Scoping Review: The Role of Psychedelics in the Management of Chronic Pain

This review explores the potential of psychedelic drugs like LSD and psilocybin to treat chronic pain, a condition affecting millions and costing billions annually. Despite challenges due to their Schedule 1 classification (high abuse potential, no accepted medical use), psychedelics are being investigated for conditions like phantom limb pain, cluster headaches, and fibromyalgia. The review analyzes existing studies, noting that psychedelics may modulate pain through serotonin receptor agonism, but emphasizes the need for more rigorous, placebo-controlled trials to confirm their efficacy and safety.

• 1
  Several studies suggest that psychedelics, particularly psilocybin and LSD, may reduce pain symptoms in chronic pain conditions such as phantom limb pain and cluster headaches.
• 2
  One randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study showed that psilocybin administration had no serious adverse or unexpected effects and was well tolerated in patients with cluster headaches.
• 3
  Surveys indicate that many patients with fibromyalgia are open to exploring psychedelics as a treatment option for their pain, with some reporting improvements in pain symptoms with psychedelic use.