Single-dose psychedelic nasal spray eases treatment-resistant depression for weeks

A clinical study published in JAMA found that a single-dose nasal spray containing mebufotenin (5-MeO-DMT) significantly reduced symptoms in patients with treatment-resistant depression for up to eight weeks.

According to a randomized clinical trial published in the medical journal JAMA on October 26, a single-dose nasal spray containing the psychedelic substance mebufotenin (5-MeO-DMT) significantly reduced symptoms in adults with treatment-resistant depression.

A total of 193 patients aged 18 to 75 at 38 centers in Australia, Europe and the United States received 12 mg, 8 mg or 0.3 mg as a comparator dose. On day 29, depression scores fell by 11.1 points in the 12 mg group and 12.5 points in the 8 mg group, while the decline in the comparator group was 5.5 points. Symptoms decreased by at least half in about one-third of participants who received an effective dose.

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Improvement began the day after treatment and largely continued through the eighth week. The substance's effects peaked 8 to 15 minutes after dosing and subsided within 45 to 60 minutes; the researchers said that a prolonged psychedelic experience did not appear necessary for lasting relief. Nearly all side effects were mild or moderate, such as headaches and nausea; one participant who received 12 mg experienced two severe panic attacks.

The study was funded by Beckley Psytech, which developed the drug, and company employees participated in the design and analysis. The researchers emphasized that the results need to be confirmed in larger studies and that follow-up lasted only eight weeks. The 8 mg dose was selected for the next testing phase.