Cardiac Arrest Associated With Psilocybin Use and Hereditary Hemochromatosis
Suhwoo Bae, Michael Vaysblat, Ilja Dejanovic, Matthew Pierce, Edward Jong Bae
Cureus May 7, 2023 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.38669 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case study Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | 48-year-old male with ADHD on lisdexamfetamine |
| Intervention | Psilocybin-containing mushrooms |
| Topics | MDMA Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Hallucinogen Recreational drug Polypharmacy Hypomania Phencyclidine Quetiapine Bipolar disorder |
| Citations | 6 |
| Post-publication review | 1 comment on PubPeer (opens in new tab) · last active July 2023 |
| Key findings | Polypharmacy in a patient with hereditary hemochromatosis may have caused catecholamine release leading to ventricular fibrillation. |
Abstract
Recreational drug use is a significant public health concern in various countries. It is well understood that usage of psychedelics/hallucinogens, such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), ecstasy, phencyclidine (PCP), and psilocybin-containing mushrooms, has increased significantly over the last few decades, particularly in adolescents and young adults, yet the effects of these recreational drugs are poorly understood. Psilocybin has recently been studied as an alternative to traditional antidepressant therapies with potentially benign side effects. Here, we present the case of a 48-year-old male with a past medical history of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder on lisdexamfetamine who presented after a syncopal episode witnessed by his wife at home. He was found to be in ventricular fibrillation and subsequently had an extensive workup with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ischemic evaluation, and electrophysiology, which were unrevealing. He then received an automatic implantable cardiac defibrillator and was incidentally found to have hereditary hemochromatosis on outpatient follow-up. His polypharmacy may have potentially led to catecholamine release, leading to ventricular arrhythmia.
Comparable studies
Other case reports and case series on psilocybin, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psilocybin Mushroom (Psilocybe semilanceata) Intoxication with Myocardial Infarction 18-year-old man | 1998 | Case study | n = 1 |
| Relief from intractable phantom pain by combining psilocybin and mirror visual-feedback (MVF) Person with leg amputation and phantom-limb pain | 2018 | Case study | n = 1 |
| Hallucinogen persisting perception disorder after psilocybin consumption: a case study 18-year-old man with HPPD after mixed psilocybin and cannabis intoxication | 2005 | Case study | n = 1 |
| Microdosing psilocybin for chronic pain: a case series Individuals with chronic neuropathic pain | 2022 | Case series | n = 3 |
| Psilocybin and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Individual with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder | 2014 | Case study | n = 1 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 5
- Safety and risk assessment of psychedelic psychotherapy: A meta-analysis and systematic review. Psychiatry Research May 1, 2024
- Psilocybin therapy and anorexia nervosa: a narrative review of safety considerations for researchers and clinicians. Journal of Eating Disorders April 24, 2024
- Psychedelics, With a Focus on Psilocybin: Issues for the Clinician. Journal of Psychiatric Practice September 1, 2023
- Opinion Mining of Erowid's Experience Reports on LSD and Psilocybin-Containing Mushrooms. Drug safety May 1, 2025
- Psilocybin and Mental Health Outcomes: Scoping Review with ☸SAIMSARA SAIMSARA Journal June 15, 2026
Cites 10
- Trial of Psilocybin versus Escitalopram for Depression New England Journal of Medicine April 14, 2021
- Psilocybin – Summary of knowledge and new perspectives European Neuropsychopharmacology December 17, 2013
- Harm potential of magic mushroom use: a review. Regulatory toxicology and pharmacology : RTP April 1, 2011
- Adolescent and adult time trends in US hallucinogen use, 2002–19: any use, and use of ecstasy, LSD and PCP Addiction August 17, 2022
- Does getting high hurt? Characterization of cases of LSD and psilocybin-containing mushroom exposures to national poison centers between 2000 and 2016 Journal of Psychopharmacology September 5, 2018
and 5 more in the library