Lysergic Acid Diethylamide and Psilocybin for the Management of Patients with Persistent Pain: a Potential Role?

Whelan, Andy; Johnson, Mark I.

doi:10.2217/pmt-2017-0068

Cited by 39 publications

(56 citation statements)

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“…LSD may also possess therapeutic properties (Liechti, 2017; Vollenweider and Kometer, 2010) and has been implicated in the management of pain (Whelan and Johnson, 2018). Serotonergic agents, such as ergot alkaloids, have traditionally been used for the acute and preventive treatment of cluster headache and other primary headaches (Lambru and Matharu, 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A low dose of lysergic acid diethylamide decreases pain perception in healthy volunteers

et al. 2020

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Background: Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is an ergot alkaloid derivative with psychedelic properties that has been implicated in the management of persistent pain. Clinical studies in the 1960s and 1970s have demonstrated profound analgesic effects of full doses of LSD in terminally ill patients, but this line of research evaporated after LSD was scheduled worldwide. Aim: The present clinical study is the first to revisit the potential of LSD as an analgesic, and at dose levels which are not expected to produce profound mind-altering effects. Methods: Twenty-four healthy volunteers received single doses of 5, 10 and 20 µg LSD as well as placebo on separate occasions. A Cold Pressor Test was administered at 1.5 and 5 h after treatment administration to assess pain tolerance to experimentally evoked pain. Ratings of dissociation and psychiatric symptoms as well as assessments of vital signs were included to monitor mental status as well as safety during treatments. Results: LSD 20 µg significantly increased the time that participants were able to tolerate exposure to cold (3°C) water and decreased their subjective levels of experienced pain and unpleasantness. LSD elevated mean blood pressure within the normal range and slightly increased ratings of dissociation, anxiety and somatization. Conclusion: The present study provides evidence of a protracted analgesic effect of LSD at a dose that is low enough to avoid a psychedelic experience. The present data warrant further research into the analgesic effects of low doses of LSD in patient populations.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A low dose of lysergic acid diethylamide decreases pain perception in healthy volunteers

et al. 2020

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“…Young people living on the street use prescription drugs rather than heroin and cocaine at a time when, paradoxically, illicit drugs are being considered to treat psychiatric pathologies, reawakening the 1980s theory of drug use as self-medication. (52)(53)(54)(55)(56). They are easily accessible and inexpensive at the street level.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is precariousness the blind spot of prevention and treatment of the use of psychoactive substances?

Chossegros

Nino

2020

Preprint

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Background and aims: Prevalence of the use of psychoactive substances is high in precarious populations. Yet the influence of precariousness on the trajectory of drug users (DUs) has rarely been studied. For the first time, we conducted such a study with a representative group of DUs.Methods: We combined a recruitment through a respondent driven sampling (RDS) with a 250 items questionnaire. The answers of our sample of 327 UDs were studied according to a precariousness score (PS).Results: The prevalence of precariousness ranged from low PS 48.9 %, average PS 30.9 % to high PS 20.2 %. Access to health services at the time of our survey concerned 61.8 % of DUs. Its prevalence was lower among DUs with the highest precariousness score (Low PS 72.5 %, Average PS 61.4 %, High PS 36.4 %) with an Odds ratio of 5.01 (CI95% 2.52-9.97; p<0.0001) between low and high PS for a continuous follow-up. A higher dropout rate was also observed among the highest PS (p<0.0001).Despite differences in their socio-economic characteristics, DUs represented a homogeneous community with respect to their use of drugs. The more precarious DUs were younger, had an earlier age of initiation of injection, of experimentation of cannabis, alcohol, heroin as well as diverted opioid substitution treatments (OST). They had a more frequent and durable use of alcohol. Precariousness was also associated with lower educational levels, less contacts with one’s parents, less search for information on the Internet for drugs and GPs for health and more housing and social rights as plans for the future.Conclusion: In France, despite the fact that specialized care is free of charge, the lower access to for the most precarious DUs and their higher drop-out rates suggest that it is not adapted to their demand, which is more oriented towards socio-economic problems than towards drug use or harm reduction. This observation is all the more important as it concerns the youngest users. Our data suggest that precariousness influences the course of drug addiction from its onset. Lack of consideration of this population limits the ability to develop effective health policies.

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“…Regarding the latter, it is well known that psychedelics can increase suggestibility in human subjects (Carhart-Harris et al, 2015;de Rios, Grob, & Baker, 2002), so it is reasonable to think that the variables found in the ritualistic setting in which changa was provided, like expectancy or attentive and respectful listening by caregivers, together with the fact that there could be a real, short-term analgesic effect, probably exert a magnified placebo effect. Furthermore, a recently published review suggests that psychedelic drugs like lysergic acid diethylamide and psilocybin may alleviate malignant and neuropathic pain (Whelan & Johnson, 2018). The authors argue that this effect could be related to the psychedelic experience itself, which can modify the metacognitive interpretation of pain.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long-lasting analgesic effect of the psychedelic drug changa: A case report

Oña

Troncoso

2019

Journal of Psychedelic Studies

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Background and aims: Pain is the most prevalent symptom of a health condition, and it is inappropriately treated in many cases. Here, we present a case report in which we observe a long-lasting analgesic effect produced by changa, a psychedelic drug that contains the psychoactive N,N-dimethyltryptamine and ground seeds of Peganum harmala, which are rich in β-carbolines. Methods: We describe the case and offer a brief review of supportive findings. Results: A long-lasting analgesic effect after the use of changa was reported. Possible analgesic mechanisms are discussed. We suggest that both pharmacological and non-pharmacological factors could be involved. Conclusion: These findings offer preliminary evidence of the analgesic effect of changa, but due to its complex pharmacological actions, involving many neurotransmitter systems, further research is needed in order to establish the specific mechanisms at work.

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Lysergic Acid Diethylamide and Psilocybin for the Management of Patients with Persistent Pain: a Potential Role?

Cited by 39 publications

References 100 publications

A low dose of lysergic acid diethylamide decreases pain perception in healthy volunteers

A low dose of lysergic acid diethylamide decreases pain perception in healthy volunteers

Is precariousness the blind spot of prevention and treatment of the use of psychoactive substances?

Long-lasting analgesic effect of the psychedelic drug changa: A case report

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