A Modern Overview of the Potential Therapeutic Effects of Psilocybin in the Treatment of Depressive Disorders, Treatment-Resistant Depression, and End-of-Life Distress
Cureus – March 17, 2025
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, shows significant promise as a Medicine. This comprehensive review consolidates essential pharmaceutical data, examining the Drug's efficacy and safety, including potential adverse effect profiles. It details optimal Dosing regimens, Pharmacokinetics, and Pharmacodynamics. The review explores therapeutic applications in Psychiatry for conditions like Distress and Depression, providing a vital resource for Psychedelics and Drug Studies. It covers chemical synthesis and alkaloids, alongside the Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior, guiding future Pharmacology and Intensive care medicine applications.
Abstract
The purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the current findings and data on the therapeutic effects of psilocybin, a naturally occurring psychedelic alkaloid primarily found in Psilocybe mushrooms. This review covers psilocybin's efficacy and safety profile, therapeutic effects, proposed indications and contraindications, drug-drug interactions, adverse reactions, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and dosing regimens as treatment guidelines. The goal is to offer a consolidated resource containing the essential pharmaceutical information on psilocybin currently available.