Pain Practice
January 4, 2023
Tim Willegers, Anke Reuser, Cornelis Kramers et al.
38 citations
Psychedelics like LSD and psilocybin may help manage chronic pain by activating the serotonin-2A receptor, disrupting maladaptive brain connections and enabling healthy reconnections via neuroplastic effects, though the process is not fully understood and evidence is limited and low quality. In cancer-related pain, decades-old findings and recent studies show promising analgesic and safety benefits for psychological distress. People with migraine or cluster headache who self-medicate report acute and preventive relief, and randomized trials for cluster headache are underway. Psychedelics have a favorable safety profile and lack the addictive potential of opioids, making further research important given the opioid epidemic.
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England)
May 1, 2024
Thomas Knuijver, Rob Ter Heine, Arnt F A Schellekens et al.
15 citations
Ibogaine, a hallucinogenic drug being studied for opioid use disorder, shows highly variable pharmacokinetics strongly linked to CYP2D6 genotype. In 14 patients given a single 10 mg/kg dose, ibogaine clearance increased by 30.7 L/h per point of CYP2D6 activity score, from a baseline of 0.82 L/h. Higher ibogaine plasma concentrations correlated significantly with QTc prolongation and cerebellar ataxia, while noribogaine did not. Neither ibogaine nor its metabolite correlated with opioid withdrawal severity. These findings suggest that cardiac and neurological side effects are driven more by ibogaine itself, and that lower or genotype-personalized dosing may improve safety.
Current psychiatry reports
December 1, 2024
Daan de Jonge, Pim B van der Meer, Cornelis Kramers et al.
2 citations
A narrative review of psilocybin- and LSD-assisted treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) finds growing evidence that psilocybin produces a sustained reduction in drinking frequency among people with AUD, and a recent meta-analysis shows psilocybin therapy yields a large and consistent decrease in depressive symptoms compared to no treatment. AUD and MDD frequently co-occur, and this comorbidity worsens symptoms of both disorders and complicates treatment. The authors argue that an integrated therapy addressing both conditions simultaneously could benefit such patients and call for more research on psilocybin in this dual-diagnosis population.
Psychedelic Medicine
October 8, 2025
Pim B. van der Meer, Nout Schukking, Miranda G. Dik et al.
A systematic review of clinical trials found limited evidence that psychoactive tryptamines other than psilocybin and ibogaine are effective for treating substance use disorders. Four trials involving 176 patients with alcohol use disorder tested dipropyltryptamine and diethyltryptamine. Abstinence rates ranged from 10% to 38% at 26 weeks of follow-up, and severity of alcohol use did not differ between the tryptamine and control groups. Adverse effects were poorly reported. The review concludes that studies are scarce and show limited evidence for effectiveness in treating addictive disorders.