Psilocybin ameliorates neuropathic pain-like behaviour in mice and facilitates gabapentin-mediated analgesia

Abstract

Chronic pain states are challenging to control with current drug therapies. Here, we demonstrate that a single dose of psilocybin can produce a sustained anti-nociceptive effect in a model of chronic neuropathic pain in male and female mice. Psilocybin anti-nociceptive effects were mediated by 5-HT2A receptors, although additional mechanisms might also be involved. Furthermore, a single dose of psilocybin caused a significant increase in the anti-nociceptive potential of gabapentin, a widely used treatment for neuropathic pain consistent with the establishment of longer lasting changes in network processing. Overall, these findings present the first preclinical evidence that psilocybin could be a valuable approach for treating chronic pain from nerve injury and serve as a new therapeutic addition for pain management.