Psychedelic Therapy for Chronic Pain
Chronic pain conditions — including fibromyalgia, neuropathic pain, cluster headaches, and phantom limb pain — are being studied with psychedelics as non-opioid alternatives. Ketamine infusion therapy is already widely used off-label for chronic pain conditions. Psilocybin and LSD show analgesic properties, and anecdotal evidence from cluster headache patients has driven formal research interest.
The psychedelic approach to pain differs fundamentally from opioids: rather than blocking pain signals, these substances may alter the psychological and emotional relationship to pain, reducing suffering even when the sensory signal remains. This is particularly relevant for conditions where the pain has become self-reinforcing and treatment-resistant.
Clinical Trials
Propofol-Enhanced Assessment of Ketamine for Chronic Pain and Depression
Stanford University
Safety and Efficacy of Ketamine Intravenous Infusions in the Treatment of Fibromyalgia
Wilderman Medical Clinic
Safety, Tolerability, Analgesic Effect, and Feasibility of Intranasal CT001 in Pediatric Patients
Cessatech A/S
Psychotherapy for Ketamine's Enhanced Durability in Chronic Neuropathic Pain: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial
Unity Health Toronto
Open-label Study to Assess the Safety and Efficacy of Psilocybin With Psychotherapy in Adult Participants With Fibromyalgia
Kevin Boehnke
Lidocaine and Ketamine Levels in Plasma After Simultaneous Lidocaine/Ketamine Infusions
University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland