Tag: featured

Introducing the Association for Prescription Psychedelics (APP), where the prescription pad meets the psychedelic trip! APP is on a groovy mission to integrate evidence-based psychedelic medicines into the U.S. healthcare system for eligible patients. Think of them as the Woodstock of healthcare, marching with a purpose!

APP aims to be the cosmic DJ spinning the latest beats on prescription psychedelics, focusing on government research, public-private partnerships, and patient-centric treatments. They’re not just winging it; they’re guided by experts from top institutions who know how to blend science with a touch of magic.

The founding members of this psychedelic symphony include B. More Inc., Compass Pathways, Lykos Therapeutics, and MindMed. Together, they’re like the Avengers of psychedelic medicine, minus the capes but with all the superpowers needed to advance scientific research and expand patient access to effective treatments.

Curious to join the ride or learn more? Visit psychedelicsRX.org for a trip through the looking glass of modern medicine. Just remember, this is strictly a professional operation—no flower crowns or lava lamps required!

Reference: https://www.psychedelicsrx.org/new-association-launches-to-expand-patient-access-to-psychedelic-medicines/

Published Date: 2024-11-20

In a groundbreaking study, scientists have discovered that the uplifting chill vibes of psychedelics might be separated from their infamous “I see unicorns!” side effects, potentially changing how anxiety is treated. Using a mouse model—because mice make excellent stand-ins for humans when we’re talking about trippy stuff—they discovered different neural circuits responsible for anxiety relief and hallucinations. Basically, it’s like finding out that you can have the calming effects of a spa day without the need to explain why there’s a talking cactus in the room afterward.

The psychedelic DOI was administered to these little mouse adventurers, and surprisingly, their anxiety levels dropped without them having to deal with any bizarre cheese hallucinations. This research is the scientific equivalent of extracting the good stuff from a psychedelic smoothie without the kaleidoscopic brain freeze, emphasizing the importance of focusing on specific neural pathways rather than just trying to chemically tweak the psychedelic concoction itself.

This advancement opens up the possibility of developing safer therapies that can offer anxiety relief without the user having to worry about wandering into a live-action Salvador Dalí painting. So, while your brain might not get to go on a surreal roller coaster ride, it can still kick back and relax in a metaphorical hammock, making this a significant step forward in anxiety treatment.

Reference: https://www.vice.com/en/article/psychedelics-minus-the-trip-powerful-anxiety-relief/

Published Date: 2024-11-20

In a twist more mind-bending than a walk through a Salvador Dali painting, veterans are increasingly advocating for psychedelic-assisted therapy to tackle mental health challenges. Picture this: a survey of 426 veterans—half tripping, half not—shows that those dabbling in psychedelics are not just on a wild ride for fun. They’re in it for healing, spiritual exploration, or maybe just a groovy day out.

Turns out, these psychedelic explorers are usually older, have logged more deployment time, and are battling higher rates of PTSD, depression, and anxiety. Despite occasionally confronting flashbacks that might make a horror movie look tame, most users reported the experience as beneficial. The secret sauce to avoiding those unpleasant side effects? Being older, choosing the right psychedelic, and tripping in a safe and well-prepared environment—because no one wants a bad trip in a messy room!

Veterans are raising their voices, louder than a psychedelic guitar solo, for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to give them access to these therapies. Currently, the only legal way to access these in the U.S. is through clinical trials, like the one at Ohio State studying psilocybin for PTSD. Supported by an ensemble cast of institutions, this research highlights the potential upsides of making psychedelic therapies more available to veterans.

So here’s to hoping we can soon say goodbye to the days of veterans having to choose between a clinical trial or a shaman named Rainbow to access this promising treatment!

Reference: https://csw.osu.edu/healing-spiritual-purposes-drive-many-veterans-use-of-psychedelics/

Published Date: 2024-11-18

Mark’s journey with ketamine therapy for his complex PTSD was going swimmingly until his provider got a surprise visit from the DEA and stopped prescribing. Mark feared his symptoms would make a dramatic comeback, so he hotfooted it to Mexico and started on Prozac, which, as we all know, is as speedy as a snail on a lazy Sunday. Luckily, he quickly found a ketamine provider, and lozenges were delivered to his doorstep, like a pizza but for mental health.

Ketamine isn’t stamped with the FDA’s seal of approval for PTSD, but it’s the reigning off-label champ for depression, with a few success stories—oh, and some concerns. Enter Matthew Perry’s unfortunate demise, spotlighting ketamine’s risks. Now, the DEA is eyeing doctors who hand out ketamine like candy, drawing parallels to the opioid saga. Experts fret that too much regulation could leave mental health patients in the lurch.

While ketamine’s primary gig is as an anesthesia super-secret agent, it’s moonlighting in mental health. Spravato gets an official thumbs-up, but off-label adventures usually aren’t insurance’s cup of tea, creating a data desert on prescriptions and safety. Its abuse potential is a mosquito next to the opioid elephant, but reports of its naughty behavior are creeping up. In 2023, ketamine was the third wheel in 0.5% of overdose deaths, often mingling with other substances. Misuse might lead to dependency and organ drama.

Though safer than its opioid cousins, ketamine can be a wild child when unregulated. Celebrity cases like Matthew Perry’s and Elijah McClain’s highlight its risks. The DEA is cracking down on rogue ketamine operations, with telehealth adding both convenience

Reference: https://www.salon.com/2024/11/17/ketamines-risks-are-under-scrutiny-as-experts-warn-a-crackdown-could-worsen-access/

Published Date: 2024-11-17

In the magical land of Vermont, a legislative advisory group gathered to discuss the potential wonders of psychedelics for mental health treatment, only to conclude that the state isn’t quite ready to dive into a psychedelic program just yet. It’s like planning a ski trip and realizing you forgot the skis! The group, acting as the responsible adults in the room, recommended keeping tabs on existing studies and proposed extending their own work while adding more study participants. While some cautious members are waiting for the FDA’s thumbs-up, everyone agreed that psilocybin should be the star of the show—though they squabbled over how boldly to move forward.

The advisory team is practically begging for more funding for harm reduction training and education, as curious folks tiptoe into psychedelic land. They noted that only Oregon and Colorado have statewide legal access, making them the cool kids on the psychedelic playground. Meanwhile, a separate group in Vermont feels like they’ve been left behind on the merry-go-round, disappointed by the sluggish progress in studying psychedelics for end-of-life care. However, they welcome the ongoing chatter as a step in the right direction, especially for examining psilocybin’s effects on depression and anxiety.

Rick Barnett, the chair of the Psychedelic Therapy Advisory Working Group, seems to think that more research is as necessary as a third arm, citing the long history of psychedelics. While the group focused on the therapeutic side and not on turning Vermont into the next Woodstock, Barnett is keen to keep the public conversation going, aiming to dispel stigma and legal worries like a wise wizard educating the masses.

Reference: https://www.vermontpublic.org/local-news/2024-11-15/advisory-group-says-vermont-not-ready-to-legalize-psychedelic-therapies

Published Date: 2024-11-15

In a bold move that could make even the most skeptical eyebrows raise, France is conducting a pilot experiment that’s a bit like a sci-fi mashup of therapy and a magical mystery tour. CHU Nîmes is administering psilocybin, the psychedelic ingredient in magic mushrooms, to patients battling depression linked to alcoholism. Picture this: a four-week hospital stay where participants who’ve recently quit alcohol get two doses of psilocybin to kickstart some serious psychotherapy. It’s kind of like giving therapy a turbo boost with a sprinkle of magic mushroom dust!

The ambitious goal? To cut down the 50% relapse rate that traditional therapy alone can’t seem to shake. The psychedelic sessions last about six hours, with experiences ranging from “Whoa, what a ride!” to “Did something happen?” This study isn’t just about the trip, though. It’s also looking into how psilocybin might enhance neuroplasticity, potentially rewiring the brain’s autopilot when it comes to reaching for that next drink.

The trial ropes in 30 brave souls, running from February to January, with results expected to make headlines in April. Meanwhile, in a plot twist that sounds like a public service announcement mixed with a fairy tale gone wrong, France has issued a mushroom picking alert. It turns out, not all mushrooms have a penchant for helping people—some just want to ruin the party with a side of poisoning or worse.

Reference: https://www.connexionfrance.com/practical/french-study-tests-psychedelics-in-alcoholism-therapy/681828

Published Date: 2024-11-15

In a groundbreaking study that’s got both scientists and mice feeling a bit more chill, researchers have discovered that the anti-anxiety and hallucinogenic effects of psychedelics are like siblings who can’t stand each other—they operate through different neural circuits! Using our furry little friends as models, the team found that psychedelics like DOI could reduce anxiety without sending the mice on a psychedelic light show. This magic happens by targeting specific neurons in the medial prefrontal cortex, which sounds fancy and probably is.

To spot these neurons, the researchers used a tool with a snazzy name, scFLARE2, and then played a game of optogenetic tag to calm the mice without getting them trippy. The takeaway? It’s not just about the chemistry; the real party’s in the neural circuit targeting. So, future drugs might be able to chill you out without making your walls melt.

The study further delved into how activating cells with 5-HT2AR receptors can cause brain network shenanigans, suggesting the action goes beyond just those initial cells. They focused on understanding these circuit mechanics with psychedelics like DOI—though, spoiler alert, DOI isn’t being lined up for therapeutic fame.

Led by brainy duo Jessie Muir and Sophia Lin, the research was funded by a host of noble institutions, including the Burroughs Wellcome Fund and the NIH, ensuring the mice had their anxiety reduced in a lab funded by the best. In the end, this research could pave the way to developing safer, non-hallucinogenic psychedelics so you can keep your cool without the kaleidoscope effect.

Reference: https://biology.ucdavis.edu/news/anti-anxiety-and-hallucination-effects-psychedelics-mediated-distinct-neural-circuits

Published Date: 2024-11-14

In a mind-bending twist, two Canadian companies, Cybin Inc. and Mind Medicine (MindMed) Inc., are diving into the psychedelic world with phase 3 trials to tackle mental health issues. Cybin got the FDA’s nod to test a synthetic psilocybin variant for major depressive disorder, while MindMed is planning an anxiety intervention with some good old LSD, man.

The road to psychedelic salvation isn’t all rainbows and groovy vibes, though. The sector’s faced some gnarly setbacks, like Lykos Pharmaceuticals’ MDMA dreams getting crushed by the FDA, and Compass Pathways’ psilocybin results hitting a roadblock. But hey, Cybin’s FDA approval is like a thumbs-up from the universe, bringing hope amidst the chaos.

Analysts are cautiously optimistic, like cats watching a laser pointer, hopeful that responsibly conducted trials could lead to a breakthrough. The psychedelic buzz has been growing since the 2000s, after being shunned since the 1970s like a disco ball at a punk concert. The 2010s saw the FDA bestowing “breakthrough” status on psychedelic drugs, recognizing their potential to turn frowns upside down.

Cybin’s recent results have shown promise, with many depression patients achieving remission, making them the rock stars of the clinical trial world. Meanwhile, Johnson & Johnson’s Spravato, a ketamine-based treatment, is making it rain in sales, proving that psychedelics can be big business.

Despite the groovy potential, there are still clouds in this kaleidoscope sky. Commercial viability, patent protection, and high administration costs are like a trio of buzzkills at the psychedelic party. But with millions suffering from mental health conditions

Reference: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-can-canadas-psychedelic-drug-developers-shake-off-the-sectors-bad-trip/

Published Date: 2024-11-13

At the University of Birmingham’s recent research conference, experts donned their lab coats and set their sights on the trippy topic of clinical psychedelics in the realms of society and law. The psychedelic posse has high hopes for treating mental disorders like PTSD and depression, but the party-pooper regulatory bodies in Europe, the USA, and Canada aren’t ready to hand out hallucinogenic hall passes just yet. The FDA’s recent “nope” to psychedelics has everyone wondering if they’ve been swept up in more hype than a 1960s flower power festival.

A motley crew of academics from every corner of the campus gathered to hash out the legal tangles, public perceptions, and the challenges of getting psychedelics a seat at the mainstream medicine table. The UK still brands these substances as having “no inherent medical value,” making research as tricky as deciphering a psychedelic album cover.

Research results that seem too rosy get the stink eye, affecting how the public sees these mind-bending substances. The lack of regulation makes sourcing them akin to a scavenger hunt, and the intense experiences they produce make traditional double-blind trials look like a riddle wrapped in an enigma, dipped in tie-dye.

With the FDA turning up its nose, pharma companies are dreaming up new ideas, like neuroplastogens, that pack a punch without the psychedelic side effects. There’s chatter about getting more diverse voices in on the decision-making, tipping hats to Indigenous knowledge of psychedelics. The bias spotlight shines on “psychedelic exceptionalism,” pointing out that research isn’t as colorful as it should be.

Collaboration is the name of the game, and despite the uncertainties, there’s a buzz of optimism about the future of psychedelic healthcare, as

Reference: https://www.redbrick.me/re-imagining-the-future-of-psychedelic-medicine/

Published Date: 2024-11-13

Joe McKay, once a fearless firefighter and now a fearless psilocybin pioneer, battled cluster headaches that made fighting fires seem like a day at the spa. After 9/11, these headaches hit him like a freight train. When traditional meds failed, he turned to psilocybin, the psychedelic wizardry in “magic” mushrooms, which surprisingly gave him a year of peace—no trips to the ER, just trips of a different kind.

Despite its status as an outlaw, psilocybin is gaining a reputation for tackling headaches with the tenacity of a caffeine-fueled squirrel. Thanks to grassroots groups like Clusterbusters, there’s a growing movement to explore its potential. Researchers are scratching their heads trying to understand how this fungus fights headaches. The hypothalamus, a brain region that sounds like something from a sci-fi movie, might hold the key.

In a 2020 survey, cluster headache pain outdid childbirth and kidney stones on the “ouch” scale. Tom, another sufferer, was initially reluctant to try psilocybin given his history as a recovering alcoholic. But when the mushrooms worked their magic, he used them medicinally, not for a psychedelic tour of the Milky Way. However, the legal risks keep Tom as secretive as a cat burglar.

Despite the legal barrier and public skepticism, especially with the FDA and Massachusetts voters being buzzkills, psilocybin continues to gain a fan base. The research is as small as a mouse’s sneeze, but the results are promising. Joe McKay, now a full-time advocate, champions this cause like a knight with a mushroom-shaped lance. He and the mushroom-loving community offer hope to headache sufferers, making them feel less alone

Reference: https://www.inquirer.com/health/medicine-psilocybin-lsd-psychedelics-cluster-headache-20241112.html

Published Date: 2024-11-12