Psilocybin may offer benefits over current drugs
Psilocybin may offer benefits over current drugs Even with a limited amount of data, it’s clear that psilocybin stands apart from current antidepressants. Psilocybin acts quickly, whereas antidepressants can take weeks to work. Also, the effects of a single dose of psilocybin appear to last for weeks to months. Ross says if these effects are confirmed by randomized clinical trials, it could lead to a major change in the treatment of depression. “Rather than a pill every day, it’s one treatment or maybe a couple treatments with enduring effects,” Ross said. “And because you wouldn’t have to keep taking the medication, it minimizes side effects compared to antidepressants.” Hellerstein says psilocybin also stands out in how it’s given to patients. In current clinical trials, participants are given a single dose of psilocybin and monitored by a specially trained psychotherapist, who stays in the room for the entire six- to eight-hour hallucinogenic “trip.” Participants are also prepared f...