Psychedelics and Respiratory Health: A Literature Review.
Psychedelic medicine (New Rochelle, N.Y.) June 1, 2026 Manal Muteb Alanazi, Mohammed M Alqahtani
Classical psychedelic compounds may affect respiration through serotonergic pathways, airway smooth muscle regulation, and anti-inflammatory mechanisms. Preclinical rodent studies using objective measures such as flexiVent and whole-body plethysmography have observed respiratory modulation in asthma models. However, human studies have not confirmed bronchodilatory effects, and evidence is limited by methodological constraints, historical prohibition, and a focus on neuropsychiatric outcomes. Interpretation is complicated by animal models, heterogeneous compounds and doses, non-standardized endpoints, and potential confounding from set, setting, and acute anxiety. Future research should standardize respiratory outcomes and combine neurophysiology with respiratory measures to explore central-peripheral connections. Whether preclinical findings translate to clinical benefits remains unclear.