Acute Cardiovascular Effects of Psilocybin: A Pooled Analysis of 14 Studies with Safety Recommendations
Sandeep M. Nayak, Nathan D. Sepeda, Matthew Nielsen Dick, Praachi Tiwari, Zarmeen Zahid, Ceyda Sayalı, Brandon M. Weiss, David B. Yaden, Albert Garcia-Romeu, Brian S. Barnett, Frederick S. Barrett
medRxiv Preprint Server April 28, 2026 preprint DOI: 10.64898/2026.04.28.26351625 via medRxiv
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractPsilocybin is being studied as a treatment for psychiatric and neurologic conditions, but there is limited comprehensive data on its cardiovascular safety. Current clinical trials typically exclude people with blood pressure of 140/90 mmHg or higher, a cutoff set conservatively without strong empirical evidence.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Review |
|---|---|
| Population | Participants from 14 psilocybin studies |
| Key finding | Comprehensive cardiovascular safety data for psilocybin are limited, and the common exclusion criterion of blood pressure ≥140/90 mmHg lacks robust empirical support. |
Abstract
Background Psilocybin has increasingly been studied as a therapeutic for psychiatric and neurologic conditions, yet comprehensive cardiovascular safety data are limited. Current trials often exclude individuals with blood pressure ≥140/90 mmHg, criteria established conservatively without robust empirical support.