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Aldous Huxley predicts Adderall and champions alternative therapies

(angadh.com)
129 points surprisetalk | 7 comments | 17 Nov 25 14:57 UTC | HN request time: 0.001s | source | bottom
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earlyriser ◴[17 Nov 25 20:22 UTC] No.45957840[source]▶
I read champignons and it kind of fit even better. Adderall (Brave New World) and mushrooms (Island).
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brandall10 ◴[17 Nov 25 20:26 UTC] No.45957883[source]▶
Soma in BNW is more analogous to MDMA as it's about sedated pleasure, not mental clarity/performance.
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1. ratelimitsteve ◴[17 Nov 25 21:53 UTC] No.45958782[source]▶
mdma is pleasureful but extremely non-sedated
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2. brandall10 ◴[17 Nov 25 21:58 UTC] No.45958832[source]▶
I meant the psychological role in the book - soma as a tool to melt away discomfort or disturbing feelings, not its literal pharmacology.
3. Liquix ◴[17 Nov 25 22:04 UTC] No.45958898[source]▶
pure racemic MDMA has very little stimulant effect. street MDMA can feel stimulating because it is either intentionally mixed with caffeine/speed/meth or contains residual precursor from clandestine synthesis.

my major state was one of deep relaxation ... MDMA does not work like Dexedrine ... I feel totally peaceful.

- Alexander Shulgin, PIHKAL

https://www.erowid.org/library/books_online/pihkal/pihkal109...

replies(1): >>45961585 #
4. wmeredith ◴[17 Nov 25 23:21 UTC] No.45959615[source]▶
The street drug Ecstasy is MDMA usually mixed with speed. MDMA doesn't have a stimulating effect.
5. temp0826 ◴[18 Nov 25 05:05 UTC] No.45961585[source]▶
Shulgin used dozens (hundreds?) of these compounds. I do wonder if some of his better subjective observations might be due to simply relieving withdrawal symptoms.
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6. ratelimitsteve ◴[18 Nov 25 15:00 UTC] No.45967075{3}[source]▶
that was certainly the story when I found opioids to be energizing
7. loeg ◴[18 Nov 25 15:55 UTC] No.45967925{3}[source]▶
Yeah, Shulgin is not really a reliable witness here. He's also a single anecdote.