Psychedelics are classical hallucinogen drugs that induce a marked altered state of consciousness. In recent years, there has been renewed attention to the possible use of classical psychedelics for the treatment of certain mental health disorders. However, further investigation to better understand their biological effects in humans, their mechanism of action, and their metabolism in humans is...
Hallucinogen dependence and abuse are DSM-IV diagnoses that are associated with significant morbidity, yet the specific hallucinogens that are most strongly linked to dependence and abuse are understudied. We used recent data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2015-2020) and multivariable logistic regression to test the relationships that lifetime use of seven individual...
Background: The classical psychedelics psilocybin, peyote, ayahuasca/ N, N-dimethyltryptamine, and lysergic acid diethylamide can temporarily produce altered states of consciousness, characterized by changes in sensory perception, thought, mood, and the sense of self-reality and meaning. It is important to have reliable instruments for quantifying these altered states in trials, due to a...
We are currently living through a period of ‘psychedelic renaissance’, with an increased interest, both in clinical research and in society at large, in the use of psychedelic substances such as LSD, psylocybin, DMT and mescaline. This interest, however, has recently led to an increased influx of venture capital and a fast emerging psychedelic start-up ecosystem. In this article, I will discuss...
Abstract Psychedelics are powerful psychoactive substances that alter perception and mood processes. Their effectiveness in the treatment of psychiatric diseases was known before their prohibition. An increasing number of recent studies, due to the indisputable resurgence of serotonergic hallucinogens, have shown their efficacy in alleviating depression, anxiety, substance abuse therapies, and...
European PsychiatryOctober 23, 2023O. Martin-Santiago, G. Guerra-Valera, C. Alario-Ruiz et al.
Introduction The presence of perceptual disturbances and psychotic symptoms associated with substance abuse are widely known. While the abuse of substances is becoming more widespread, there is a general perception that their use entails fewer risks. 25I-NBOMe is a recently introduced hallucinogenic drug producing visual hallucinations and euphoria. Although people consume it like LSD, its...
European PsychiatryOctober 23, 2023I. B. Nita, O. D. Ilie, A. S. Ciobica et al.
Introduction Zebrafish (Danio rerio) has evolved over the years as a preferred organism due to its vast repertoire in research fields that mimic a targeted phenotype, particularly behavioral typologies and specific attributes comparable to murine models and relatively high homology with humans. Considering this consideration, different pharmacological treatments have been tested and proven that...
In coming years, pharmacists will begin fielding more questions regarding psychedelic medicine, most notably with the imminent FDA approval of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) expected in 2024 and psilocybin for major depressive disorder (MDD) likely in 2025. Psychedelics are unique medications in many ways, but especially due to the mental...
Natural psychedelic compounds are emerging as potential novel therapeutics in psychiatry. This review will discuss how natural psychedelics exert their neurobiological therapeutic effects, and how different neurotransmission systems mediate the effects of these compounds. Further, current therapeutic strategies for depression, and novel mechanism of action of natural psychedelics in the...
Mescaline derivative (2C phenethylamines) drugs have been modified by the introduction of a N-2-methoxybenzyl group to originate a new series of compounds with recognized and potent psychedelic effects, the NBOMe-drugs. Although they are prevalent in unregulated drug markets, their toxicity profile is still poorly understood, despite several reports highlighting cases of acute intoxication,...