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- Psychedelic Journal Watch
Psychedelic Journal Watch
Keeping health professionals abreast of the latest research in psychedelic medicine
I. MDMA and Hyponatremia
MDMA induced hyponatremia can be mitigated with fluid restriction, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
In this post-hoc secondary analysis of 4 randomized clinical trials, including 96 participants, individuals received 100mg or 125mg doses of MDMA; fluids were restricted in 15 participants and not restricted in the other 81 participants.
Participants who did not restrict fluid intake had a significantly higher incidence of hyponatremia (30 / 81) compared to participants who did restrict fluid intake (0/15). Additionally, acute rise in serum oxytocin levels was associated with hyponatremia suggesting that oxytocin plays a mediating role in MDMA induced hyponatremia.
According to the authors, “our findings provide novel insights into the neuroendocrine mechanisms underlying MDMA-induced hyponatremia.”
II. Ketamine for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Ketamine shows efficacy for treatment-resistant OCD, according to the Journal of Psychopharmacology.
In this randomized, double-blind, psychoactive-controlled study, 10 participants received either intramuscular ketamine 0.5mg/kg, intramuscular ketamine 1.0mg/kg or fentanyl, and OCD scores were measured before and after using the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale.
Participants who received ketamine showed significant reduction in OCD scores; 60% of participants who received ketamine 0.5mg/kg had a positive response to treatment.
According to the authors, “our study provides further preliminary evidence for the effectiveness of ketamine in the treatment of OCD. More work is required to clarify the dosing regimen that optimizes tolerability and efficacy.”
III. What do Healthcare Professionals Think of Psilocybin and MDMA?
Healthcare professionals believe MDMA and psilocybin show therapeutic promise, but have low knowledge of therapeutic uses, risks, and pharmacology, according to Scientific Reports.
In this survey study, 879 US healthcare professionals recruited through the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research website, were asked about their knowledge and attitude of psilocybin and MDMA assisted therapy.
Respondents endorsed strong belief in therapeutic promise and moderate openness to clinical use of these substances. Despite high ratings in self-reported knowledge, objective knowledge ratings demonstrated limited knowledge of therapeutic uses, risks and side effects, and pharmacology of both psilocybin and MDMA.
According to the authors, “this study adds to the growing body of evidence on current healthcare providers’ views and concerns regarding adoption of novel psychedelic-assisted therapies in clinical practice.”
Following the development of PCP, ketamine, a close structural analog, was first synthesized in 1962 by Calvin Stevens, a chemist at Parke Davis Laboratories in Detroit, Michigan.
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