Classic Psychedelics for Chronic Pain: A Critical Review of the Literature and Practical Advice for Clinicians - PubMed
3 hours ago
- #chronic pain
- #clinical review
- #psychedelics
- Classic psychedelics like psilocybin, LSD, and ayahuasca are being explored as potential treatments for chronic pain due to dissatisfaction with conventional therapies.
- Putative mechanisms of action include effects on neuroplasticity, inflammation, brain network dynamics, and psychological processes such as pain acceptance.
- Observational studies and early-phase trials suggest preliminary benefits for conditions like fibromyalgia, migraine, and cluster headache.
- Safety considerations, contraindications, drug interactions, and regulatory challenges are critical for research and clinical implementation.
- The literature is limited by small sample sizes, functional unblinding, and a lack of large randomized controlled trials, highlighting the need for more rigorous future studies.