Psychedelic Drugs in Biomedicine
Trends in Pharmacological Sciences September 22, 2017 Evan J. Kyzar, Charles D. Nichols, Raul R. Gainetdinov et al. 155 citations
Psychedelic drugs like LSD, mescaline, and psilocybin produce strong effects on the brain and behavior. After decades of research difficulties, they are being tested again as possible treatments for hard-to-treat medical conditions. Preclinical research, human brain imaging, and early clinical trials suggest these compounds may help with addiction, depression, anxiety, and other disorders. However, many questions about how they work, their safety, and their effectiveness remain. This review summarizes recent preclinical and clinical data, discusses their pharmacological mechanisms, and outlines key areas for future research to maximize the potential benefits of psychedelic medicine for patients.