Magic mushrooms (psilocybin) are being looked at as a treatment for bipolar disorder. There was good news this week about the use of psilocybin in the treatment of bipolar disorder Type II depression. In particular, the results in a very small clinical sample were extremely promising. That said, there are things you should know before you run out and buy magic mushrooms from your local drug dealer. Here's what we know about magic mushrooms that work for bipolar disorder.

Magic mushrooms in bipolar disorder

First, you need to know that psilocybin (magic mushrooms), which is used to treat bipolar disorder, is very, very new and has effects that we still don't know about. Also, the available research is based on small sample sizes and may not be generalizable. Attention is clearly warranted.

Moreover, psilocybin is not without risks. A survey of 541 people with entertainment experience It found that 33% of people with magic mushrooms had new or worsening symptoms after magic mushroom trips. These symptoms were mostly manic symptomstogether with sleep problem and anxiety. (No differences were seen between humans bipolar I and bipolar II.) Additionally, 3.3% required emergency medical services due to psilocybin trips. All told, people have found their use more beneficial than harmful.

You shouldn't go out and try it just yet. Continue reading.

New Research on Psilocybin and Bipolar Disorder Type II Depression

As I said before, bipolar depression can be quite difficult to treat, and many people stay in depressive episodes for long periods of time. This is probably due to bipolar medicine treats manic/hypomanic symptoms more effectively than those of depression.

Therefore This new research is very exciting. A new study found that a single dose of psilocybin reduced symptoms of depression over months.

Specifically, 15 people treatment resistant bipolar A currently depressed type II was given pharmaceutical psilocybin at a dose of 25 mg in a controlled and therapy-supported setting. Three weeks after administration, people showed a 76.3% reduction in depressive symptoms (using the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale), and this improvement was maintained throughout the 12 weeks of the study. According to patients, significant improvements in quality of life and reduction in depressive symptoms were also observed. The intensity of the psychedelic experience correlates with the degree of antidepressant effects.

Please do not try this yourself. Continue reading.

Safety Issues for Magic Mushrooms in Bipolar Disorder

This part is really important to read:

Patients were weaned off antidepressants and mood stabilizers before receiving psilocybin. They also engaged in therapy before and during the eight hours of the psychedelic trip. They did therapy after the cue for experience integration.

If you are taking serotonergic medications (such as antidepressants and mood stabilizers), you can cause serotonin syndrome by using magic mushrooms. Serotonin syndrome can be fatal.

In other words, this was not your average magic mushroom trip. You should not attempt this without professional help. Giving up some of your meds to try, let alone using the street form of psilocybin, requires supervision.

Exciting Magic Mushrooms Work Against Bipolar Disorder

I understand that the sample size is small and drug withdrawal even trying treatment can be very difficult, if not impossible, for some. That is, it is very promising. People who suffer from prolonged depression as part of bipolar disorder currently have few options. Another great news.

By Flickr user Imay Janine.

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