<p><a href="https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/hallucinogens" rel="nofollow noreferrer">According to the National Institute for Drug Abuse</a></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Some hallucinogens interfere with the action of the brain chemical serotonin, which regulates:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>mood</li>
  <li>sensory perception</li>
  <li>sleep</li>
  <li>hunger</li>
  <li>body temperature</li>
  <li>sexual behavior</li>
  <li>muscle control</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>Other hallucinogens interfere with the action of the brain chemical glutamate, which regulates:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>pain perception</li>
  <li>responses to the environment</li>
  <li>emotion</li>
  <li>learning and memory</li>
  </ul>
</blockquote>

<p><a href="https://doi.org/10.1186/1757-1626-2-9391" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Morphine is a hallucinogenic</a> and</p>

<p><a href="https://beta.nhs.uk/medicines/morphine/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Morphine is used to treat chronic pain</a></p>

<p>The NHS has also provided proof <strong>with links to articles</strong> that <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/news/medication/proof-opiates-are-useful-for-chronic-back-pain-lacking/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">opiates are useful for chronic pain</a></p>

<p>Other hallucinogenics known to help with pain include <a href="http://hallucinogens.com/peyote/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Peyote</a> (unreferenced)</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-17T08:34:37.230Z
2018-02-17T08:34:37.230Z
Chris Rogers
<p>As noted in a previous question, hallucinogenics, such as psilocybin, <a href="https://psychology.stackexchange.com/q/17840/4397">have been used to treat depression with some success</a>. Chronic pain is affected somewhat by a top-down process from the brain, as shown in <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23532434" rel="nofollow noreferrer">neurofeedback treatment via EEG</a>. Have hallucinogenics been shown to be an effective treatment for chronic pain?</p>

<psychopharmacology><pain>
Do hallucinogenics affect chronic pain?
Seanny123
# Do hallucinogenics affect chronic pain?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-01-23)

As noted in a previous question, hallucinogenics, such as psilocybin, [have been used to treat depression with some success](https://psychology.stackexchange.com/q/17840/4397). Chronic pain is affected somewhat by a top-down process from the brain, as shown in [neurofeedback treatment via EEG](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23532434). Have hallucinogenics been shown to be an effective treatment for chronic pain?

**Tags:** psychopharmacology, pain


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-02-17. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

[According to the National Institute for Drug Abuse](https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/hallucinogens)

> Some hallucinogens interfere with the action of the brain chemical serotonin, which regulates:
>
> * mood
> * sensory perception
> * sleep
> * hunger
> * body temperature
> * sexual behavior
> * muscle control
>
> Other hallucinogens interfere with the action of the brain chemical glutamate, which regulates:
>
> * pain perception
> * responses to the environment
> * emotion
> * learning and memory

[Morphine is a hallucinogenic](https://doi.org/10.1186/1757-1626-2-9391) and

[Morphine is used to treat chronic pain](https://beta.nhs.uk/medicines/morphine/)

The NHS has also provided proof **with links to articles** that [opiates are useful for chronic pain](https://www.nhs.uk/news/medication/proof-opiates-are-useful-for-chronic-back-pain-lacking/)

Other hallucinogenics known to help with pain include [Peyote](http://hallucinogens.com/peyote/) (unreferenced)


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