Journal of clinical psychopharmacology
Lucas Silva Rodrigues, José Augusto Silva Reis, Giordano Novak Rossi et al.
8 citations
A single dose of ayahuasca, a plant hallucinogen containing N,N-dimethyltryptamine and harmine, was given with psychological support to 11 college students who drank alcohol harmfully. The treatment was well tolerated and produced strong psychoactive effects. Days of alcohol consumption per week dropped from about 2.9 to 2.1 between weeks 2 and 3, but this reduction was not statistically significant after correcting for multiple comparisons. No other measures—craving, anxiety, impulsivity, self-esteem, or social cognition—showed significant changes, except faster reaction time on an empathy task. The small sample and mild baseline drinking likely limited the findings. The study demonstrates the protocol is feasible for future larger trials.
Psychoactives
November 17, 2023
Anna Beatriz Vicentini, Lucas Silva Rodrigues, Giordano Novak Rossi et al.
4 citations
In a single-blind study, university students aged 18 to 24 with harmful alcohol use received one dose of ayahuasca (1 mL/kg). Twenty-one days later, semi-structured interviews with six participants identified psychological elements linked to reduced drinking. Content analysis revealed categories including Positive Impacts, Substance Use Pattern, and Insights. Together, these categories suggest that insights and positive emotions from the experience may foster internal transformation, potentially leading to decreased alcohol consumption.
Psychoactives
December 11, 2023
Juliana Mendes Rocha, José Augusto Silva Reis, Giordano Novak Rossi et al.
3 citations
As psychedelic research expands to include more diverse participants with varied medical conditions, the risk of adverse events increases, yet specialized safety protocols for such trials are scarce. The LEAPS research group at the University of São Paulo developed standardized guidelines for managing adverse scenarios in clinical trials with ayahuasca and ibogaine. These protocols, based on the hospital's established philosophy, expert consultation, and literature review, address both psychiatric issues (panic attacks, suicidal behavior, psychotic episodes) and clinical issues (hypertensive crisis, hypoglycemia) to ensure volunteer safety.
Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences
February 18, 2026
Gabriella de Souza Gomes Ribeiro, Beatriz Aparecida Passos Bismara Paranhos, Fabiane Dörr et al.
1 citation
Even modest increases in DMT exposure from ayahuasca may intensify serotonergic effects in individuals taking SSRI antidepressants, suggesting a clinically relevant interaction. The study provides a mechanistic and quantitative framework for assessing interaction risks between ayahuasca alkaloids and SSRIs, supporting clinical decision-making and harm-reduction strategies where controlled drug-drug interaction studies are not feasible.