Brazilian Journal of Health Review
April 19, 2021
Giovanni Pereira Pio, Aline Moreira Vitorino, Naira Braga Aidar et al.
2 citations
Depression is a psychiatric disorder marked by acute or recurrent episodes of depressed mood and loss of interest or pleasure, leading to functional impairment. Psilocybin, a psychedelic drug derived from Psilocybe mushrooms, acts as a serotonin receptor agonist, particularly at 5-HT2A, with some effects on 5-HT1A and 5-HT2C receptors, and no direct dopaminergic effects. It reduces blood flow in the medial prefrontal cortex, normalizing hyperactivity and altering brain activity that drives depressive mood. This mechanism offers a new pharmacokinetic approach distinct from selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. A systematic review of 8 selected publications suggests psilocybin has promising therapeutic potential for treatment-resistant depression, though larger volunteer samples and determination of an effective dose are needed.
Brazilian Journal of Health Review
January 28, 2026
Juliana Chies Galvan, Marina Chies Galvan, Rafael Moreno Ferro de Araújo
Ketamine appears to be an alternative treatment for bipolar depression when first- and second-line medications are not effective, according to a review of six clinical trials published between 2010 and 2021. Bipolar depression is the most common mood state in bipolar disorder, yet few studies have focused on its treatment. The review examined evidence on ketamine used either as an adjuvant or as monotherapy. The results suggest ketamine may be effective, but future studies are needed to confirm this.
Brazilian Journal of Health Review
December 15, 2023
Fernanda Leticia Dos Santos Matta, Vivian Frigo Batista, Alexandre Dantas Gimenes et al.
Ibogaine, a psychoactive indole alkaloid from the West African shrub Tabernanthe iboga, shows promise for treating opioid dependence by interacting with multiple neurotransmitter systems. In a systematic review of 44 studies, 7 met inclusion criteria; 6 were observational. Ibogaine treatment led to marked improvement in withdrawal symptoms (frequency, duration, intensity) and reduced opioid craving in all 7 studies. Side effects included prolonged QTc interval (4 studies), bradycardia (2), gait ataxia (2), nausea/vomiting (2), hypotension (1), and one death attributed to cardiac arrhythmia. Ibogaine may be considered for opioid-dependent adults and older adults, but requires assisted therapy with specialized professionals and attention to cardiac side effects.