Psilocybin Potentiates Impact of Antidepressant Medication in Animal Study

Results of an animal study shared this week by the life sciences company Wesana Health showed that administration of the antidepressant imipramine 3 weeks after a psilocybin loading dose provided an additional 39% improvement in depressive behaviors compared with a psilocybin loading dose alone. A second administration of imipramine 4 weeks after a psilocybin loading dose was found to provide an even greater reduction (45%) in depressive behaviors.

The results indicate that psilocybin can potentiate the effects of antidepressant medications, Wesana Chief Scientific Officer Mark Wingertzahn said in a news release.

“These data could signal a shift in how we develop future clinical treatments for depression using both psilocybin and antidepressants to optimize outcomes,” Wingertzahn said.

Wesana noted that previous research has shown that approximately 60% to 70% of patients respond to antidepressant medication, and of those who do not respond, approximately 10% to 30% exhibit treatment-resistant symptoms. Moreover, 44% of traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients with major depressive disorder receive antidepressants or counseling, and of those treated, there is limited evidence supporting the efficacy of antidepressants in the treatment of post-TBI depression.

The findings of the new Wesana study suggest that treatment that incorporates both antidepressant medication and psilocybin could provide more consistent and robust effects compared with existing treatment modalities.

Reference

Wesana Health announces new findings indicating psilocybin potentiates impact of an anti-depressant. News release. Wesana Health. March 22, 2022. Accessed March 23, 2022.