Safety issues of psilocybin and LSD as potential rapid acting antidepressants and potential challenges
Giordano Novak Rossi, Jaime E. C. Hallak, José Carlos Bouso Saiz, Rafael G. Dos Santos
Expert Opinion on Drug Safety April 15, 2022 DOI: 10.1080/14740338.2022.2066650 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Interventions | Psilocybin LSD |
| Topics | Anxiety Psilocybin LSD |
| Keywords | Tolerability Adverse effect Context archaeology Pharmacology Clinical trial Randomized controlled trial Antidepressant Placebo Hallucinogen Alternative medicine Pathology |
| Citations | 24 |
| Key findings | No serious adverse events were related to psilocybin or LSD, but concerns about dissociation, paranoia, and confusion remain, warranting larger trials. |
Abstract
There were no serious AEs related to psilocybin and LSD administration. Most AEs were expected, manageable, and transient. Nevertheless, safety and tolerability concerns regarding some effects, such as dissociation, paranoia, and confusion, remain. Thus, randomized controlled trials with bigger samples are warranted to confirm their therapeutic effects and further investigate their safety and tolerability.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on LSD for anxiety, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modern Clinical Research on LSD | 2017 | Review | |
| Ayahuasca: Pharmacology, neuroscience and therapeutic potential | 2016 | Review | |
| Psychedelic Drugs in Biomedicine | 2017 | Review | |
| Studies on Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD-25) Nonpsychotic subjects | 1956 | Review | |
| The Past and Future of Psychedelic Science: An Introduction to This Issue | 2019 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 19
- Safety pharmacology of acute psilocybin administration in healthy participants Neuroscience Applied 2024
- Psilocybin for clinical indications: A scoping review Journal of Psychopharmacology August 13, 2024
- Psychedelic medicine at a crossroads: Advancing an integrative approach to research and practice. Transcultural Psychiatry October 1, 2022
- The revival of psilocybin between scientific excitement, evidence of efficacy, and real-world challenges. CNS Spectrums December 1, 2024
- The zebrafish for preclinical psilocybin research. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews October 1, 2023
and 14 more in the library
Cites 31
- Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial Journal of Psychopharmacology November 30, 2016
- Rapid and sustained symptom reduction following psilocybin treatment for anxiety and depression in patients with life-threatening cancer: a randomized controlled trial Journal of Psychopharmacology November 30, 2016
- Psilocybin with psychological support for treatment-resistant depression: an open-label feasibility study. The Lancet Psychiatry May 17, 2016
- Trial of Psilocybin versus Escitalopram for Depression New England Journal of Medicine April 14, 2021
- Effects of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy on Major Depressive Disorder JAMA Psychiatry November 4, 2020
and 26 more in the library