Dose-related behavioral, subjective, endocrine, and psychophysiological effects of the κ opioid agonist Salvinorin A in humans.
Mohini Ranganathan, Ashley Schnakenberg, Patrick D. Skosnik, Bruce M Cohen, Brian Pittman, R Andrew Sewell, Deepak Cyril D'Souza
Biological Psychiatry November 15, 2012 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2012.06.012 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Double-blind Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 10 |
| Population | Healthy individuals who had previously used Salvia |
| Intervention | Salvinorin A |
| Dose | 0 mg, 8 mg, and 12 mg |
| Duration | 3-day |
| Topics | Salvia divinorum |
| Keywords | Natural hallucinogen Substance Psychoactive effects Perceptual alterations Dissociative experiences Hallucinogenic effects Non-euphoric Drug research Clinical study Pharmacology Drug effects Human study Drug safety Tolerability Addictive potential Cognitive impairment Vital signs |
| Citations | 125 |
| Key findings | Inhaled salvinorin A produces transient psychotomimetic and perceptual alterations without euphoria or cognitive deficits, suggesting low addictive potential. |
Abstract
Salvia divinorum (Salvia) is an increasingly popular recreational drug amongst adolescents and young adults. Its primary active ingredient, Salvinorin A (SA)-a highly selective agonist at the κ opiate receptor-is believed to be one of the most potent naturally occurring hallucinogens. However, there is little experimental data on the effects of SA in humans. In a 3-day, double-blind, randomized, crossover, counterbalanced study, the behavioral, subjective, cognitive, psychophysiological, and endocrine effects of 0 mg, 8 mg, and 12 mg of inhaled SA were characterized in 10 healthy individuals who had previously used Salvia. SA produced psychotomimetic effects and perceptual alterations, including dissociative and somaesthetic effects, increased plasma cortisol and prolactin, and reduced resting electroencephalogram spectral power. The SA administration was associated with a rapid increase of its levels in the blood. SA did not produce euphoria, cognitive deficits, or changes in vital signs. The effects were transient and not dose-related. SA administration was very well-tolerated without acute or delayed adverse effects. SA produced a wide range of transient effects in healthy subjects. The perceptual altering effects and lack of euphoric effects would explain its intermittent use pattern. Such a profile would also suggest a low addictive potential similar to other hallucinogens and consistent with κ opiate receptor agonism. Further work is warranted to carefully characterize a full spectrum of its effects in humans, to elucidate the underlying mechanisms involved, and to explore the basis for individual variability in its effects.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on salvia divinorum, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 43
- Novel psychoactive substances of interest for psychiatry World Psychiatry February 1, 2016
- Clinical applications of hallucinogens: A review. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology August 1, 2016
- Models of psychedelic drug action: modulation of cortical-subcortical circuits Brain October 22, 2021
- Dose-related effects of salvinorin A in humans: dissociative, hallucinogenic, and memory effects. Psychopharmacology March 1, 2013
- Drug models of schizophrenia. Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology February 1, 2015
and 38 more in the library
Cites 33
- Measurement of dissociative states with the Clinician‐Administered Dissociative States Scale (CADSS) Journal of Traumatic Stress 1998
- Salvinorin A: a potent naturally occurring nonnitrogenous kappa opioid selective agonist. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences September 3, 2002
- Dose-Response Study of N,N-Dimethyltryptamine in Humans Archives of General Psychiatry February 1, 1994
- Comparative and Interactive Human Psychopharmacologic Effects of Ketamine and Amphetamine Archives of General Psychiatry September 1, 2005
- Human psychopharmacology of N,N-dimethyltryptamine Behavioural Brain Research December 1, 1995
and 28 more in the library