Are the LSD-analogs lisuride and ergotamine examples of non-hallucinogenic serotonin 5-HT2A receptor agonists?
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) May 5, 2025 Jan Kehler, Morten Skøtt Thomsen Lindskov 3 citations
A review of the literature on 5-HT2A receptor agonists, including psychedelics like LSD and the supposedly non-hallucinogenic compounds lisuride and ergotamine, finds no evidence that lisuride or ergotamine are non-hallucinogenic at relevant brain concentrations. This challenges the assumption that altered states of consciousness are not a prerequisite for therapeutic effects. The authors caution against relying solely on animal data when developing non-hallucinogenic 5-HT2A receptor agonists and emphasize the need for rigorous human studies to confirm target engagement before claiming a compound is non-hallucinogenic.