Clinical Pharmacokinetics of Psilocin After Psilocybin Administration: A Systematic Review and Post-Hoc Analysis.

Abstract

Background and objective: Psilocybin is currently being extensively studied as a potential therapeutic agent for multiple psychiatric disorders. Here, a systematic literature review of all published pharmacokinetic data on the pharmacologically active metabolite of psilocybin, psilocin, is presented.

Methods: The review includes clinical studies that reported pharmacokinetic data and/or parameters after psilocybin administration in humans. In addition, raw pharmacokinetic data from these studies was requested and/or extracted to further compare results across studies.

Results: In total, 309 publications were identified, of which 19 publications were ultimately included, which covered 12 unique clinical datasets. Except for one study that investigated intravenous psilocybin, all included studies administered psilocybin orally. Psilocybin acts as a pro-drug and is rapidly absorbed and transformed to psilocin after oral administration. In the majority of studies, unconjugated psilocin was measured while some also measured conjugated and total concentrations. Psilocin's biphasic concentration-time profiles demonstrates fast and extensive disposition with an apparent distribution volume of 505-1267 L and a terminal half-life of 1.23-4.72 h. Only 1.5-3.4% of the dose is excreted as psilocin in urine. Psilocin is mainly transformed to 4-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid and in less amounts to conjugated psilocin, where 4-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid formation may occur prior to systemic psilocin absorption. Information on the absolute bioavailability of psilocin was limited, and estimated at 55% in one study. No covariates nor food effects have been reported, based on four studies with known fasting status.

Conclusions: Overall, we found the pharmacokinetic parameters of psilocin to be consistent between studies. This review may guide the further clinical development of psilocybin-based therapies.