Therapeutic use of psilocybin: Practical considerations for dosing and administration

Summary

The growing use of psilocybin as medicine highlights a critical need for health professionals. This article provides essential guidance for health care, focusing on patient safety in psilocybin-assisted psychology. It details pharmacology, including neurotransmitter receptor influence, optimal dosing strategies, and managing potential adverse effects of this hallucinogen. The aim is to equip psychotherapists and psychiatry specialists with knowledge for safe administration. This overview is crucial for broader drug studies, covering chemical synthesis and alkaloids, ensuring responsible use of psychedelics across diverse fields like intensive care medicine.

Abstract

The interest in psilocybin as a therapeutic approach has grown exponentially in recent years. Despite increasing access, there remains a lack of practical guidance on the topic for health care professionals. This is particularly concerning given the medical complexity and vulnerable nature of patients for whom psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy may be considered. This article aims to provide health care professionals with an overview of practical considerations for psilocybin therapy, rooted in a patient safety focus. Within this piece we will review basic psilocybin pharmacology and pharmacokinetics, indications, practical therapeutic strategies (e.g., dosing, administration, monitoring) and safety considerations (e.g., contraindications, adverse events, and drug interactions). With this information, our goal is to increase the knowledge and comfort of health care professionals to discuss and counsel their patients on psilocybin therapy, ultimately improving patient care and safety.

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