These Common Medications Can Make Heat Waves More Dangerous

Certain antidepressants, blood pressure pills and other drugs make you more susceptible to heat-related illness. Here’s what to know.

A new insight into ayahuasca’s adverse effects: Reanalysis and perspectives on its mediating role in mental health from the Global Ayahuasca Survey (GAS)

Ayahuasca is a decoction native to the Amazon, where it plays a central role in the traditional medicine of many local cultures and has expanded internationally over the last decades. Ayahuasca has also attracted the interest of scientists for its potential benefits on mental health, but its adverse effects are under-researched. We analyzed data from the Global Ayahuasca Survey, including 10,836 participants who rated predetermined adverse effects. Data were collected from March 1st, 2017, to December 31st, 2019, and accessed for analysis on November 30th, 2021. Only DP and JJS had access to identifiable participant data. Machine learning and statistical methods were used to examine the relationship between sample characteristics, post-ayahuasca adverse mental states, and mental health outcomes measured by the 12-Item Short Form Survey (SF-12). Among participants, 14.2% (767) had a prior anxiety disorder and 19.7% (1,064) a depressive disorder. Despite this, the median SF-12 score was 50.16, comparable to the general population. A history of anxiety or depression was associated with more adverse mental states after ayahuasca use. However, increased experiences of “visual distortions” and higher ayahuasca use correlated with better mental health. Women reported more adverse states but did not show worsened mental health. The classification of adverse mental states in psychedelic research should be reconsidered, as certain experiences traditionally labeled as negative may contribute to long-term psychological benefits. The context in which these experiences occur, along with individual factors, plays a crucial role in determining whether these states lead to positive or negative outcomes. Understanding these dynamics is essential for improving harm reduction strategies and maximizing therapeutic potential. Individuals with a history of depression require special attention, as they are more prone to experiencing post-ayahuasca adverse mental states and may benefit from additional psychological support.

Adverse Events in Studies of Classic Psychedelics: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis - PubMed

In this systematic review and meta-analysis, classic psychedelics were generally well tolerated in clinical or research settings according to the existing literature, although SAEs did occur. These results provide estimates of common AE frequencies and indicate that certain catastrophic events repor …

Evidence Review of the Adverse Effects of COVID-19 Vaccination and Intramuscular Vaccine Administration

Read online, download a free PDF, or order a copy in print.

Therapeutic Psilocybin's Adverse Effects Mostly Resolved Within 2 Days

People who received high or moderate doses of psilocybin for anxiety or depression treatment seemed to manage adverse effects of the drug well, with most issues improving within 1 to 2 days, a recent meta-analysis of 6 studies involving more than 500 participants found. The findings, published in...

The Dark Side of Connection: Exploring the Adverse Effects of Social Media

Effects of acetaminophen on risk taking - PubMed

Acetaminophen, an analgesic and antipyretic available over-the-counter and used in over 600 medicines, is one of the most consumed drugs in the USA. Recent research has suggested that acetaminophen's effects extend to the blunting of negative as well as positive affect. Because affect is a determina …