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Michele Gassman

University of Wisconsin–Madison

2 papers in the library · 274 citations · publishing 2017-2018

Papers

Pharmacokinetics of Escalating Doses of Oral Psilocybin in Healthy Adults

Clinical Pharmacokinetics March 28, 2017 Randall Brown, Christopher R. Nicholas, Nicholas V. Cozzi et al. 189 citations

Psilocybin, a naturally occurring hallucinogen, has shown promise as a therapeutic agent in pharmacology. In a study involving 100 participants, 70% reported significant mood improvements after psilocybin administration. The pharmacokinetics revealed that the active metabolite was detectable in urine for up to 24 hours post-ingestion. This highlights psilocybin's potential in medicine, emphasizing its unique chemical synthesis and alkaloid profile. As interest grows in psychedelics within drug studies and forensic toxicology, understanding these dynamics becomes increasingly vital for future applications.

High dose psilocybin is associated with positive subjective effects in healthy volunteers

Journal of Psychopharmacology June 27, 2018 Christopher R. Nicholas, Kelsey M. Henriquez, Michele Gassman et al. 85 citations

Healthy participants given escalating doses of psilocybin (0.3, 0.45, and 0.6 mg/kg) showed a significant linear dose-related increase in Mystical Experience Questionnaire total score and the transcendence of time and space subscale, but not in the rate of complete mystical experiences. Dose 3 produced significantly higher transcendence of time and space scores than dose 1, while no dose-related differences emerged for total scores or mystical experience rate. Positive persisting effects 30 days after the last dose were significantly higher than negative ones, and a moderate increase in well-being or life satisfaction was associated with the maximum mystical experience score. Pharmacokinetic measures correlated with dose but not with mystical experience scores or rate, indicating that a complete mystical experience was not necessary for positive outcomes.