Psilocybin Found To Be As Effective As Lexapro In Treating Depression, Researchers Say
Researchers found that psilocybin, the active compound in magic mushrooms, performs just as well as the commonly prescribed antidepressant escitalopram (Lexapro) in reducing depression symptoms, with additional benefits for patients’ overall well-being.
The findings, published on September 21 in Lancet eClinicalMedicine and presented at the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology’s annual meeting in Milan, signal the potential for psilocybin to become a viable alternative treatment for depression.
The clinical trial involved 59 patients with severe depression, half of whom received a single dose of psilocybin, while the other half underwent a six-week course of escitalopram, or Lexapro.
The …