Psilocybin Therapy of Psychiatric Disorders Is Not Hampered by hERG Potassium Channel–Mediated Cardiotoxicity
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology – December 03, 2021
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
Promising hallucinogen psilocybin, used in medicine for psychology, poses less cardiac risk than previously thought. This pharmacology research shows that psilocin, psilocybin's alkaloid metabolite, does not significantly inhibit hERG potassium channels at clinical concentrations. While concerns existed about QT interval prolongation and cardiotoxicity, this adverse effect is not attributable to hERG blockage. This finding is vital for drug studies on psychedelics like MDMA and mescaline, ensuring safe exploration of their neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior.
Abstract
Abstract Psilocybin, a hallucinogen contained in “magic” mushrooms, holds great promise for the treatment of various psychiatric disorders, and early clinical trials are encouraging. Adverse cardiac events after intake of high doses of psilocybin and a trial reporting QT interval prolongation in the electrocardiogram attributed to the drug’s main metabolite, psilocin, gave rise to safety concerns. Here we show that clinical concentrations of psilocin do not cause significant human ether-a-go-go-related gene (hERG) potassium channel inhibition, a major risk factor for adverse cardiac events. We conclude that hERG channel blockage by psilocin is not liable for psilocybin- associated cardiotoxic effects.