LSD, MDMA & 2C-B in Combination: Discover the Ali Flip

We are currently in the midst of a psychedelic renaissance. Clinical trials are increasing, society is growing more tolerant, and psychedelics are on the verge of being brought into regular psychotherapeutic use.

Firstly, let us introduce LSD, MDMA, and 2C-B, molecules regaining attention. Each has its specific history of invention, impact,  and therapeutic potential. Though common in certain cultural and social movements, they remain underexplored compared to mainstream drugs and medical treatments. 

In the first part of the article, we will address each one of the molecules, and then switch on to the most intriguing part: their various combinations, with different timings and dosages. This section is somewhat informed by Dr. Fiederike Meckel Fischer’s work, as she even used this particular combination (the Ali Flip as we call it) and discussed it in her book Therapy with Substance: Psycholytic Psychotherapy in the Twenty-First Century.

Dr. Friederike Meckel Fischer trained as a psychotherapist after studying to be a medical doctor in Germany. She trained with Stanislav Grof (a pioneer of psychedelic therapy) as a facilitator of Holotropic Breathing and in psychedelic psychotherapy in Switzerland in the early 90s. Later, she began incorporating psychedelics and empathogens into her psychotherapy practice and even combining them.

LSD

Whether the intention is for a general inquiry or to discover a particular solution, LSD is a great tool for navigation, exploration of the mind, and even problem-solving.

MDMA

This is because MDMA reduces the amygdala’s activity and increases the communication between the amygdala and the hippocampus. The amygdala area of the brain is linked with fear, and is an important part in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 

2C-B

According to Dr. Fischer, 2C-B is best suited for dealing with resistance or psychosomatic issues, and it possesses a wavelike action (at one moment you feel sober and at another you feel really high, like the motion of waves in the ocean), the head space is clear, and being present and refocusing is smoother and easier than with acid.

Dosing Considerations

For MDMA, a typical dose would range from 80 to 150 mg, but a slight variation can make all the difference. Be careful, as modern ecstasy pills are generally overdosed and may contain other molecules than MDMA. I personally prefer other empathogens like 5-MAPB & 6-APB.

The typical dose of 2C-B is between 10 mg and 25 mg. It must be noted that shortly after its discovery, 2C-B was marketed as an aphrodisiac by a German pharmaceutical company in 5 mg dosages under the brand name "Erox".

For James Fadiman, a standard dose of LSD would be 150 μg to 400 μg. Perhaps this sounds like a lot, but that was standard in the psychedelic research era of the 20th century: scientists could administer up to 600 μg to a patient in a white room, strapped to a bed, harassing him with questions.

Dr. Fischer, for her part, uses doses from 50 μg to 250 μg, using 250 μg as the maximum dose one can give to an experienced patient of the molecule, and she considers 50 μg as the best dose to use for a first session.

“To dose, you have to take as much as you need, as little as possible, and realize that results are mainly reflective of the state of mind and intentions set, prior to the therapeutic session.” 

The first drug combination experiments date back to the 1950s. Today, combining is fairly common, with the majority of trip reports on Erowid involving more than one substance. Dr. Fischer learned how to safely combine them during her training in Switzerland.

LSD + MDMA = Candy Flip

The synergy between the two substances is particularly fascinating: the almost « over the top » sweetness of MDMA is mellowed, while the sharp and overwhelming edge of LSD is softened. Additionally, the combined experience tends to last longer, a welcome feature, given that the MDMA “roll” on its own is relatively brief. 

The best timing is when LSD is taken 4 hours before the ingestion of MDMA.

As MDMA is taken at the peak of the LSD experience, it introduces a second wave, a new rise that can feel completely distinct from the initial come-up phase.

This is the moment where the two molecules begin to interact, the experiencer is invited to become quiet and rest, supported by a well chosen music playlist, and braces herself with courage to let go completely, as this precise timing can open the door to a deeper or more personal experience – one that might otherwise (with LSD alone) feel too overwhelming.

In this dynamic, LSD remains the central force, the protagonist of our journey, and the MDMA plays a more neutral, supportive role, opening the heart to the profound emotional states the trip can evoke. This combination makes the psychedelic experience feel more grounded and emotionally safe, as well as memorable. Letting go is easier, with less fear and resistance, and the insights gained are more likely to be integrated smoothly into the user's daily life.

2C-B + MDMA = Nexus Flip

Alexander Shulgin states that "the best time for 2C-B is at or shortly before the last MDMA base recovery". He noted that "it's as if mental and emotional discoveries can be mobilized and something done about them" and that this combination has "many enthusiastic advocates in the world of psychotherapy".

2C-B and MDMA have antagonistic effects, so the optimal timing is to take 2C-B toward the end of the MDMA plateau – approximately 2/2.5 hours after the initial MDMA dose.

While the 2C-B’s effect is short but intense, MDMA effectively prepares the mind and the body for the ensuing psychedelic experience. MDMA's empathogenic properties allow one to endure difficult, hurtful, or stressful moments without feeling negative emotional fallout. Also, 2C-B helps smooth and greatly reduce the MDMA comedown, enabling the participant to emerge from the experience feeling refreshed and clear-headed.

LSD & 2C-B

My preferred approach is to wait until LSD reaches its plateau before taking 2C-B. This timing often triggers a second rise in the experience, opening a new horizon, one enriched by 2C-B’s bubbly, vibrant visuals combined with the geometric patterns and sharpness characteristic of LSD.  

The topic of combining substances is broad. The most common substance combined with psychedelics is usually cannabis.

But countless other combinations (or flips) exist and can emerge. Before attempting any drug combination, it is crucial to assess any potential physical and mental risks (interactions) and to understand what effects to expect in order to practice effective harm reduction. 

In the case of the combinations we’re discussing, similar effects can often be achieved using derivatives or analogues of the molecules we are working with.

For example, LSD can be substituted with other lysergamides such as 1V-LSD, ALD-52, or ETH-LAD. A friend of mine who struggles with LSD used AL-LAD in their Candy Flip rather than acid. Because AL-LAD has a shorter duration and a gentler profile, she was able to work through her traumas with greater ease than with LSD.

MDMA can also be replaced by substances with similar serotonergic action, including 6-APB, 5-MAPB, or MDA. For instance, 5-MAPB is more sedating and lasts longer than MDMA, making it interesting for flips, especially in therapeutic contexts.

2C-B belongs to a broader family of compounds known as the 2C-x family, which also includes substances like 2C-C and 2C-D. These molecules share similarities but also bring unique nuances to the psychedelic experience. 

Take 2C-C, for example. It is often considered a softer, more relaxed variant of 2C-B. Unlike 2C-B’s sharper intensity and vividness, 2C-C tends to create a gentler, more 'stoned' or relaxed state. Its mental and sensory effects are often described as ethereal, dream-like, and introspective, making it a preferred choice for those seeking a less energetic yet deeply immersive journey.

For individuals searching for a more mellow psychedelic trip, 2C-C offers a balanced experience. Its effects encourage reflection, creativity, and calmness, making it well-suited for both therapeutic and recreational contexts. By adding this soothing quality to a combination, 2C-C can help make the psychedelic experience feel more spacious, less overwhelming, and more prone to inner exploration or emotional processing.

“The trip that affected me the most was a mix of 1P-LSD and 6-APB, which is a form of Candy Flip, and the 7 hour duration of 6-APB compared to 3.5 hours for MDMA meant that I felt the molecule's "empathogenic accompaniment" for virtually the entire length of my lysergic experience.” 

One of the most relevant differences between these two blends is their duration: a Nexus Flip typically lasts around 7 to 8 hours, whereas a Candy Flip remains effective for 12 to 14 hours.

Both combinations share a common element, the empathogen, which plays a crucial role, uniquely facilitating the use of psychedelics by counteracting the fear that ego dissolution can provoke.

In a classic Candy Flip (where LSD is taken first, followed by MDMA), the empathogen’s effect is experienced once the psychedelic effects are already underway. This leads to a significant shift in how the trip unfolds and is perceived, often transforming it into a mystical, spiritual experience. 

Conversely, with a Nexus Flip, the effects develop more gradually and blend. Here, 2C-B is taken after MDMA and helps counter the MDMA comedown. Both substances possess empathogenic properties that, when combined, multiply and create a unique and blissful state.

While both combinations can be used recreationally, their therapeutic potential is significant. They offer an immense opportunity to connect with, heal, and reconcile with our inner child, as well as to experience awakening, ecstasy, non-duality, and ego-death (ego dissolution).

As with any powerful tool, each of these combinations carries its own drawbacks. The Candy Flip can lead to a confusing, disorienting double comedown, while the Nexus Flip, though softer and more approachable, may leave a sense of incompleteness and longing, as if deeper inner psychic material remains untouched. 

This is precisely where the Ali Flip comes in.

Throughout this article, we’ve explored three cornerstone molecules of modern psychonauts – LSD, MDMA, and 2C-B – and their powerful combos: the Candy Flip (LSD + MDMA) and the Nexus Flip (MDMA + 2C-B). We’ve seen how each of these compounds, even on their own, offers a distinct gateway into expanded and altered states of consciousness. When combined, they create synergistic experiences that can be both transformational and therapeutic.

The fusion of the two flips has long captured my interest and constitutes the centerpiece of my psychedelic research: the “Ali Flip”, also on Wikipedia's list of drug combinations. The idea is that an Ali Flip is a combination of LSD, MDMA & 2C-B, or similar analogues, during a single orchestrated journey. 

In a Candy Flip, coming down from LSD and MDMA feels like a rough trip back to the shore. Taking a low dose of 2C-B seems to completely ease the journey, like a gentle current guiding you back to the beach. It feels like an ultimate bow – a final dance, wrapping up with grace and meaning, leaving you open and ready for what's next.

In a Nexus Flip, the experience can stay too superficial. Reaching the core of ourselves may be enabled by the addition of LSD, which offers a deeper, wiser, and prolonged experience.

The Ali Flip is, in essence, the ultimate triad, the sacred three: LSD → MDMA → 2C-B, perfectly timed apart to maximize their effects.

By layering these three, we get:

Deep Dive (LSD at h+0): 

Your journey begins as LSD loosens the usual filters of awareness: memories, archetypal symbols, and buried thought-patterns emerge like currents flowing from the roots of your psyche. The museum of consciousness opens its doors, inviting you on a wild dive inward. 

As the peak stabilizes, you’ve delved deep enough into the darkness, and it’s time to shine a light on these unknown territories.

Emotional Liberation (MDMA at h+4): 

When the acid plateau settles, MDMA floods in, soothing fear centers and enabling you to engage with even the most negative material with a loving awareness.

Neurochemically, it quiets the amygdala’s alarm center and strengthens connections with the hippocampus, creating a safe container for vulnerable feelings and raw emotion. 

Here, you can revisit past traumas or self-doubts and conflicts with empathy (imagine comforting your younger self or softly affirming your worth to yourself). With a trusted guide present, gentle eye contact and support deepen the empathy, turning raw material into nourishing insight.

Transcendental Arc (2C-B at H+6):

Finally, a carefully measured dose of 2C-B extends the empathogenic and psychedelic effect, deepening the journey over time. 

As the 2C-B rises on top of an already profound altered state of consciousness, you enter a second ascent where the gates to ego dissolution open. 

In this space of trust, warmth, and depth – nestled in the heart of your Ali Flip – you can experience an even deeper ego dissolution than during the initial LSD come-up. 

Thanks to 2C-B’s ability to enhance interconnectivity across the brain's networks, complete ego death becomes a reachable state.

Over the last years, I have recorded many videos and interviewed various psychonauts who have experienced this unique mix.  Most of this content is recorded in French, which is why I wanted to write something accessible for the international community. It’s been nearly a decade since I first discovered the Ali Flip, and I am still testing and playing with it, exploring its depths and potential. I truly believe this combination will one day have a special place in the world of psychedelics.

Think of it like cooking: while individual ingredients can be great on their own, certain recipes that blend multiple flavors create something uniquely tasty and original. I am certain the Ali Flip has the potential to be a key for anyone, from psychotherapeutic healing purposes to pure exploration or the search for truth. I feel glad people around the world are starting to dive into this particular mix!

For those interested, I highly recommend this video: “Candy Flipping Optimized: Why LSD + MDMA Points to Blissful Nondual Awareness and How to Maximize It” where Andrés Gómez Emilsson from Stanford explains why adding 2C-B completes the ultimate Candy Flip experience for reaching Enlightenment. With this combination, you navigate through several evolutions and revolutions of state of mind, and experience various plateaus of awareness, all in a single journey.

Before diving into the Ali Flip, it's crucial to have a solid base of psychedelic exploration. Psychedelics demand real respect, and when it comes to combining substances, that respect is non-negotiable. 

So, for those curious about mixing substances: 

First, familiarize yourself with each compound individually (in this case, LSD, MDMA, and 2C-B ). Ideally, experiment with their duos first (Nexus Flip and Candy Flip) so you can understand how your mind and body react and how the substances interact. Each compound has its own rhythm, energy, and psychological effects. Learning them in isolation and in pairs provides vital insights.

Keep in mind: this combination is extremely potent. The synergy between the molecules is explosive and exponential. Even if you are experienced with high doses of LSD, you should definitely lower your usual dosage when combining. In the world of psychedelic combinations, the general rule is that 1 + 1 = 3.

In my experience, an Ali Flip is exceptionally long, often lasting over 16 hours. But, there is a “second wind” phase where you regain your energy, and the integration process begins with a surprising clarity and peace of mind.

Compared to the Candy Flip, in which the comedown can feel jarring and emotionally rough, the Ali Flip descent feels smoother, lighter, and more fruitful in terms of post-trip integration.

The therapeutic potential is enormous: the lysergic brings the depths, the unconscious material, and the archetypes. The empathogen softens edges with love, emotional openness, and trust. The 2C-B gently lifts and extends the insight, offering some time to explore these parts of your soul/psyche that were trapped within, allowing you to fully embrace them. This weaves beauty and wonder through the final hours.

It's like turning a melody into a symphony, and with the proper preparation, it can offer profound healing and growth (to integrate over the following months).

I recently participated in a podcast with Tyler Saucier from the “Find the Others” Youtube channel, where we had an in-depth conversation, in English, about the Ali Flip. If you’re curious and want to explore the topic further, the discussion starts here at 1:19:00. 

If Albert Hoffman called LSD his “Problem Child,” I have a strong intuition that the Ali Flip may be part of the solution. Since this combination is my baby, I’ll do everything I can to help it grow and gain attention. I genuinely wish that one day the Ali Flip finds its full blossoming, and that humanity will be able to enjoy the scent of this flower.

This article opens up a lot of questions: 

• How might Ali Flips be used for awakening and as a tool to facilitate transcendental experiences like ego death or even deeper forms of inner exploration?
• Are there other currently unknown combinations with similarly profound potential?
• Could the use of substance combinations revolutionize clinical approaches to trauma, psychiatric conditions, and mental health disorders?

Trip safe, and may our souls continue blossoming in eternal bliss.

Nuit | Blogueur communautaire chez Chemical Collective | youtube.com/c/nuit

Nuit est l’un des blogueurs de notre communauté ici chez Chemical Collective. Si vous souhaitez rejoindre notre équipe de blogueurs et être payé pour écrire sur des sujets qui vous passionnent, veuillez contacter Sam par e-mail à [email protected]