Cardiovascular safety of psychedelic medicine: current status and future directions
Pharmacological Reports October 24, 2023 Agnieszka Wsół 56 citations
Psychedelics like psilocybin, LSD, and ayahuasca show promise for treating depression, anxiety, and substance abuse, and are generally considered physiologically safe with low toxicity and addictive potential. However, their activation of serotonergic receptors raises concerns about possible cardiotoxicity, effects on platelet aggregation, and proarrhythmic risks, alongside sympathomimetic effects seen in studies. Experimental research on cardiovascular effects is inconsistent, while clinical trials indicate relative safety in healthy volunteers. Evidence is insufficient for microdosing therapies and for patients with existing cardiovascular disease, so more research is needed to determine long-term cardiovascular safety.