Prevalence and associations of classic psychedelic-related seizures in a population-based sample.
Otto Simonsson, Simon B Goldberg, Richard Chambers, Walter Osika, Dustin M Long, Peter S Hendricks
Drug and alcohol dependence October 1, 2022 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109586 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractAmong a US-representative sample of 2,822 adults, 613 reported lifetime classic psychedelic use, and 1.5% of those users reported having a seizure while using a classic psychedelic—a rate similar to epilepsy prevalence in the general population. Nearly half of those who had a seizure were also taking antidepressants, mood stabilizers, or opioid replacement therapies at the time. Seizures were more common among respondents with a personal or family history of epilepsy. The findings suggest that classic psychedelic use may elevate seizure risk in certain people, especially those with a personal or family history of epilepsy.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Cross-sectional survey Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 2,822 |
| Population | US adults representative by sex, age, and ethnicity |
| Topics | LSD Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Adverse Psychedelics Risk |
| Citations | 16 |
| Key finding | Classic psychedelic-related seizures occurred in 1.5% of lifetime users, with higher risk among those with a personal or family history of epilepsy. |
Abstract
Previous studies have reported links between classic psychedelic use and seizures, but little remains known about prevalence and potential risk factors of classic psychedelic-related seizures. Using a sample representative of the US adult population with regard to sex, age, and ethnicity (N = 2822), this study examined the prevalence and potential risk factors of classic psychedelic-related seizures, in a subsample of respondents who reported lifetime classic psychedelic use (n = 613). Among those who reported lifetime classic psychedelic use, 1.5 % reported classic psychedelic-related seizures, a statistic that comports with the prevalence of epilepsy in the US population. Among those who reported seizures while using a classic psychedelic, almost half reported co-use of antidepressants, mood stabilizers, or opioid replacement therapies at the time of the seizures. Notably, classic psychedelic-related seizures were more commonly reported in certain respondents, especially those with a personal or family history of epilepsy. These results suggest that classic psychedelic use could increase the risk of seizures in certain populations, particularly those with a personal or family history of epilepsy.