Clinical pharmacology of ayahuasca: potential applications and future considerations
Lorena Terene Lopes Guerra, Isabella Caroline Da Silva Dias, Jaime E. C. Hallak, Rafael G. Dos Santos
Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology October 3, 2025 DOI: 10.1080/17512433.2025.2577726 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractWhether subjective experience contributes to therapeutic mechanisms of ayahuasca is debated and may depend on the targeted condition. Few controlled studies exist, limiting conclusions on safety and efficacy. Ayahuasca's highly variable composition poses an additional challenge, prompting studies using isolated compounds.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Clinical pharmacology Limiting Safety pharmacology Systems pharmacology Clinical trial |
| Citations | 2 |
| Key finding | Few controlled studies exist on ayahuasca, limiting conclusions on safety and efficacy, and its variable composition drives research toward isolated compounds. |
Abstract
Similar to what happens with other psychedelics, there is an ongoing debate on subjective experience contribution to overall therapeutic mechanisms, which can depend on the targeted conditions. There are very few evidences from controlled studies, limiting the conclusions on safety and efficacy. On top of that, ayahuasca highly variable composition posits another challenge, and studies using isolated compounds are being developed.