According to a new clinical study published in JAMA, a single dose of mebufotenin benzoate, a fast-acting psychedelic nasal spray, significantly alleviates treatment-resistant depression and eliminates the need for patients to remain in a clinical setting for extended periods.<\/p>\n
Major depressive disorder robs patients of their enjoyment of life and leaves them in a state of profound despair for months. The problem is compounded by the fact that approximately one-third of patients, around 33%, develop treatment-resistant depression. In such cases, standard antidepressants are ineffective, worsening quality of life, deepening emotional distress, and sharply increasing the risk of suicide.<\/p>\n
Scientists see psychedelic therapy, involving substances such as psilocybin and LSD, as a potential way out of this impasse. However, the intense and prolonged hallucinogenic effects of these substances can require patients to remain in a medical facility for 4 to 12 hours.<\/p>\n
To overcome this logistical barrier, researchers tested mebufotenin benzoate, a short-acting compound. After being administered as a nasal spray, the drug binds to and activates two key serotonin receptors in the brain, 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A, helping regulate mood and perception.<\/p>\n
Researchers studied 193 patients aged 18 to 75 at 38 clinics across the United States, Australia, and Europe. All were experiencing severe treatment-resistant depression, having failed to respond to between two and five previous treatments. Each participant received a single intranasal dose of the drug: 12 mg, 8 mg, or a control dose of 0.3 mg.<\/p>\n
Ninety minutes after administration, medical staff began assessing the patients’ condition every 30 minutes. The psychedelic effects subsided rapidly: 85% of participants in the 8 mg group and 78% in the 12 mg group met all safety criteria and were discharged from the clinic in just two hours.<\/p>\n
Within one day of receiving the medium or high dose, symptoms of severe depression had eased, and the therapeutic benefits persisted for eight weeks. At the four-week mark, on a 60-point clinical rating scale, the higher doses reduced depression scores by five points more than the control treatment. Furthermore, approximately one-third of patients who received 8 mg or 12 mg experienced at least a 50% reduction in their symptoms.<\/p>\n
The study authors conclude that a prolonged psychedelic state is not necessary to achieve a robust antidepressant effect. In the next phase, researchers plan to conduct longer-term follow-up and investigate whether repeat dosing is necessary.<\/p>\n