Login Register Cart 0
Generic placeholder image

Current Rheumatology Reviews

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 1573-3971
ISSN (Online): 1875-6360

Back
Journal Home About Journal Editorial Board Journal Insight Current Issue Volumes/Issues
Subscribe
Case Report

Potential Benefits of Psilocybin for Lupus Pain: A Case Report

Author(s): Sofia Audrey B. Gonzales, Christine Alexopoulos and Daniel G. Arkfeld*

Volume 20, Issue 1, 2024

Published on: 04 September, 2023

Page: [97 - 99] Pages: 3

DOI: 10.2174/1573397119666230904150750

Price: $65

Abstract

Introduction: Outcomes of treatment for patients with Lupus have shown overall improvement and benefit from the more aggressive use of immunosuppressants and biological agents through a treat-to-target approach. However, chronic musculoskeletal pain can be refractory to treatment despite the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, and other analgesic agents, leading to patient dissatisfaction. The concept of new neural pathways from psilocybin usage has been proposed in a variety of pain syndromes; however, it is not trialed for patients with Lupus pain.

Case Presentation: The patient was a 67-year-old male with positive anti-dsDNA antibody Lupus with a predominance of chronic polyarticular joint pain treated with hydroxychloroquine and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs without pain relief. Pain dramatically improved after a one-time macro-dosing of 6 grams of Psilocybin cubensis in Oregon, which he expected would only provide a sense of enlightenment. After 12 months, he continued without debilitating joint pain.

Conclusion: The serotonin-2A receptor’s activation triggers an array of neurophysiological reactions that disrupt the functional connections in areas of the brain that are associated with chronic pain. These neuroplastic effects can generate healthy connections, resulting in long-lasting pain relief. However, this is a process that has not been fully analyzed. While there is anecdotal evidence to suggest the therapeutic benefits for autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis, there is no specific research that explores its use for lupus-related pain. Since this is the first case that shows the benefit of psilocybin in a patient with Lupus, further studies on macro-dosing psilocybin to treat Lupus pain are warranted.

« Previous
Graphical Abstract

[1]
Ghlichloo I, Gerriets V. Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs). Florida: StatPearls
[2]
Marcum ZA, Hanlon JT. Recognizing the risks of chronic nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use in older adults. Ann Longterm Care 2010; 18(9): 24-7.
[PMID: 21857795]
[3]
Dinis-Oliveira RJ. Metabolism of psilocybin and psilocin: Clinical and forensic toxicological relevance. Drug Metab Rev 2017; 49(1): 84-91.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03602532.2016.1278228] [PMID: 28074670]
[4]
Aronson JK. Plant poisons and traditional medicines. Manson's Tropical Infectious Diseases. Amsterdam: Elsevier Limited 2014.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-7020-5101-2.00077-7]
[5]
Lowe H, Toyang N, Steele B, et al. The therapeutic potential of psilocybin. Molecules 2021; 26(10): 2948.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/molecules26102948] [PMID: 34063505]
[6]
Madsen MK, Fisher PM, Burmester D, et al. Psychedelic effects of psilocybin correlate with serotonin 2A receptor occupancy and plasma psilocin levels. Neuropsychopharmacology 2019; 44(7): 1328-34.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41386-019-0324-9] [PMID: 30685771]
[7]
Kusumadewi AF. Case report: magic mushroom (psilocybe cubensis) intoxication. Archives of The Medicine and Case Reports 2021; 1(2): 31-4.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.37275/amcr.v1i2.7]
[8]
Shao LX, Liao C, Gregg I, et al. Psilocybin induces rapid and persistent growth of dendritic spines in frontal cortex in vivo. Neuron 2021; 109(16): 2535-2544.e4.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2021.06.008] [PMID: 34228959]
[9]
Ramachandran V, Chunharas C, Marcus Z, Furnish T, Lin A. Relief from intractable phantom pain by combining psilocybin and mirror visual-feedback (MVF). Neurocase 2018; 24(2): 105-10.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13554794.2018.1468469] [PMID: 29764303]
[10]
Coppola M, Bevione F, Mondola R. Psilocybin for treating psychiatric disorders: A psychonaut legend or a promising therapeutic perspective? J Xenobiot 2022; 12(1): 41-52.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/jox12010004] [PMID: 35225956]
[11]
Gukasyan N, Davis AK, Barrett FS, et al. Efficacy and safety of psilocybin-assisted treatment for major depressive disorder: Prospective 12-month follow-up. J Psychopharmacol 2022; 36(2): 151-8.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/02698811211073759] [PMID: 35166158]
[12]
Lyes M, Yang KH, Castellanos J, Furnish T. Microdosing psilocybin for chronic pain: A case series. Pain 2022; 64(4): 698-702.
[PMID: 36066961]
[13]
Daniel J, Haberman M. Clinical potential of psilocybin as a treatment for mental health conditions. Ment Health Clin 2017; 7(1): 24-8.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.9740/mhc.2017.01.024] [PMID: 29955494]
[14]
Austin E, Myron HS, Summerbell RK, Mackenzie CA. Acute renal injury cause by confirmed Psilocybe cubensis mushroom ingestion. Med Mycol Case Rep 2019; 23: 55-7.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mmcr.2018.12.007] [PMID: 30627509]

Rights & Permissions Print Cite
© 2024 Bentham Science Publishers | Privacy Policy