Intravenous psilocybin attenuates mechanical hypersensitivity in a rat model of chronic pain
Current Biology – December 01, 2023
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
A single dose of the hallucinogen Psilocybin could offer prolonged pain relief. While this chemical synthesis and alkaloid is known for its impact on refractory depression and other forms of depression, its effect on chronic pain was unclear. In a rat model, a single intravenous administration of this psychedelic significantly attenuated mechanical hypersensitivity for an impressive 28 days. This finding opens new avenues in Biology, Pharmacology, and Neuroscience, suggesting how Psilocybin's Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior might extend to long-term pain management, advancing Psychedelics and Drug Studies.
Abstract
There is a renewed interest in psychedelic drugs as potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of psychiatric disorders. In particular, psilocybin has shown promise for the treatment of refractory depression1 and major depressive disorder2, and has also been explored as a treatment for tobacco and alcohol abuse3,4. However, despite suggestive evidence5,6, there has been no systematic study to investigate the effectiveness of psilocybin in attenuating indices of chronic pain. To address this gap, we investigated the effect of psilocybin on mechanical hypersensitivity and thermal hyperalgesia in a well-established rat model of formalin-induced, centralized chronic pain7,8 and demonstrate that a single intravenous bolus administration of psilocybin can attenuate mechanical hypersensitivity for 28 days.