Ayahuasca, a potentially rapid acting antidepressant: focus on safety and tolerability

Rossi, Giordano Novak; Dias, Isabella Caroline da Silva; Baker, Glen B.; Bouso, José Carlos; Dursun, Serdar; Hallak, Jaime E. C.; Santos, Rafael G. dos

doi:10.1080/14740338.2022.2054988

Cited by 11 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 68 publications

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“…Ayahuasca consumption at reported doses in observational studies and clinical trials causes a wide variety of effects, of which some are desired, some are unwanted, and/or can be considered adverse events (AEs). Regarding randomized, blinded (single or double), and placebo-controlled trials, a recent review evaluated the occurrence of adverse events following ayahuasca administration to healthy volunteers and treatment-resistant depressive patients in 11 distinct trials ( n = 108 ayahuasca administrations) [ 74 ]. On one hand, most common AEs reported were gastrointestinal malaise, nausea, vomiting, headaches, and mild-to-moderate transient increases in heart rate and blood pressure [ 74 ].…”

Section: Safety and Tolerability Of Ayahuasca Administrationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Regarding randomized, blinded (single or double), and placebo-controlled trials, a recent review evaluated the occurrence of adverse events following ayahuasca administration to healthy volunteers and treatment-resistant depressive patients in 11 distinct trials ( n = 108 ayahuasca administrations) [ 74 ]. On one hand, most common AEs reported were gastrointestinal malaise, nausea, vomiting, headaches, and mild-to-moderate transient increases in heart rate and blood pressure [ 74 ]. These AEs were all expected and known to occur with ayahuasca and other psychedelic administration such as LSD and psilocybin [ 74 , 75 ].…”

Section: Safety and Tolerability Of Ayahuasca Administrationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…On one hand, most common AEs reported were gastrointestinal malaise, nausea, vomiting, headaches, and mild-to-moderate transient increases in heart rate and blood pressure [ 74 ]. These AEs were all expected and known to occur with ayahuasca and other psychedelic administration such as LSD and psilocybin [ 74 , 75 ]. On the other hand, there were more clinically significant reports of anxiety, confusion, emotional distress, depersonalization, and dysphoric state manifestations after ayahuasca administration, although these are much less common.…”

Section: Safety and Tolerability Of Ayahuasca Administrationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, there are currently no reports of psychotic states, lasting AEs, trial dropouts, or the need for medical interventions in any case, even in more significant situations. All reported AEs were transient and resolved on their own with researcher’s psychological support [ 74 ].…”

Section: Safety and Tolerability Of Ayahuasca Administrationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Molecular Pathways of the Therapeutic Effects of Ayahuasca, a Botanical Psychedelic and Potential Rapid-Acting Antidepressant

et al. 2022

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Ayahuasca is a psychoactive brew traditionally used in indigenous and religious rituals and ceremonies in South America for its therapeutic, psychedelic, and entheogenic effects. It is usually prepared by lengthy boiling of the leaves of the bush Psychotria viridis and the mashed stalks of the vine Banisteriopsis caapi in water. The former contains the classical psychedelic N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), which is thought to be the main psychoactive alkaloid present in the brew. The latter serves as a source for β-carbolines, known for their monoamine oxidase-inhibiting (MAOI) properties. Recent preliminary research has provided encouraging results investigating ayahuasca’s therapeutic potential, especially regarding its antidepressant effects. On a molecular level, pre-clinical and clinical evidence points to a complex pharmacological profile conveyed by the brew, including modulation of serotoninergic, glutamatergic, dopaminergic, and endocannabinoid systems. Its substances also interact with the vesicular monoamine transporter (VMAT), trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1), and sigma-1 receptors. Furthermore, ayahuasca’s components also seem to modulate levels of inflammatory and neurotrophic factors beneficially. On a biological level, this translates into neuroprotective and neuroplastic effects. Here we review the current knowledge regarding these molecular interactions and how they relate to the possible antidepressant effects ayahuasca seems to produce.

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Section: Safety and Tolerability Of Ayahuasca Administrationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Safety and Tolerability Of Ayahuasca Administrationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Safety and Tolerability Of Ayahuasca Administrationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Safety and Tolerability Of Ayahuasca Administrationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Molecular Pathways of the Therapeutic Effects of Ayahuasca, a Botanical Psychedelic and Potential Rapid-Acting Antidepressant

et al. 2022

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“…The evidence to date suggests that ayahuasca has a relatively good safety profile [( 3 ); but also see ( 4 , 5 ) for potential harmful effects]. While ayahuasca and its alkaloid-containing ingredients show promise in the treatment of mental health conditions ( 6 – 9 ), they might also aid in the treatment and prevention of movement and neurodegenerative disorders.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Preliminary evidence of links between ayahuasca use and the corpus callosum

et al. 2022

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BackgroundRecent research suggests that ayahuasca and its alkaloid-containing ingredients may be helpful in the treatment and prevention of certain movement and neurodegenerative disorders. However, such research is still in its infancy and more studies in normative samples seem necessary to explore effects of ayahuasca on clinically relevant brain structures, such as the corpus callosum.AimsThe purpose of the present study was to investigate links between ayahuasca use and callosal structure in a normative sample.MethodsUsing structural imaging data from 22 ayahuasca users and 22 matched controls we compared the thickness of the corpus callosum between both groups at 100 equidistant points across the entire midsagittal surface. In addition, we investigated point-wise correlations between callosal thickness and the number of past ayahuasca sessions.ResultsThe corpus callosum was significantly thicker within the isthmus in the ayahuasca group than in the control group. There was also a significant positive correlation between callosal thickness and the number of past ayahuasca sessions within the rostral body, albeit none of these effects survived corrections for multiple comparisons. No region was significantly thicker in the control than in the ayahuasca group, and no callosal region was negatively linked to ayahuasca use, even at uncorrected significance thresholds.ConclusionThis study provides preliminary evidence of links between ayahuasca use and the corpus callosum. However, future studies need to replicate these findings, preferably using larger sample sizes and ideally also utilizing longitudinal research designs, to draw any practical conclusion and offer implications for follow-up clinical research.

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Psychedelics in psychiatry

dos Santos,

Hallak

2024

Interventional Psychiatry

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Ayahuasca, a potentially rapid acting antidepressant: focus on safety and tolerability

Cited by 11 publications

References 68 publications

Molecular Pathways of the Therapeutic Effects of Ayahuasca, a Botanical Psychedelic and Potential Rapid-Acting Antidepressant

Molecular Pathways of the Therapeutic Effects of Ayahuasca, a Botanical Psychedelic and Potential Rapid-Acting Antidepressant

Preliminary evidence of links between ayahuasca use and the corpus callosum

Psychedelics in psychiatry

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