Research Keyword: pharmacokinetics

Drug–drug interactions involving classic psychedelics: A systematic review

This review examined how psychedelic drugs like LSD and psilocybin interact with other medications people might be taking. Researchers found that certain psychiatric medications like antipsychotics can block the effects of psychedelics, while other drugs may enhance them. The study highlights the importance of understanding these interactions for safe therapeutic use of psychedelics in clinical settings.

Read More »

Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Ketamine and Psilocybin in Comparison to Current Treatment Regimens for Treatment-Resistant Depression, Mood Disorders, and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in the Pediatric Population: A Narrative Review

This review examines two emerging psychiatric treatments—ketamine and psilocybin—for treating hard-to-treat mental health conditions in children and teenagers. Both work by affecting brain chemicals differently than traditional medications and can provide rapid symptom relief, sometimes within hours or days rather than weeks. The study found promising results for depression, anxiety, PTSD, and bipolar disorder, though researchers emphasize that more studies are needed to ensure these treatments are safe for developing brains and that careful ethical guidelines must be established.

Read More »

An Overview of Physiologically-Based Pharmacokinetic Models for Forensic Science

This review examines how mathematical models that predict how drugs and chemicals move through the body could be better used in forensic science to help explain cause of death and interpret toxicology evidence. Currently, only a few such models have been specifically developed for forensic purposes, though many exist for common drugs like opioids, cocaine, and alcohol. A major challenge is accounting for how drug concentrations change after death, which can make it harder to determine what the concentration was when the person died.

Read More »

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.

Read More »

Editorial: Raising the bar: advancing therapeutic strategies for fighting communicable and noncommunicable diseases

Scientists are developing new ways to fight dangerous infections caused by bacteria, viruses, and drug-resistant pathogens. Recent discoveries include safer uses of existing drugs, better dosing strategies tailored to individual patients, and effective combination therapies that reduce antibiotic resistance. These advances represent important progress in treating serious infectious diseases like COVID-19, tuberculosis, and bacterial infections.

Read More »

The therapeutic potential of microdosing psychedelics in depression

This review examines whether taking very small doses of psychedelic drugs like LSD and psilocybin might help treat depression. While users report benefits and some studies show subtle positive effects on mood and thinking, scientists have not yet confirmed whether microdosing actually works as a depression treatment. More research with depressed patients is needed to understand if this approach is truly helpful and safe for regular use.

Read More »

Chaga mushroom triterpenoids as adjuncts to minimally invasive cancer therapies: A review

Chaga mushroom, a fungus that grows on birch trees, contains special compounds called triterpenoids that can kill cancer cells in laboratory tests. Some of these compounds, particularly inotodiol and betulinic acid, show anti-cancer activity similar to or better than conventional chemotherapy drugs. While promising, researchers need to improve how these compounds are absorbed in the body and test them more thoroughly in animals and humans before they can be used clinically.

Read More »

Ketanserin Reverses the Acute Response to LSD in a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study in Healthy Participants

Researchers tested whether ketanserin, a drug that blocks serotonin receptors, could stop or reverse an LSD experience once it had already started. In a controlled study with healthy volunteers, ketanserin given one hour after LSD administration cut the duration of the LSD experience from 8.5 hours down to 3.5 hours and eliminated visual and auditory hallucinations. This finding suggests ketanserin could be useful as an emergency medication in psychedelic-assisted therapy to help patients who have negative reactions to LSD.

Read More »

Molecular and Functional Imaging Studies of Psychedelic Drug Action in Animals and Humans

This comprehensive review examines how scientists use advanced imaging techniques like PET and SPECT scans to study how hallucinogenic drugs such as LSD and psilocybin interact with the brain. The research shows these drugs primarily bind to serotonin receptors, particularly the 5-HT2A subtype, which appear responsible for producing hallucinations. While scientific understanding of hallucinogen mechanisms has advanced significantly, there is still much to learn about their complete effects on brain chemistry and their potential therapeutic applications.

Read More »

Transient destabilization of whole brain dynamics induced by N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT)

This study used computer models of brain activity to understand how the psychedelic drug DMT rapidly changes how the brain works during an acute experience. Researchers found that DMT pushes brain dynamics into a special state where the brain becomes hypersensitive to small changes or stimuli. This heightened sensitivity is strongest in brain regions rich in serotonin receptors and matches the expected timing of the drug’s effects, suggesting that brief psychedelic experiences may create lasting changes in the brain through this temporary destabilization window.

Read More »
Scroll to Top