Considering busting, open to suggestions.

[frozen1]

First some background.  Episodic CH for just over 20 years.  about 7 or so years ago I started Verapamil and it was a game changer, currently I'm at 480mg/day.  Since last Christmas I've been in a brutal cycle that started during a major sinus infection.  This cycle has been horrible, worst ever, especially since this time, o2 (25lpm or higher w/ opti mask) has been WAY less effective than normal.  I've just come off my 2nd pred taper this cycle and they're starting to creep back.

About 3 years ago during my "great Verap holiday" I started on a pretty bad cycle and started researching busting.  Being kind of a geek I got interested in the process of manufacturing vit M and got very proficient at it, very.  However, by the time I had actually fruited, my cycle had ended on it's own.  I did however still try some, I mean why not plus as an adolescent I used to have great fun with them recreationally. I tried what at the time I thought (maybe still think) was the recommended dose 1 gram dried.  I tripped very hard for several hours and hated it immensely, much different trying them as an adult imo.

This cycle has made me reconsider busting.  I've been trying the D3 regimen for over 2 months now, my D levels are right in the optimal range according to Batch.  Still neither Verap nor D3 seem to be giving me any relief.  My last experience w/ vit M left me a little apprehensive about trying it again.  I am aware of RC seeds and where to get them (never tried them), I am also fully capable of fruiting again if need be.  I know I would have to detox from trex for at least 5 days and I'm pretty sure I would have to stop taking Verap too, what about D3??  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[CHfather]

Many people do okay with busting while still taking verapamil. By "okay," I mean some seem to bust fully, but most get some relief but not complete relief.  No one seems to have had any trouble with a conflict between D3 and busting. (I'm guessing you're familiar with Batch's caution about the possible interactions between the calcium supplements that are part of the D3 regimen and verapamil. He says  >>If you are presently taking verapamil as a cluster headache preventative or for a heart condition, studies have shown that after repetitive dosing with verapamil, its serum half-life can be in a range from 4.5 to 12 hours.  Other studies indicated calcium supplements interfere with calcium channel blockers like verapamil.  Calcium gluconate is also used to treat reactions to oral verapamil.  Accordingly, in order to minimize a possible interaction with calcium that may limit verapamil effectiveness, separate the verapamil and calcium doses by at least 8 to 12 hours.  Discus this regimen with your PCP, neurologist, or cardiologist in order to work out an optimum dosing schedule.<<

In terms of busting materials, I suppose many people here would advise you to try the psilo if you can, since many seem to consider it a superior busting agent.  But RC has plenty of successes to its credit, and you're right that there's a whole lot less tripping involved.  Yes, 1 gram dried is the pretty standard recommended psilo dose, and some people think that tripping hard, as you did, makes the M particularly effective.  But the "official" CB busting document says this: >>Everyone is different so the range for a cubensis dose will be from about 0.5 grams to 1.5 grams. With more powerful species such as Psilocybe azurescens or Psilocybe cyanescens, a quarter or half a gram will be enough.<< (https://www.clusterheadaches.com/cb/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1290128444)  Maybe views on this have changed, but I know we have had people here who have had success with doses of less than a gram.

As you can see, this is just information, not really a recommendation.  I'm hoping it might help you consider your options.  Others will add more, probably more valuably.

 

[frozen1]

I'm guessing you're familiar with Batch's caution about the possible interactions between the calcium supplements that are part of the D3 regimen and verapamil.

Yes, currently I'm doing the full regimen with no calcium (other than what I may get in the multi) which Batch told me was fine.

Also, I'm thinking RC seeds may be the way to go because if I have to fruit some M I'd be starting from scratch which means it could be a couple months before I had medicine.