Frontiers in Psychiatry
January 21, 2020
Juan José Fuentes, Francina Fonseca, Matilde Elices et al.
176 citations
A systematic review of controlled and randomized clinical trials evaluated the therapeutic potential of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) in psychiatry. Following PRISMA guidelines, 11 randomized-controlled trials involving 567 patients who received LSD doses from 20 to 800 mcg were identified. Despite heterogeneous study designs, positive results emerged, particularly for reducing psychiatric symptoms in alcoholism. Many authors reported significant short-term improvements, though some studies found long-term outcomes homogenized between LSD and control groups. The evidence is strongest for LSD's use in treating alcoholism, but the review notes that most older studies did not meet contemporary standards and that new, properly designed double-blind trials are needed.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
June 1, 2017
Álvaro José Palma-Conesa, Mireia Ventura, Liliana Galindo et al.
65 citations
New psychoactive tryptamines, which mimic the effects of regulated hallucinogens, pose a potential public health risk. Analysis of 25,296 samples submitted to a harm-reduction organization from 2006 to 2015 identified 436 tryptamines, of which 232 (53.21%) were not regulated. The most common unregulated tryptamine was 4-AcO-DMT, for which no human studies exist. Unregulated tryptamines were more likely to contain a single unadulterated substance. The number of tryptamine samples increased over time, and there were significant differences between client expectations and actual analysis results for regulated versus unregulated groups. Further research is needed to address health risks.
Frontiers in Pharmacology
March 13, 2018
Esther Papaseit, Marta Torrens, Mireia Ventura et al.
61 citations
2C-B, a psychedelic similar to mescaline, acts on serotonin receptors and produces mild psychedelic and stimulant-like effects. In an observational study, 16 healthy experienced users took 10–20 mg orally. The drug increased blood pressure and heart rate, elevated scores on scales for euphoria, liking, and stimulation, and altered perceptions of distances, colors, shapes, and lights. Five participants reported mild hallucinations. Peak 2C-B levels in saliva occurred at 1 hour, and peak cortisol at 3 hours. The effects resemble those of other serotonin-acting drugs.
BioMed Research International
January 1, 2015
Débora González, Marta Torrens, Magı́ Farré
44 citations
A single 20 mg dose of 2C-B in healthy recreational users produced positive subjective effects, including euphoria and well-being, along with reduced anger. However, it increased reactivity to negative emotional stimuli and impaired recognition of happy facial expressions. Speech became more emotional, noticeable to others. Mild increases in blood pressure and heart rate occurred. The authors conclude that 2C-B's emotional profile fits an entactogen with psychedelic properties.
Human psychopharmacology
July 1, 2013
Débora González, Mireia Ventura, Fernando Caudevilla et al.
39 citations
A survey of 230 research chemical users in Spain found that hallucinogenic phenethylamines like 2C-B and 2C-I, along with cathinones such as methylone and mephedrone, were the most commonly used substances. Cannabis was the most frequent drug combined with research chemicals, followed by 2C-B with MDMA. Users who consulted online forums used more research chemicals, obtained them via the Internet, and more often employed risk-reduction strategies. In this forum-consulting group, all sought information before use, 72.3% used precision scales for dosing, and 68.8% analyzed contents before consumption. The findings indicate a distinct user profile characterized by extensive knowledge and proactive risk-reduction behaviors.
Expert Opinion on Drug Metabolism & Toxicology
March 31, 2020
Esther Papaseit, Clara Pérez‐mañá, Marta Torrens et al.
34 citations
MDMA (ecstasy) is a widely used recreational stimulant. Users often combine it with other drugs to enhance effects, reduce toxicity, or manage comedowns, which increases the risk of severe toxicity. This review covers known interactions between MDMA and other pharmaceuticals or drugs of abuse, offering clinical recommendations. The authors note that few published studies exist and documented clinically significant interactions are scarce. Experimental evidence shows that interactions are especially relevant when MDMA is taken with drugs metabolized by the CYP2D6 enzyme, due to MDMA's inhibitory effect, and during repeated MDMA use.
Frontiers in Pharmacology
January 28, 2020
Esther Papaseit, Clara Pérez-mañá, Elizabeth B. de Sousa Fernandes Perna et al.
27 citations
Combining mephedrone with alcohol amplifies cardiovascular effects and intensifies euphoria and well-being compared to either drug alone, while mephedrone reduces the sedative effects of alcohol. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with 11 male volunteers, the combination increased blood pressure, heart rate, and subjective feelings of euphoria. Mephedrone alone and alcohol alone were also tested. The results suggest that the abuse liability of mephedrone is greater when taken with alcohol, similar to other psychostimulants like amphetamines and MDMA.
Frontiers in Pharmacology
February 17, 2023
Lourdes Poyatos, Clara Pérez‐mañá, Olga Hladun et al.
26 citations
Methylone, a common synthetic cathinone used as a substitute for MDMA, produces similar acute effects in humans. In a controlled trial with 17 experienced psychostimulant users, a single 200 mg oral dose of methylone increased blood pressure and heart rate and induced pleasurable effects including stimulation, euphoria, wellbeing, enhanced empathy, and altered perception. Methylone's effect profile resembled MDMA's but with a faster onset and earlier disappearance of subjective effects. The findings suggest methylone's abuse potential is comparable to that of MDMA in humans.
Frontiers in Pharmacology
March 18, 2020
Esther Papaseit, Marta Torrens, Mireia Ventura et al.
20 citations
2C-E, a psychedelic phenylethylamine similar to mescaline, acts as a partial agonist at serotonin 2A, 2B, and 2C receptors and inhibits norepinephrine and serotonin uptake. In an observational study, ten recreational psychedelic users self-administered single oral doses of 2C-E (6.5–25 mg). The drug induced alterations in perception, hallucinations, and euphoric mood, with saliva concentrations peaking 2 hours after administration. The effects resembled those of 2C-B and other serotonin-acting drugs.
Expert Opinion on Drug Metabolism & Toxicology
January 5, 2018
Esther Papaseit, Marta Torrens, Clara Pérez‐mañá et al.
20 citations
MDMA (ecstasy) produces amphetamine-like euphoria and well-being, increases empathy, and induces pro-social effects that drive recreational use and suggest therapeutic potential. This review examines interindividual differences in MDMA's pharmacodynamics, focusing on sex-gender, race-ethnicity, genetic differences, interactions, acute toxicity, and therapeutic use. Acute MDMA effects are more pronounced in women than men. Very limited data exist on race-ethnicity effects. MDMA metabolism involves polymorphic enzymes that slightly alter plasma concentrations and effects. The small number of subjects in acute-effect trials limits evaluation of interindividual factors and prevents clear conclusions about their influence, which should be considered in therapeutic studies.
Therapeutic advances in drug safety
January 1, 2025
Carlos Roncero, Milton Merizalde-Torres, Néstor Szerman et al.
11 citations
Intranasal esketamine, approved in 2019 for treatment-resistant depression, effectively alleviates depressive symptoms with benefits lasting nearly 4.5 years. Long-term clinical studies, case reports, and subsamples of high-risk populations with substance use or alcohol use disorder have not documented abuse, misuse, addiction, or withdrawal. Esketamine is safe and well tolerated without fostering new-onset substance use. Real-world studies report no adverse events from pharmacological interactions and no new-onset drug or alcohol misuse, craving, misuse, or diversion. Only one case report of esketamine craving exists (2022). No illicit acquisition or tampering was found. The review confirms esketamine's safety and the scarcity of abuse or misuse reports.
European Psychiatry
April 1, 2017
Amira Trabsa, E. Monteagudo, D.d. Mariona et al.
2 citations
Among 8324 drug samples submitted to a Spanish harm-reduction organization between 2014 and 2015, nine were gummy formulations—a novel delivery form for psychoactive substances. Analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry showed that 55.5% of these gummies contained multiple drugs. The most common substance was 25N-NBOMe, found in 66.7% of samples; other detected substances included 2C-E, 2C-D, allylescaline, cocaine, THC, ketamine, MDMA, and caffeine. Only 25N-NBOMe was present in an active dosage. Two-thirds of the gummies did not contain the substance the consumer expected, indicating risks of unintended effects.
European Psychiatry
March 1, 2016
Á. Palma Conesa, L. Galindo Guarín, M. Grifell Guàrdia et al.
From 2009 to 2014, a Spanish harm reduction service analyzed over 17,000 drug samples and found the new psychoactive tryptamines 4-HO-DiPT and 4-AcO-DiPT in 16 samples each, and DiPT in only 4. Nine samples contained both 4-HO-DiPT and 4-AcO-DiPT. Deliveries of 4-HO-DiPT increased over the study period (4 samples in 2014), while those of 4-AcO-DiPT and DiPT decreased (1 sample each in 2014). This trend suggests a progressive replacement of 4-AcO-DiPT and DiPT by 4-HO-DiPT for recreational use. Clinical concern arises from the growing use and lack of scientific evidence on humans, with effects predicted only from users' subjective experiences.