A NEW CLINICAL TRIAL SHOWED THAT MM-120 — the hallucinogen you may know as LSD — has potential as a new treatment for generalized anxiety disorder.
When my patients tell me that they have a diagnosis of a general anxiety disorder, they report constantly worrying about a range of quotidian issues.
These individuals worry about their health, family, or finances. They seem to do this, even when they know there isn’t a reason to worry.
Today, we explore LSD for Anxiety.
Fortunately, many with generalized anxiety disorder respond to cognitive behavioral therapy, medicines, or lifestyle interventions.
Yet, we have not had new treatment tools since 2004. Now this:
A single dose of MM-120 (LSD) appears to be quite promising for patients underserved by current management tools.
This essay will focus on a new study that suggests LSD may someday be in our generalized anxiety disorder treatment armamentarium.
What is generalized anxiety disorder?
Individuals with generalized anxiety disorder worry more intensely and frequently than other people.
GAD often appears around age 30, but it can also affect children.
Those with the condition worry uncontrollably about common situations.
GAD is different from typical and common anxiousness. Most of us occasionally feel anxious, such as about our finances, but people with GAD feel overwhelmed by their problems and their anxiety.
Medications, counseling, and lifestyle remedies may provide meaningful relief.
Generalized anxiety disorder complications
Generalized anxiety disorder complications or aggravate other mental and physical health issues, including:
- depression, which often occurs with an anxiety disorder
- drug or alcohol misuse
- sleep problems
- gut problems
- social isolation
- work or study challenges
- poorer quality of life
- thinking of or attempting suicide
Seeking prompt advice for GAD may help prevent these issues.
New hallucinogen study – LSD for Anxiety
I want to share some details of this innovative study.
A biopharmaceutical company, Mind Medicine (MindMed) Inc., enrolled 198 patients diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) across 20 clinical sites in the U.S.
They divided the participants into five study arms. All received a single dose of an LSD-like compound known as MM-120 or a placebo.
The dose varied among the four groups receiving MM-120: 25, 50, 100, or 200 µg. Participants had no additional therapy.
Preliminary study results – LSD for Anxiety
The patients on the hallucinogenic drug had meaningful and lasting symptom reduction:
Four weeks after a single dose of MM-120, nearly eight out of 10 who received either a 100 or 200 µg dose had a clinically significant response to the drug.
Moreover, one-half of participants who received the 100 µg dose were in clinical remission at week four, meaning that the patient no longer suffered from clinically significant symptoms of general anxiety disorder.”
My take — LSD for Anxiety
First, researchers still need to publish the study in a peer-reviewed journal.
Second, the study shows MM-120 is well-tolerated, with dosing the shortens the psychedelic effects while keeping the therapeutic benefits.
Thirdly, we need to see the longer-term (12-week post-drug administration) results.
I hope that the study findings are confirmed, with psychedelics becoming an effective and accessible tool for many.
Thank you for reading “Tripping the Anxiety Away: LSD Emerges as a Surprising Hero in Clinical Trials.”
