Psilocybin is making giant strides in the medical field.
Magic mushrooms, boomers, Little smoke, simple Simon, and so on are some negative street terms associated with Psilocybin as merely a recreational or party drug. Still, Psilocybin is making giant strides in the medical field, especially in treating neuropsychiatry-related conditions.
Psilocybin: The Unexpected Mushroom Miracle.
Psilocybin is a naturally occurring prodrug compound from mushrooms indigenous to tropical and subtropical areas of South America, Mexico, and the United States. However, it can grow practically anywhere in the world. While initially classified as a Schedule 1 substance declared to have no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. Current research has produced results that have evolved Psilocybin from being just another party drug to what could be the next medical miracle.
Psilocybin has proven to be exponentially valuable in treating Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRDs) for which regular antidepressants or psychotherapy may not adequately ease symptoms. The current FDA-approved first-line treatment for major depression is a class of medication called SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors). Some SSRIs have late action periods, some take up to a few weeks to start working, and some have even limited efficacy levels. Some patients are also unresponsive to conventional treatment regimens. Psilocybin-assisted therapy in a controlled setting has been shown to effectively treat TRDs.
Also, for the treatment of Addiction or Substance Use Disorders (SUDs), current FDA-approved treatment drugs have only modest effects, and patients often relapse. Early clinical trials have shown promising results in treating nicotine dependence and alcohol dependence. Despite its classification as a Schedule 1 controlled substance, it has a low toxicity level and abuse potential. The infrequent doses a year under controlled conditions have produced long-lasting effects with minimal toxicity.
Psilocybin is also useful in treating cancer or end-of-life mood disorders. Patients with terminal diagnoses are prone to developing mood disorders such as depression and anxiety. Current treatment options are primarily limited due to the plethora of medications a terminal patient may take. Some clinical trials have shown improvements in the moods of terminal patients treated with Psilocybin.
While we can't ignore the downsides of Psilocybin, including hallucinogenic effects and side effects including but not limited to drowsiness, lack of coordination, muscle weakness, and so on, much of these downsides stem from the use of Psilocybin as a party drug.
The whole point is that there are many more benefits from Psilocybin being administered for medical purposes under controlled conditions. This has been discovered through some clinical trials and studies. Even the US Food and Drug Administration has described Psilocybin as a breakthrough medicine "which is phenomenal".
However, further research is needed to explore the efficacy of Psilocybin treatments beyond 12 months.
Near instant action, infrequent doses extended effective periods. So on, overall, the possibilities are endless. There is genuine anticipation for the evolution of Psilocybin in the medical space.