Association Between Lifetime Classic Psychedelic Use and Hypertension in the Past Year
Using nationally representative US survey data (NSDUH 2005–2014), lifetime use of classic psychedelics was associated with lower odds of past‑year hypertension after adjustment (adjusted odds ratio 0.86, 95% CI 0.81–0.91), an effect driven specifically by lifetime tryptamine use (aOR 0.80, 95% CI 0.73–0.89). These cross‑sectional findings suggest a potential protective link but cannot establish causality; randomised controlled trials are needed to probe mechanisms and causal effects on blood pressure.
Authors
- Otto Simonsson
- Peter Hendricks
- Robin Carhart-Harris
Published
Abstract
Using data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2005–2014), weighted to be representative of the US adult population, the present study investigated the association between lifetime classic psychedelic use and hypertension in the past year among adults in the United States. The results showed that respondents who reported having used a classic psychedelic at least once in their lifetime had significantly lower odds of hypertension in the past year after adjusting for several potential confounders (adjusted odds ratio, 0.86 [0.81–0.91]; P <0.0001). Notably, when analyzing the associations between hypertension in the past year and lifetime use of the main classes of classic psychedelics, namely tryptamines (N,N-dimethyltryptamine, ayahuasca, and psilocybin), lysergic acid diethylamide (a lysergamide), and phenethylamines (mescaline, peyote, and San Pedro), only the association with lifetime tryptamine use was significant (adjusted odds ratio, 0.80 [0.73–0.89]; P =0.0001). Though these associations are novel, rigorous randomized controlled trials are warranted to investigate potential causal pathways of classic psychedelics on blood pressure.
Research Summary of 'Association Between Lifetime Classic Psychedelic Use and Hypertension in the Past Year'
Introduction
Hypertension is increasing globally and arises from complex interacting factors, including lifestyle risks (smoking, diet, physical inactivity, alcohol) and psychosocial contributors such as chronic stress and internalising disorders. Emerging evidence implicates low-grade inflammation and alterations of the serotonin system in hypertension pathophysiology. Classic psychedelics, serotonin 2A receptor agonists that have been the subject of renewed clinical research for mental health, are thought to produce durable changes in behaviour and mood that could plausibly influence cardiovascular risk factors, yet their long-term effects on blood pressure have not been established. Simonsson and colleagues set out to examine whether lifetime use of classic psychedelics is associated with lower odds of having hypertension in the past year. The investigation used pooled US population survey data to test two hypotheses: that lifetime classic psychedelic use (ever vs never) would be associated with reduced odds of past-year hypertension, and that among major psychedelic classes (tryptamines, lysergamides [LSD], and phenethylamines) lifetime tryptamine use would show the strongest association.
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Study Details
- Study Typeindividual
- Journal
- Compounds
- Topics
- Authors
- APA Citation
Simonsson, O., Hendricks, P. S., Carhart-Harris, R., Kettner, H., & Osika, W. (2021). Association Between Lifetime Classic Psychedelic Use and Hypertension in the Past Year. Hypertension, 77(5), 1510-1516. https://doi.org/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.120.16715
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Hendricks, P. S., Crawford, M. S., Cropsey, K. L. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2017)
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Fabiano, N., Stubbs, B., Lawrence, D. W. et al. · Discover Mental Health (2026)
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Hendricks, P. S., Simonsson, O. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2022)
Henningfield, J. E., Coe, M. A., Griffiths, R. R. et al. · Neuropharmacology (2022)
Barnett, B. S., Ziegler, K., Doblin, R. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2022)
Jones, G. M., Nock, M. K. · Scientific Reports (2022)
Simonsson, O., Osika, W., Carhart-Harris, R. L. et al. · Scientific Reports (2021)
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