How to Read a Substance Page
Psychedex substance pages pack a lot of information into a small space. This guide explains what each section means, why it matters, and the most common mistakes people make when interpreting the data.
Data literacy is harm reduction. Understanding how to read dose tables, duration curves, and interaction warnings correctly is as important as the data itself. Misreading a dose table has the same consequences as not reading one at all.
sections covered
1.Dose Table
2.Duration & Timeline
3.Interaction Warnings
4.Toxicity & Dependence Panel
5.Confidence Levels
Dose Table
what it isA table showing dose ranges (threshold, light, common, strong, heavy) for each route of administration (ROA).
why it mattersKnowing where your intended dose falls on the spectrum helps you predict the intensity of the experience and stay within safer ranges. The difference between a common dose and a heavy dose is often smaller than people expect.
how to read it–Each row is a different route of administration. A dose for oral use is NOT the same as a dose for insufflated use — the ROA fundamentally changes the effective dose.
–Threshold = minimum dose to feel any effect. Light = noticeable but mild. Common = typical recreational dose. Strong = intense, experienced users only. Heavy = high risk, not recommended.
–Ranges (e.g., 75–125 mg) reflect individual variation. Start at the low end, especially if you are new to the substance, have low body weight, or are unsure of purity.
–Doses are for pure substance. Street drugs vary in purity. If you haven’t tested, assume your substance is cut and adjust expectations — but do NOT compensate by taking more.
common mistakes–Applying an oral dose to a different ROA (e.g., snorting an oral dose of ketamine — insufflated bioavailability is higher, making this an overdose risk)
–Ignoring body weight. A “common” dose for a 90 kg person may be a “strong” dose for a 55 kg person.
–Assuming your source’s dose numbers include ROA context when they don’t
–Redosing before the full onset period has passed
Duration & Timeline
what it isOnset, come-up, peak, offset, and aftereffect duration ranges for each ROA. Often displayed as a visual timeline bar.
why it mattersKnowing how long each phase lasts prevents the most common cause of accidental overdose: impatient redosing because “it’s not working yet.” It also helps you plan your experience (when you’ll be functional, when you need to be somewhere).
how to read it–Onset = time from administration to first noticeable effects. This is NOT the peak — effects continue building during the come-up.
–The come-up phase is where most of the intensity builds. This is when anxiety is normal and expected.
–Peak = period of maximum intensity. Duration varies enormously between ROAs and individuals.
–Offset = effects winding down. You may still be impaired even though intensity is decreasing.
–Aftereffects = residual effects after the primary experience. Can last hours to days. You may not be baseline even if you “feel normal.”
–Oral onset is always longer than you think. Edibles, oral MDMA, and oral psychedelics routinely catch people off guard because they redose during the onset.
common mistakes–Taking more because you don’t feel it yet (the #1 cause of unintentional overdose for oral doses)
–Planning to drive or operate machinery during the offset, thinking you’re fine
–Not accounting for a full stomach extending onset time for oral doses
–Confusing the come-up anxiety with “something went wrong” — come-up discomfort is expected with many substances
Interaction Warnings
what it isA table showing how this substance interacts with other substances, categorized by severity: dangerous, caution, or uncertain.
why it mattersDrug interactions are the most underestimated source of harm. Many combinations that seem safe individually become dangerous or fatal together. This is not optional reading — check interactions EVERY time.
how to read it–Dangerous (red) = risk of death or serious injury. These are hard contraindications. Do not combine.
–Caution (amber) = significantly increased risk of harm. The combination may be survivable but substantially increases the danger beyond either substance alone.
–Uncertain (yellow) = insufficient data to classify. This does NOT mean safe — it means we don’t know. Treat uncertain combinations with extreme caution.
–Interactions can be pharmacokinetic (one substance changes how another is metabolized) or pharmacodynamic (both substances amplify the same effect). The mechanism matters for understanding the risk.
–Medication interactions are included where known. SSRIs, MAOIs, lithium, and other psychiatric medications have critical interactions with many recreational substances.
common mistakes–Assuming “I’ve done both before separately, so combining them is fine”
–Ignoring prescription medication interactions (SSRI + MDMA = serotonin syndrome risk)
–Treating “uncertain” as “safe”
–Not checking interactions for supplements (e.g., St. John’s Wort is a CYP inducer and SSRI)
–Alcohol is a drug. Check its interactions like any other substance.
Toxicity & Dependence Panel
what it isA visual indicator showing the substance’s toxicity profile and dependence potential, drawn from clinical literature.
why it mattersToxicity is not the same as danger. A substance can have low acute toxicity but high addiction potential (e.g., nicotine) or vice versa. Understanding both dimensions gives you a complete risk picture.
how to read it–Acute toxicity = risk of immediate harm from a single use at common doses. This is affected by dose, ROA, individual physiology, and combinations.
–Chronic toxicity = risk of harm from repeated use over time. Some substances have minimal acute risk but cause cumulative organ damage.
–Dependence potential considers physical dependence (withdrawal symptoms on cessation) and psychological dependence (compulsive use despite negative consequences).
–These ratings are population-level generalizations. Your individual risk may be higher based on genetics, mental health, polydrug use, and route of administration.
common mistakes–Confusing “low toxicity” with “safe” — LSD has very low acute toxicity but can precipitate lasting psychological crises
–Ignoring dependence potential because physical withdrawal seems mild (psychological dependence can be equally devastating)
–Assuming your risk matches the population average if you have risk factors (family history, mental health conditions, polydrug use)
Confidence Levels
what it isAn indicator showing how confident Psychedex is in the data displayed, based on the quantity and quality of available evidence.
why it mattersNot all substance data is equally reliable. Well-studied substances like alcohol and cannabis have decades of clinical trials. Novel substances may only have case reports and user surveys. Knowing the confidence level helps you calibrate how much to trust the numbers.
how to read it–High confidence = multiple clinical studies, large sample sizes, well-replicated findings.
–Moderate confidence = some clinical data plus substantial community reporting. Most established recreational substances fall here.
–Low confidence = limited data. May rely on case reports, analogous substances, or small-sample studies. Treat dose ranges as approximate.
–Preliminary = very little data. Dose ranges may be extrapolated from related compounds. Exercise extreme caution.
–When confidence is low, widen your safety margins. If the “common” dose range is 50–100 mg with low confidence, treat 50 mg as your ceiling, not your target.
common mistakes–Treating all dose numbers as equally reliable regardless of confidence level
–Assuming that data for a well-studied analogue (e.g., amphetamine) transfers cleanly to a novel analogue (e.g., a new fluorinated amphetamine)
–Not checking the confidence indicator at all
When in doubt, err on the side of caution. Take less than you think you need. Wait longer than you think you should. Check interactions even if you\u2019ve combined before. The data on substance pages is a starting point for informed decision-making, not a guarantee of safety.
If you find incorrect or missing data on any substance page, Psychedex is built on community contributions. Flag issues or contribute corrections through the editorial system.