Do classic psychedelics increase the risk of seizures? A scoping review.
Oscar Soto-Angona, Adriana Fortea, Lydia Fortea, María Martínez-ramírez, Estevo Santamarina, Francisco José Gil López, Gite Moos Knudsen, Genís Ona
European neuropsychopharmacology : the journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology August 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2024.05.002 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA scoping review of 16 human and 11 animal studies suggests that classic psychedelics may not increase seizure risk in healthy individuals or animals when used alone, but concomitant use of other substances like kambo or lithium could raise that risk. The evidence is heterogeneous and lacks sufficient external validity, so conclusions should be interpreted cautiously. The review also outlines possible neurobiological mechanisms and future research directions.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Scoping review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Adverse events Drug-related adverse reactions Epilepsy Hallucinogens Psychedelics |
| Citations | 7 |
| Key finding | Classic psychedelics may not increase seizure risk in healthy individuals or animals in the absence of other drugs, but concomitant use of substances like kambo or lithium could increase risk. |
Abstract
Seizures are a concerning adverse event frequently associated with the use of psychedelics, and hence, studies involving these substances tend to exclude patients with past history of epilepsy. This is especially relevant because epileptic seizures are markedly increased in the population suffering from mental disorders, and psychedelic assisted therapy is being researched as a promising treatment for several of them. To determine the extent of the current literature on the relationship between classic psychedelics and seizures, a scoping review was performed using the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews). The search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Google scholar, LILACS and Scielo, and both animal and human models were included. A total of 16 publications on humans, and 11 on animals, were found. The results are heterogeneous, but globally suggest that psychedelics may not increase the risk of seizures in healthy individuals or animals in the absence of other drugs. However, concomitant use of other substances or drugs, such as kambo or lithium, could increase the risk of seizures. Additionally, these conclusions are drawn from data lacking sufficient external validity, so they should be interpreted with caution. Future paths for research and a summary on possible neurobiological underpinnings that might clarify the relationship between classical psychedelics and seizures are also provided.