Psilocybin inhibits formalin-induced nociception through 5-hydroxytryptamine 2A receptor in rats
Behavioural Pharmacology September 25, 2025 Saadet Inan, Paige E. Morris, Scott M. Rawls et al.
Psilocybin, the active compound in Psilocybe mushrooms, reduced pain-related behaviors in adult male rats exposed to formalin-induced noxious stimuli, a model of both acute and persistent inflammatory pain. Doses of 0.1 and 0.3 mg/kg significantly decreased flinching and licking during both early and late pain phases. Pretreatment with volinanserin, a selective blocker of the 5-HT 2A receptor, eliminated this pain-relieving effect, indicating that psilocybin produces analgesia at least partly by activating that receptor.