Is candy flipping double the fun or just a bad idea? 

Taking either MDMA or LSD by themselves can be a powerful experience. 

But what happens if you take both? What happens when you mix molly and acid? Welcome to the world of candy flipping.

In this article we're going to explore candy flipping and everything you need to know about the practice 

Quick Summary

Candy flipping is when you combine MDMA and LSD. Combining the two substances and getting the timing right lets you experience the high of both substances at the same time.

Candy flipping can potentially carry the benefits of both MDMA and LSD at once,  but it also carries the potential downsides of both the substances at once. And combining psychoactive drugs in and of itself carries some risk. 

Combining LSD and MDMA, is an advanced psychonaut practice and should be approached with caution and respect.

It should really only be attempted by those who already have extensive experience with both substances separately.

A candy flip should certainly not be your first psychedelic experience. 

What is candy flipping?

Candy flipping is when you use both MDMA and LSD together. Generally people try and time when you take the two substances so that you experience the peak highs of the two substances together. This requires staggering when you take them - taking MDMA and LSD together at the same time will not produce this effect. 

How did Candy Flipping start?

Candy flipping is slang that originated in the UK. Mixing molly and acid is not a new practice or trend - it's one of the oldest and most popular drug mixes or drug “flips” out there.

What does Candy Flipping feel like?

In theory, Candyflipping gives you the effects of both LSD and MDMA.

MDMA tends to produce its famous "love drug " entactogen effects, like intense feelings of euphoria, empathy and connectedness. 

LSD tends to produce more classic psychedelic effects, like hallucinations and introspection. 

Some say you get an experience that’s equal parts of the good effects of both substances. MDMA can level out some of the uncomfortable feelings of of anxiety and confusion that can come along with LSD. 

But some older research suggests that the combo results in intense MDMA-like experience.

Other say that sometimes MDMA can pull you into a deeper LSD trip, which can be good or bad. Given LSD is a powerful hallucinogenic drug it's entirely possible to have a negative experience, or a bad trip. And so layering in MDMA can exaggerate that.

Why do people practice candy flipping?

People who practice candy flipping want to experience the good effects of both LSD and MDMA at the same time or back to back. Here are some of candy flippings sought after effects:

• Intense feelings of euphoria.
• Feelings of love, empathy and intimacy.
• Feelings of connection and closeness to others.
• Deeper appreciation of sounds and music.
• Pleasant visual hallucinations.
• Intense laughter.
• Introspection and ability to confront your own emotions.
• Feelings of amazement as well as gratitude.
• Having a spiritual experience or awakening.

These effects can vary depending on the individual and the specifics of their candy flipping experience.

How do you time a candy flip?

Theres a lively debate about the timing of when you take each substance to get it right. 

It usually takes 1-1.5 hours to feel the peak effects of MDMA and about 2-3 hours to experience the peak effects of LSD.

The most consistent advice is to take the LSD first then wait for it to start coming on. Then you to take the MDMA somewhere between two and five hours later.

The preference around timing depends on a few things..

Some like to avoid coming down from the MDMA while still on LSD (which we all know can be unpleasant), and so they take their molly later in the trip to wind down from both substances at the same time. 

Others like to peak on both substances at the same time (which can be very intense), and so take their MDMA earlier in the journey (between 45 mins and two to three hours) or even simultaneously.

There’s no set rules for this though and some people do the opposite by taking MDMA first, then LSD. 

Some people like to feel the loved up molly feeling earlier to take away any anxiety from the acid come up. 

Another thing you could do is to feel the peak effects of one substance before switching to the other. You won’t experience the peak effects of MDMA and LSD at the same time like this but some people aren’t aiming for that.

How long does the candy flipping experience last?

Research on this combination is limited and anything that’s available is from the ’80s and ’90s when candyflipping became popular. 

MDMA experiences last anywhere between 3 to 6 hours. LSD trips last anywhere between 8 to 12 hours or maybe more. Combining MDMA and LSD by candy flipping will usually give you an experience that lasts about 12 hours or longer.  

So the whole candyflipping experience can last anywhere from 12 to 24 hours, and the come down period might last for a couple of days. 

Candy Flipping Dosage 

Starting low and going slow is always your safest bet. You can always take more later, but you can never take less. 

LSD: between 75 ug to 200 ug on the top end. 

MDMA: a dose of around 75-125mg is usually considered the average effective dose.The top end should really be around ~ 200mg. The dosage of MDMA in clinical trials is about 120 mg. 

Because the LSD seems to amplify the effects of the MDMA, its probably a good idea to go a bit lower on the MDMA dose than usual so avoid feeling overwhelmed. A dose of about 80mg of MDMA (not necessarily all at once) for most people (without tolerance and assuming average body weight) gives them the pleasurable effects of energy, euphoria and empathy, which outweigh the negative effects that become more common with bigger doses such as nausea, panic, paranoia, agitation and gurning. 

What affects your experience candy flipping?

Trying to predict what’s going to happen when you do candy flipping is difficult because of how unpredictable the effects of the two combined substances are. While the effects and experiences that come with taking MDMA are fairly predictable, the effects of LSD are not. 

Still, there are a few things you can do that can affect what happens when you try candy flipping. Here’s a few ways you can affect and manipulate your candy flipping experience: 

• Take MDMA or LSD first.
• Alter how long you wait in between doses of MDMA and LSD.
• Increase or decrease the amount of MDMA and LSD that you take.
• The way your environment looks and feels (setting). The things around you can affect what you see and feel when on a trip.
• How you feel before the experience and your mental preparation (your set)

Yes, your own individual biological as well as mental makeup will affect your candy flipping experience.

These factors affect your experience,  but you can’t really reliably control the outcome. You can just optimize towards a better potential outcome. 

Candy flipping experiences are going to vary wildly from person to person. In fact, candy flipping experiences can feel completely different each time it happens for the same person. While this is true for just LSD as well, the combination of MDMA and LSD makes things become even more unpredictable than they already were.

Does Candy Flipping have a comedown?

Both LSD and MDMA can have (unpleasant) comedowns.

So yes, Candly flipping can produce a “comedown” or “crash” after the effects of the drugs wear off. This can include feelings of depression, fatigue, irritability, and cognitive impairment.

The comedown from LSD usually lasts around 24 hours and can include feelings of depression, panic, and paranoia. Some people report having lingering comedown symptoms for days and even months after.

The comedown from MDMA can be a bit rougher. The term “Suicide Tuesday” is sometimes used to refer to the day after taking MDMA, when people can experience a particularly severe comedown.

Taking LSD and MDMA together can result in more intense comedown effects. 

Most people report a comedown when candy flipping. It's difficult to avoid. Some tips to minimize are: 

• Stay hydrated
• Don't stay up too late / get sleep
• Take neuroprotective supplements

Be mindful that supplements help, but they are not a license to be careless. If you go overboard with Candy Flipping or do it too frequently, no supplementation schedule will stop the crash. 

Candy Flipping Experiences

You can read about peoples experiences with MDMA over at Erowid. Here's a small selection: 

"It's unquestionably best to let the acid come on fully before even thinking about the MDMA -- I recommend no less than 2 hours. If you can wait 3-5, it'll be even better. For me, it seems to usually fall between the 3rd and 4th hour that I take 60-80mg of MDMA (100mg is a heavy initial dose for *me*). I think taking a slightly lower initial dose than your usual and then boosting works best, but find what works for you.

Once you take the MDMA, immediately start working on changing your set and setting. I think doing so is important as it creates a transitional sensation that contributes to the result. Change clothes, move furniture (make a nest!), change locales (given a safe method of transportation), play with different musical genres, alter the lighting, and/or anything you can think of. It is *strongly* recommended that the space you choose/create should be one where you feel totally and utterly comfortable and can both move around a bit and wallow in luxurious cush. By the time the MDMA kicks in (45-75 minutes), your transition to a new setting should be about complete.

This is where the bliss comes in. You'll probably get some amphetamine kick out of the MDMA (hence the area to move around in), but in *every* case I've experienced or witnessed (over 200 now) the normal energy boost from the MDMA is seriously diminished both in duration and intensity. My theory is that the body has already given nearly its all to the LSD and just doesn't have that much more to give to the amph side of the e. Whether that theory holds or not is somewhat moot, as the results are invariably the same. The space you will find yourself in at that point is one of sultry B L I S S. With a body of jello, gentle caresses or massage, lying around in a pile of soft pillows and blankets, or talking quietly with a friend -- all border on the heavenly. The feeling is far more sensual than sexual, but sex in that state is awefully incredible too. The clarity of thought and the tactile enhancement are unprecedented. To extend the experience, boost with approximately half the initial dose of MDMA somewhere one to two hours after the first. Without the boost, expect 3-5+ hours in this wonderfully beautiful space before drifting off into sleep or some personal space.

Another positive note of this combination and timing is the minimized body load the day after. The MDMA seems to eliminate much of that groggy, slightly out of sync feeling that LSD commonly leaves people with the following day. It does not, however, seem to have any impact on the '48th hour' depression/ anxiety/mental imbalance that many people experience after MDMA."

"At this point things were really glowing visually -- way beyond any acid trip I have ever had. I don't want to say 'cartoons' because that is such a cliche, and it was more than that, but there really is no way to describe verbally the difference between a normal acid trip visuals and the candyflip visuals I was experiencing. I remember seeing this tree that was lit up by lights and blowing in the wind and being mesmerized by it. Then we were put in a white van and driven to the parking lot and threatened with jail if we tried to get in again. At this point I was tripping very hard. I was starting to lose my grip on reality for sure. After this things become disjointed in my memory. I know at some point I lost my friends (who had not taken as much substance as I had). They say I rushed off by myself and lost them in the labyrinth of the parking lot (the lot was filled with people hanging out and doing things. It was like its own little rave unto itself). The last interaction with others I remember from that night was playing drums with some people in a jam and really playing on a level that I had never done before. I am not a drummer, but I do play guitar and drum along to trance music when I take X. But this time was crazy, it was like I was in my body and someone else was moving my arms. It felt like I was possessed or something (in the morning my hands hurt and were swollen)."

"We arrived at Lulu’s room and it was the most beautiful room I had ever seen. Lulu had lots of plants which intrigued me and were very pretty to look at, the room had an overall pleasant aesthetic and was charmingly decorated. I felt tremendously happy for my friend Lulu living here and I expressed my gratitude to him for showing me this room multiple times. The state I was in was truly indescribable and I was overwhelmed by it. I was so appalled by how much I enjoyed merely existing in this space that I decided to smoke the big ass joint I had rolled earlier in the day. This was no doubt one of the best joints I had ever smoked, and I shared it with my good friend Elsas. I was extremely grateful for everything and everyone. Just the four of us in this room, a whole night ahead of us, me and Elsas smoking a joint, Lulu and Malchior coming up on MDMA as well and dancing. I could not have asked for anything more in that moment. But it wasn’t all “rose-scent and moonshine”, as they say in Dutch."

How can you minimize the possibility of a bad candy flip trip?

In reading through the reports on sites like Erowid, the most common word people use in regards to candy flipping is “amazing”, implying a kind of “the best of both worlds” with this combo. 

That’s not to say everyone has a good time. There are plenty of negative reports. Mostly around people feeling overwhelmed or because they took too high of doses,  or took the substances too close together. 

Here are some tips on how you can minimize the risk of a bad trip when you candy flip: 

• Make sure that the LSD you use is genuine LSD and not a mixture of substances or something else entirely. 
• Test your LSD with a testing kit to ensure the purity of your LSD.
• If your LSD is bitter and/or metallic tasting when you take it, spit it out. It’s most likely contaminated.
• Make sure you mentally prepare yourself for the emotional rollercoaster of a stronger trip.
• Only try candy flipping when you’re rested, in a good headspace and have no lingering feelings of sadness or stress. 
• Make sure you have people you trust around you while you candy flip in case anything goes wrong and you need help. 
• Make sure you avoid candy flipping or using LSD if you have serious mental health issues like schizophrenia. 
• Make sure you are in a comfortable location IE the setting should be safe and feel good. 

Are there risks with Candy Flipping?

Yes , both drugs come with potential risks and so combining them combines those risks. 

First off, taking LSD and MDMA together can result in more intense comedown effects, such as: insomnia, anxiety, low mood, decreased appetite, irritability and aggression. 

Candyflipping seems to increase the potency of MDMA, which increases your risk of experiencing negative and potentially dangerous effects.

The two main ones being:

Having a bad trip  - which is always a risk when it comes to taking LSD. Adding MDMA into the equation can make the experience more intense and longer-lasting.

Hydration issues -  LSD can enhance the effects of MDMA, which can increase your risk of dehydration and heatstroke, both of which have been linked to most MDMA-related deaths. To avoid this, you’ll need to stay hydrated.  However, water intoxication is another risk with MDMA. This happens when you drink too much water too quickly.

How can you reduce the risks of candy flipping?

You can help minimize the risk of candy flipping by following some of the advice below: 

• As above, test both your MDMA and LSD to ensure that they’re both actually the substances you want as well as that they’re both pure, without contaminants. 
• Make sure you avoid candy flipping if you’re on medication that will interact negatively with MDMA or LSD. For example, antidepressants potentially don’t mix well with MDMA.
• If you have a heart condition, avoid candy flipping since it can increase your heart rate and blood pressure.
• Really If you have any serious underlying medical condition, avoid candy flipping. 
• Prepare for the risk of seizures, hyperthermia and heat stroke by having someone you trust monitor you as well as keep you cool.
• Stay appropriately hydrated because candy flipping can cause dehydration 
• Remember that overhydration is also a potential problem.
• Make sure you’re in a safe place with people who can make sure you don’t get hurt.

Are there other kinds of substance flipping out there?

Yes. There’s hippie flipping (mushrooms and MDMA), kitty flipping, nexus flipping as well as other less popular types of flipping.

Final Thoughts

Mixing LSD and MDMA can enhance the effects — both positive and negative. 

Reports suggest it can be incredible, but also overwhelming. 

Taking MDMA and LSD by themselves already requires quite a bit of care and preparation. Taking them both together requires even more. 

The only way to know your preference is to start low. Be cautious, especially the first time you try a new combination. It’s always worth starting slow and low then making adjustments. 

Make sure you’re in a safe place with people you trust who can help you out if you need it.