NationStates Jolt Archive

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2008/aug/12/medicalresearch.drugs

Scientists are exploring the use of psychedelic drugs such as LSD to treat a range of ailments from depression to cluster headaches and obsessive compulsive disorder.

The first clinical trial using LSD since the 1970s began in Switzerland in June. It aims to use "psychedelic psychotherapy" to help patients with terminal illnesses come to terms with their imminent mortality and so improve their quality of life.

Another psychedelic substance, psilocybin - the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, has shown promising results in trials for treating symptoms of terminal cancer patients. And researchers are using MDMA (ecstasy) as an experimental treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder.

In the Swiss trial eight subjects will receive a dose of 200 microgrammes of LSD. This is enough to induce a powerful psychedelic experience and is comparable to what would be found in an "acid tab" bought from a street drug dealer. A further four subjects will receive a dose of 20 microgrammes. Every participant will know they have received some LSD, but neither the subjects nor the researchers observing them will know for certain who received the full dose. During the course of therapy researchers will assess the patients' anxiety levels, quality of life and pain levels.

Hahaha, only in Europe. I can only imagine what sort of things would happen if chemists started giving out LSD instead of prozac here in the states. XD

This is looking like an interesting experiment.

Hasn't LSD already been shown to be an effective treatment for alcoholism and other addictions?

This is gonna be good, I hope they post the test on youtube.:D

Hasn't LSD already been shown to be an effective treatment for alcoholism and other addictions?

Usually as a substitute addiction, yes.

I'm sure LSD would make me feel better when depressed, yes.

Usually as a substitute addiction, yes.

I though LSD itself was not addictive and one effect of it was to inhibit the biological factors that cause addiction, which is why it is successful as a treatment for alcoholics.

I'm still depressed, only now a giant pink rabbit is telling me why my life sucks.

Hahaha, only in Europe.

Never heard of the great Alexander Shulgin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Shulgin) then?

Usually as a substitute addiction, yes.

LSD isn't addictive. Even the most hysterical anti-drug campaigners admit to that.

Really? :D

Where do I sign in and how critical must my depression be?

:hail:

I don't remember it making me less depressed, but I do remember it making a passing train totally awesome.

I loved acid. Most content I've ever been other than well, nm. If it's okay to dope yourself up with prozac and other 'pharmaceuticals' why would it be so bad to drop acid?

Answer: no one would be making billion dollar profits.

I loved acid. Most content I've ever been other than well, nm. If it's okay to dope yourself up with prozac and other 'pharmaceuticals' why would it be so bad to drop acid?

Answer: no one would be making billion dollar profits.

I think it would be problematic, as the effects are not very consistent.

A few people would have bad trips and then there would be class action lawsuits.

I loved acid. Most content I've ever been other than well, nm. If it's okay to dope yourself up with prozac and other 'pharmaceuticals' why would it be so bad to drop acid?

Answer: no one would be making billion dollar profits.

I hated it. The first -and only- time I did it was unintentionally (friend's boyfriend laced the pot with it) and I had a really really bad trip. Tried to jump off my friend's 4th story balcony thinking it was all a dream and that I could fly. Was saved by my friend pulling me off and throwing me on the couch sitting on me while shoving food down my throat.

Never touched drugs after that.


Works differently in people so while it may benefit some, it is not a cure-all.

I think it would be problematic, as the effects are not very consistent.

A few people would have bad trips and then there would be class action lawsuits.

You've just described the pharmaceutical industry.

It hasn't collapsed.

I hated it. The first -and only- time I did it was unintentionally (friend's boyfriend laced the pot with it) and I had a really really bad trip. Tried to jump off my friend's 4th story balcony thinking it was all a dream and that I could fly. Was saved by my friend pulling me off and throwing me on the couch sitting on me while shoving food down my throat.

Never touched drugs after that.


Works differently in people so while it may benefit some, it is not a cure-all.I think I have such a visceral grasp of my immediate reality, that regardless of how high I get, that link doesn't break. I can't say I've ever had a 'bad trip' on any hallucinogenic. I've had weird experiences, but nothing that really flipped my lid.

I think I have such a visceral grasp of my immediate reality, that regardless of how high I get, that link doesn't break. I can't say I've ever had a 'bad trip' on any hallucinogenic. I've had weird experiences, but nothing that really flipped my lid.

I always retained the thought process, "Hey, the floor is boiling. Is it because, a) for the first time a non-liquid surface that has been consistent up to this point has suddenly taken on the properties of very hot water, or b) the drugs I took earlier are making it appear like the floor is boiling." If the answer isn't immediately obvious I can fall back on, "Well, I'm not currently drowning in carpet or being scalded, so it must be the drugs. Awesome."

The only real peril I've ever been in is I probably stood a touch closer to the aforementioned train than I should have.

I hated it. The first -and only- time I did it was unintentionally (friend's boyfriend laced the pot with it) and I had a really really bad trip. Tried to jump off my friend's 4th story balcony thinking it was all a dream and that I could fly. Was saved by my friend pulling me off and throwing me on the couch sitting on me while shoving food down my throat.

Never touched drugs after that.


Works differently in people so while it may benefit some, it is not a cure-all.

Definitely acid??? Could have been some good opium or angel dust as well...

Anyway, psychedelics are my favorite. I think the acid would be good for treating depression, it doesn't seem to mess with your emotions as much as psilocybin. Mushrooms definitely changed the way I look at life as well, gave me a much more open mind. That could swing either way with a severely depressed person.

On the other hand, acid never did that to me. I never had a bad trip, I just became socially retarded in public situations. It was more visual and having a good time looking at everything with a few good people than sitting around thinking real deep about the tree in the corner of the room like I've done on shrooms.

there are other hallucinogens that are better known for treating depression

I just wont name them because I don't want them being misused.

I hated it. The first -and only- time I did it was unintentionally (friend's boyfriend laced the pot with it) and I had a really really bad trip. Tried to jump off my friend's 4th story balcony thinking it was all a dream and that I could fly. Was saved by my friend pulling me off and throwing me on the couch sitting on me while shoving food down my throat.

Never touched drugs after that.


Works differently in people so while it may benefit some, it is not a cure-all.

Well if it was involuntary, I would imagine that the world turning inside out could easily make for a bad trip.

I've never had a bad trip - all of my hallucinogenic experiences had been full of laughter, amazement and ethereal information

I have a very good friend who`s suffering from several kind of problems. Going from depressions to obsessive compulsive personality disorders.

And what do doctors do currently with such people? They listen for 30 minutes, write some antideprisiva and ask for 50 Euros.

If such people try to commit suicide due those antideprisiva, who will care?

Look doctors are nice when something physical is wrong. But for mental problems they know nothing more then you and me.

Bat country, etc.

I loved acid. Most content I've ever been other than well, nm. If it's okay to dope yourself up with prozac and other 'pharmaceuticals' why would it be so bad to drop acid?
I think LSD legal status has something to do with the connection between acid use and brain damage, flashbacks and dangerous psychotic reactions. Of course, not being a dedicated counter-cultural guru like yourself, I'm probably wrong. In fact, I'll bet it really has something to do with a big, bad corporate conspiracy.
Answer: no one would be making billion dollar profits.
Yep. Well, I hate to pierce your bubble, sweetness, but if LSD were legal, it would be chiefly distributed by the same people who currently make "pharmaceuticals," and they would still be making huge profits.

I think LSD legal status has something to do with the connection between acid use and brain damage, flashbacks and dangerous psychotic reactions. Of course, not being a dedicated counter-cultural guru like yourself, I'm probably wrong. In fact, I'll bet it really has something to do with a big, bad corporate conspiracy.

Right. Because once things have been passed through federal agencies, and cleared for public use, there are never (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thalidomide) ever (http://thyroid.about.com/cs/thyroiddrugs/a/sideeffects.htm) things that go seriously and permanently wrong. Serious side effects are mentioned just because. They don't really happen ALL that much. Not like big bad LSD.

Studies are not conclusive, and do not draw a clear link between acid use and brain damage or dangerous psychotic reactions. Generally because there is little way to know what the acid has been CUT with.

Take that risk out of the equation and you have a drug. Like any other clean drug. With risks, and benefits, both which must be weighed by a knowledgable health professional.

Yep. Well, I hate to pierce your bubble, sweetness, but if LSD were legal, it would be chiefly distributed by the same people who currently make "pharmaceuticals," and they would still be making huge profits.

You don't understand how patents work, do you.

"I FUCKING TOLD YOU SO!!" - Timothy Leary, from beyond the grave