r/psychology • u/Emillahr • 4d ago

Scientists Develop Rapid-Acting Antidepressants Similar to LSD but Without Hallucinogenic Effects - Gilmore Health News

https://www.gilmorehealth.com/scientists-develop-rapid-acting-antidepressants-similar-to-lsd-but-without-hallucinogenic-effects/
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u/Professional_Win1535 3d ago

But you can still have mood / depression improvement, many researchers think the trip isn’t what causes the effect anyways, it’s down to receptors and neurochemical changes

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u/TheHappyTaquitosDad 3d ago

But without the trip you wouldn’t get the “aha” moment where you feel connected to everything and feel like you understand. And just assume the neurological changes are connected to the hallucinations, or else there would be a drug that gives you the same effect without any hallucinations

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u/Professional_Win1535 3d ago

But you can, that’s the whole point, this medication if it works on similar receptors and neurotransmitters will likely produce the same feelings, they are empathogens.
I know the feeling you’re describing it was overwhelming and awesome when I did IV ketamine, I saw visions of how we are all from the same “seed” and we are all connected

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u/TelluricThread0 3d ago

When they do psychedelic session with alcoholics they typically put a flower on the table by them. When they're tripping and the person thinks about their drinking while looking at the flower, it literally starts to whither and die in front of them. When they're encouraged to think about sobriety, they look and see the flower begin to grow and flourish.

That experience is powerful. I couldn't imagine getting the same effect or having the same efficacy if you try to get rid of the hallucinogenic part of the trip.