the Netherlands

7. Isoflurane – still occasionally, but rarely first choice

8. Nitrous oxide (N₂O) – hardly used as standard in the Netherlands anymore

Painkillers (opioids)

9. Fentanyl – T½: 3–12 hours → Elimination: 15–60 hours → widely used in the Netherlands

10. Sufentanil – T½: 2–3 hours → Elimination: 10–15 hours → alternative to fentanyl

11. Remifentanil – T½: 0.1–0.2 hours → Elimination: <1 hour → also common in the Netherlands, especially for short procedures

12. Morphine – T½: 2–3 hours → Elimination: 10–15 hours → sometimes postoperatively

Muscle relaxants

13. Rocuronium – T½: 1–2 hours → Elimination: 5–10 hours → standard in NL

14. Vecuronium – T½: 1–1.5 hours → Elimination: 5–7.5 hours → less frequent than rocuronium

15. Succinylcholine – T½: <10 min → Elimination: <1 hour → only with rapid intubation, emergencies

Additional medication

16. Dexamethasone – T½: 36–54 hours → Elimination: 7–11 days → often for nausea and anti-inflammatory

17. Ondansetron – T½: 3–5 hours → Elimination: 15–25 hours → commonly used against nausea

18. Atropine – T½: 2–3 hours → Elimination: 10–15 hours → less routine nowadays

19. Glycopyrronium – T½: 0.6–1.2 hours → Elimination: 3–6 hours → sometimes with reversals of muscle relaxants

Two days after the surgery/anesthesia/narcosis :

Two days after general anesthesia, most sedatives, muscle relaxants, and painkillers you received during the surgery are usually out of your system. Only dexamethasone (often given for nausea or inflammation) may remain in your body for a little longer, but this does not really pose a dangerous interaction with psychedelics. Therefore, two days after the surgery is usually sufficient to safely engage in a psychedelic session in terms of medication interactions.

However, you must take into account that your body is still recovering from a potential procedure and the anesthesia. The required recovery therefore depends on the procedure itself. Your immune system, energy levels, and mental balance may still be disrupted following major procedures. A psychedelic session often demands quite a lot from both your body and mind. As a result, the experience can be particularly tiring if you have not yet fully recovered.

We therefore advise many people to wait at least a week (and preferably a little longer) so that your body and mind are in a more stable state. This way, you can get more out of the session instead of being preoccupied with recovering from your surgery. However, if it is a minor procedure with little impact, you could proceed with the session.

So consult with the doctor, look at the products used, and if necessary, opt for a little more time between the procedure and the session.

Important: When using Tramadol as pain medication, you should be careful with psychedelics and definitely stop using it for at least a week!