Hallucinogenic drugs attenuate the subjective response to alcohol in humans
Sean P. Barrett, Jennifer Archambault, Marla Engelberg, Robert O. Pihl
Human Psychopharmacology Clinical and Experimental 2000 DOI: 10.1002/1099-1077(200010)15:7<559::aid-hup230>3.0.co;2-j (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Retrospective structured interview study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 22 |
| Population | Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and/or psilocybin users |
| Interventions | LSD psilocybin alcohol |
| Topics | Addiction LSD Psilocybin Serotonin |
| Keywords | Hallucinogen Antagonism Pharmacology Alcohol addiction |
| Citations | 11 |
| Key points | LSD and psilocybin block or reduce the subjective effects of alcohol, with LSD showing significantly greater antagonism than psilocybin. |
Abstract
This study investigated possible interactions between alcohol and hallucinogens in 22 lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and/or psilocybin users through retrospective structured interviews. Of those who had used LSD with alcohol, 86;7 per cent reported a complete blockade of subjective alcohol effects, while the remaining cases reported a diminished response. In addition, 60 per cent of respondents who had used alcohol and psilocybin together reported a partial antagonism of subjective alcohol effects.T-test analyses revealed that LSD's antagonism of alcohol effects were significantly greater than those associated with psilocybin. It is proposed that LSD's effect on alcohol intoxication may involve interactions with various serotonergic and/or dopaminergic receptor systems. Copyright 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Comparable studies
Other qualitative studies on LSD, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| LSD-assisted psychotherapy for anxiety associated with a life-threatening disease: A qualitative study of acute and sustained subjective effects Patients with anxiety associated with life-threatening diseases | 2014 | Prospective follow-up with qualitative content analysis | n = 10 |
| Response of cluster headache to psilocybin and LSD Cluster headache patients who used psilocybin or LSD | 2006 | Qualitative study | n = 53 |
| Making "bad trips" good: How users of psychedelics narratively transform challenging trips into valuable experiences. Norwegian users of psychedelics | 2021 | Qualitative study | n = 50 |
| Psychedelic microdosing benefits and challenges: an empirical codebook Active microdosing community | 2019 | Mixed-methods study | |
| Psychoactive substances as a last resort—a qualitative study of self-treatment of migraine and cluster headaches Users of online forums discussing cluster headache and migraine treatments | 2017 | Qualitative thematic analysis |