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Unsatisfied with life?

A single dose of 5-MeO-DMT produces rapid and persistent improvements in life satisfaction and psychopathological symptoms

A Maastricht University study found that a single dose of 5-MeO-DMT (the psychedelic found in toad venom and several plants) improved subjects’ scores for life satisfaction, depression, anxiety, and mindfulness. 

The changes were seen 1 day after the dose and persisted for 4 weeks.

Higher levels of ego dissolution were linked with greater improvements in scores (so, the more intense the trip, the more beneficial).

A separate survey found that ~80% of people with depression or anxiety reported improvements in symptoms following a dose of 5-MeO-DMT.

Some companies that are researching 5-MeO-DMT include GH Research (GHRS), Biomind Labs (BMND), and Mindset Pharma (MSET).

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Biomind begins DMT trial

Biomind Labs Doses First Subject in Phase I/IIa Clinical Trial of Its DMT-Based Inhaled Formulation BMND01 for Treatment-Resistant Depression

Biomind Labs (BMND) dosed the first subject in a Phase I trial /IIa clinical trial on DMT for treatment-resistant depression.

Over the next 4 months, 30 healthy patients who have never done psychedelics will receive 2 doses of inhalable DMT. Researchers will assess the safety of the drug, as well as behavioral and brain effects before continuing with Phase II.

Can you imagine trying DMT as your first psychedelic?

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Attention psychedelic researchers 🚨

Here’s two new opportunities to get your research funded:

  1. COMPASS Pathways (CMPS) is sponsoring three One Mind Rising Star Awards – a $300,000 research grant for mental health researchers.
  2. The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is launching a $3M grant program to support psilocybin clinical trials on:
  • Substance use disorders
  • Major depressive disorder or treatment resistant depression
  • End-of-life distress in late-stage cancer patients

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Microdosing for stroke recovery

Psychedelic Pharmaceutical Startup Ninnion Announces Patent Filings and Development of NIN-S119 for Ischemic Stroke

Ninnion Therapeutics, a private Texas-based company, hopes microdosing will help patients recover from strokes.

Ischemic strokes block blood flow to the brain, causing brain cells to die. 

Microdosing in combination with occupational therapy may be able to strengthen the remaining brain cells to restore lost functions.

The company recently filed a patent application for the treatment. Since there are no approved drugs for stroke recovery, the formulation may qualify for a Breakthrough Therapy designation, which would speed up the development timeline. 

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A cure for acid flashbacks

Ehave Announces MetaHealthU Will Enter The Market With A Focus On HPPD

Ehave Inc. (EHVVF) and University of Melbourne are launching a series of studies to better understand a condition called hallucinogen-persisting perception disorder (HPPD). Basically, HPPD is when someone continues to experience visual hallucinations after a trip.

Researchers will conduct genetic analysis and visual processing tests to see if individuals can be genetically predisposed to HPPD. 

Ehave’s goal is to find a cure for the disorder and become an “industry leader in preventing negative side effects during treatment for mental health issues.”

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Brain imaging study reveals how psilocybin eases depression

Magic mushroom compound increases brain connectivity in people with depression

“For the first time we find that psilocybin works differently from conventional antidepressants — making the brain more flexible and fluid, and less entrenched in the negative thinking patterns associated with depression,” says Imperial College London researcher David Nutt.

A new brain imaging study found that psilocybin increases brain network integration, whereas a common antidepressant, escitalopram, had no impact on brain network organization. 

fMRI scans showed that psilocybin reduces activity in the default mode network (DMN), a region associated with introspection that’s often overactive in patients with depression, causing negative fixations about one’s self and the future. 

The DMN became more connected with other regions like the salience network and the executive network, which are often impaired in patients with depression (as well as autism and OCD).

Essentially, this helps “open up” the brain, breaking rigid and restrictive patterns.

These findings may explain why psilocybin outperformed escitalopram in treating depression.

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The most intense psychedelic could be perfect for new moms

Field Trip Health Ltd. Granted US Patent Covering Novel Psychedelic Molecule FT-104

Field Trip Health (FTRP) was granted a US patent for its formulation of 4-HO-DiPT (aka Isoprocin Glutarate), an extremely intense psychedelic lasting 2-3 hours. 

Field Trip will begin a Phase I safety trial within 3 months with hopes that it will lead to Phase II trials on treatment-resistant depression and postpartum depression.

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MDMA treats PTSD + eating disorders simultaneously

MDMA-assisted therapy significantly reduces eating disorder symptoms in a randomized placebo-controlled trial of adults with severe PTSD

Patients with PTSD often have eating disorders too. MDMA is known to improve self acceptance and emotional processing, so it may be the perfect treatment for both!

In MAPS’ Phase 3 trial on MDMA for PTSD, 42%* of patients scored in the “clinical” or “at-risk” range on an eating disorder scale prior to the treatment.

MDMA therapy was found to significantly reduce eating disorder symptoms in comparison to a placebo.

MAPS is commencing a multi-site Phase 2 trial this May to further examine MDMA therapy on both anorexia and binge eating.

*Patients with active purging were excluded as a precaution to avoid cardiac arrhythmias.

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Psychedelic blocks the rewarding effects of alcohol 🍾

Ibogaine blocks some of the rewarding effects of alcohol in rodent model of addictive behavior

A common model of addiction involves conditioning rats to associate a drug with a certain area. The amount of time the rat spends in that area indicates how addictive the stimuli is.

In a recent study, rats showed a preference to the area associated with ethanol (alcohol) over the placebo area, which was expected since alcohol is addictive. 

After a dose of ibogaine (a psychedelic compound found in the African iboga shrub), they no longer expressed a preference for alcohol.

Additionally, rats showed no preference between an area associated with ibogaine and the placebo area, suggesting that ibogaine is non-addictive.

“We found that ibogaine did not have rewarding effects itself, but it did block the expression of ethanol reward in a model that can commonly be referred to as a pre-clinical model of relapse,” explains the study author, Lais F. Berro.

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Microdosing reverses the effects of stress on the brain

Repeated lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) reverses stress-induced anxiety-like behavior, cortical synaptogenesis deficits and serotonergic neurotransmission decline

A study published yesterday suggests that microdosing LSD reduces stress-induced anxiety and promotes neuroplasticity.

McGill University researchers found that giving rats a microdose 7 days in a row was able to prevent anxiety-like behaviour when exposed to chronic stress conditions, but a single dose had no behavioural effect.

They also found that repeated microdoses prevented two neurobiological changes that occur with stress: the loss of dendritic spines (the branches on neurons that conduct electrical signals) and the decrease in serotonin transmission.

“We have shown that LSD can rebuild these branches that are ‘dismantled’ due to stress. This is a sign of brain plasticity,” explains one of the researchers.

Interestingly, a single microdose actually decreased serotonin neurotransmission – it was only the repeated regimen that increased the firing of serotonin neurons. So if you’re going to microdose, you may want to try it multiple days in a row 😉

If you’re looking to start microdosing, follow @chloedeutscher on TikTok for advice from an industry expert.

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