Psychedelic Medicine

Association

Psychedelics as novel therapeutic agents for chronic pain: mechanisms and future perspectives

Excerpts from the publication

Chronic neuropathic pain is a significant public health issue affecting an estimated 1.5 billion individuals worldwide. The mechanisms underlying chronic pain are multifaceted and not fully understood. Chronic pain amplifies specific neural pathways through peripheral and central sensitization triggered by repeated exposure to noxious stimuli, ultimately resulting in physical and emotional pain. Traditional treatment options targeting these mechanisms, such as opioid and non-opioid analgesics, are associated with adverse effects, addiction, and suboptimal pain relief. Using psychedelics to treat chronic pain is an area of growing interest. While psychedelic substances, such as psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide, mescaline, and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine are primarily associated with recreational use or spiritual practices, emerging evidence suggests their potential therapeutic benefits for various mental health disorders, including chronic pain. Psychedelics alter pain perception by directly activating serotonin receptors, exerting anti-inflammatory effects, enhancing descending inhibition, opening a window of neuroplasticity, and facilitating synaptic remodeling. This review mainly elucidates the ongoing research regarding the psychedelic mechanisms of action, pharmacology, clinical applications, and therapeutic potential in treating neuropathic pain.

Read more

Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) promotes social behavior through mTORC1 in the excitatory neurotransmission

Sleep Quality Improvements After MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy for the Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Psilocybin-assisted therapy for depression: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of human studies

Acute Effects and Pharmacokinetics of LSD after Paroxetine or Placebo Pre-Administration in a Randomized, Double-Blind, Cross-Over Phase I Trial

A Brief Review on the Potential of Psychedelics for Treating Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Depression

Persisting decreases in state and trait anxiety post-psilocybin: A naturalistic, observational study among retreat attendees