Disease: life-threatening cancer

Acute Effects of Psilocybin After Escitalopram or Placebo Pretreatment in a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study in Healthy Subjects

This study examined whether taking the antidepressant escitalopram before using psilocybin affects the drug’s effects. Twenty-three healthy participants took either escitalopram or placebo for two weeks, then received a dose of psilocybin. Surprisingly, escitalopram did not reduce the positive mood effects of psilocybin and actually reduced some negative side effects like anxiety and bad feelings. The combination appeared safe with no increased cardiovascular risks.

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Direct comparison of the acute effects of lysergic acid diethylamide and psilocybin in a double-blind placebo-controlled study in healthy subjects

This study directly compared two popular psychedelic drugs, LSD and psilocybin (magic mushrooms), in 28 healthy volunteers. Researchers found that these substances produce very similar mental effects when given at equivalent doses, with the main difference being that LSD lasts longer. The study establishes that about 20 milligrams of psilocybin is roughly equivalent to 100 micrograms of LSD. These findings could help guide dosing for future psychiatric treatments using these psychedelics.

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Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy: The need to monitor adverse events

While psychedelics show promise for treating depression and other mental health conditions, researchers need better systems to monitor and report any harmful effects they might cause. This paper calls for more careful, consistent tracking of both physical changes (like blood pressure) and psychological experiences during psychedelic therapy. The authors emphasize that safety monitoring should continue even after patients leave the clinic and that women may experience different side effects than men.

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