Mebufotenin nasal spray shows promise for treatment-resistant depression

A new study involving participants from Australia, the United States, and four European countries suggests that a synthetic version of mebufotenin (5-MeO-DMT) may provide long-lasting relief for treatment-resistant depression.

Unlike traditional psychedelic treatments such as psilocybin, which often require supervised sessions lasting four to twelve hours, this treatment was administered via a nasal spray. The effects were observed shortly after a single dose, with significant reductions in depression scores maintained for at least eight weeks.

In the study, participants who had previously failed to respond to two to five different antidepressants received either 8 mg, 12 mg, or a 0.3 mg control dose. After 29 days, the 8 mg and 12 mg groups showed a substantial decrease in depression scores compared to the control group. One quarter of the 8 mg group reported almost no symptoms by the 29-day mark.

Researchers note that while the results are promising, follow-up care remains necessary for patients undergoing such treatments.