II. Definitions
-
Psilocybin
- Tryptamine alkaloid Hallucinogen extracted from Psilocybe mexicana (Teonanacatl, Magic Mushrooms)
III. Indications
- Psilocybin (and Magic Mushrooms) have a long history of ilicit recreational use as a Psychedelic (DEA Schedule I)
- Has been proposed for management of mental health conditions
IV. Mechanism
- After ingestion, Psilocybine is rapidly dephosphorylated into the active agent, psilocin
- Psilocin activates CNS Serotonin 2A (5-HT2A)
- Psilocin has Hallucinogenic, Anxiolytic, and psychoactive properties
V. Precautions
- Even micro-dosing has potential risks (see adverse effects)
- However, overall appears to be a safe agent in therapeutic doses
- Kopra (2022) J Psychopharmacol 36(8):965-73 +PMID: 35388724 [PubMed]
- Online or Vape shop products have unknown safety and are not recommended
- Psilocybin carries Substance Abuse potential
- Safety and efficacy in mental health studies have been in controlled settings
- Standardized dosing with reliable product source
- Medical or psychiatry supervision
- Adequate social support
VI. Adverse Effects
-
Mania
- Increased risk in personal or Family History of Bipolar Disorder
- Overdose or Death
VII. Drug Interactions
-
Serotonin Syndrome
- Increased risk with other serotonergic agents (e.g. SSRI, St Johns Wort)
VIII. Efficacy
-
Major Depression
- Major Depression Management has the best associated evidence for Psilocybin treatment
- Gukasyan (2022) J Psychopharmacol 36(2):151-8 +PMID: 35166158 [PubMed]
- Raison (2023) JAMA 330(9):843-53 +PMID: 37651119 [PubMed]
IX. References
- (2024) Presc Lett 31(11): 66
- Lowe (2021) Molecules 26(10):2948 +PMID: 34063505 [PubMed]
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Related Studies
| Definition (NCI_NCI-GLOSS) | A substance being studied in the treatment of anxiety or depression in patients with advanced cancer. It is taken from the mushroom Psilocybe mexicana. Psilocybin acts on the brain to cause hallucinations (sights, sounds, smells, tastes, or touches that a person believes to be real but are not real). |
| Definition (NCI) | A tryptamine alkaloid, isolated from various genera of fungi including the genus Psilocybe, with hallucinogenic, anxiolytic, and psychoactive activities. In vivo, psilocybine is rapidly dephosphorylated into the active compound psilocin, which activates serotonin 2A (5-HT2A) receptors in the central nervous system (CNS), mimicking the effects of serotonin. |
| Definition (MSH) | The major of two hallucinogenic components of Teonanacatl, the sacred mushroom of Mexico, the other component being psilocin. (From Merck Index, 11th ed) |
| Concepts | Pharmacologic Substance (T121) , Organic Chemical (T109) |
| MSH | D011562 |
| SnomedCT | 229007003, 53513007 |
| LNC | LP17245-9, MTHU007606 |
| English | Psilocybine, 1H-Indol-4-ol, 3-(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl)-, dihydrogen phosphate (ester), Psilocibin, psilocybin, 4-Phosphoryloxy-omega-N,N-dimethyltryptamine, Indocybin, 3-(2-(Dimethylamino)ethyl)-1H-indol-4-ol Dihydrogen Phosphate Ester, Psilocybine [Chemical/Ingredient], psilocibin, psilocybine, PSILOCYBINE, Psilocybin, Psilocybin (substance), Psilocybin [dup] (substance) |
| Swedish | Psilocybin |
| Czech | psilocybin |
| Finnish | Psilosybiini |
| Russian | PSILOTSIBIN, ПСИЛОЦИБИН |
| Japanese | サイロシビン |
| Polish | Psylocybina, Psylocyna |
| Spanish | psilocibina (sustancia), psilocibina, silocibina (sustancia), silocibina, Psilocibina |
| French | Psilocybine |
| German | Psilocybin |
| Italian | Psilocibina |
| Portuguese | Psilocibina |
