World-first medical trial set to experiment with the use of LSD on healthy people – potentially paving the way for it to be used to treat illnesses
- The trial would analyse the effects of LSD in treating PTSD and palliative patients
- Previous studies found full doses of LSD had the potential to combat Alzheimer’s
- If Auckland University in New Zealand is approved, the trial could begin in 2020
A new medical trial is set to experiment giving the hallucinogenic drug LSD to healthy people which, if successful, could lead to it being used to treat illnesses.
The trial at the University of Auckland in New Zealand would analyse the effects of LSD and psilocybin – the psychedelic substance found in ‘magic’ mushrooms – to treat post-traumatic stress disorder, smoking addiction and existential distress in palliative patients.
Previous studies overseas found taking full doses of psychedelics had the potential to repair brain function or help combat Alzheimer’s disease.
If the trial is approved, it would be the world’s first randomised, controlled trial of LSD micro-dosing.
The trial would analyse the effects of LSD and psilocybin, a naturally occurring psychedelic, to treat illnesses including PTSD, addiction to smoking, and existential distress in palliative patients (stock image)
The trial would be led by Associate Professor Dr Suresh Muthukumaraswamy, who told the NZ Herald that it is too early to tell whether LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) will be an effective medicine.
‘The data looks promising, but it’s not clear yet about whether the risk-benefit ratio is there and we’re not sure yet whether it might work over and above a good placebo,’ Dr Muthukumaraswamy said.
He said a previous study in 2016 found LSD had positive results treating depression, but the sample size involved only 20 people and could not provide definitive results.
‘Drug tests in pharmaceutical companies usually involve hundreds of people in each study across multiple studies and multiple centres in order the get the data that you need to say it works, that we have a really good side-effect profile, and we know how to do this in the safest possible manner.
‘We’re just not even close to there yet. The lesson is, don’t try this at home. That’s really risky, and I’ve had emails from people who have tried that and it hasn’t worked out very well.’
The Auckland University’s Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences is seeking final approval for the trial and aim to start in 2020.
The 2016 study conducted in London found LSD changed entrenched thought patterns and could be used to treat depression and anxiety.
Previous studies overseas found taking full doses of psychedelics had the potential to repair brain function or help combat Alzheimer’s (stock image)
A single dose of LSD was given to people who did not have a history of mental illness.
The results found it enhanced the person’s feelings of openness, optimism, and mood for around two weeks.
Another study found it helped patients who faced a life-threatening disease.
The administration of LSD reduced anxiety associated with death and patients also felt relaxed and had greater mental strength.