Salvia Divinorum for treatment of addiction

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SUMMARY

Salvia Divinorum, specifically its active compound Salvinorin A, significantly lowers dopamine levels immediately after injection, which may have implications for treating addiction and psychosis. The dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia links disruptions in the dopamine system to psychotic disorders, with antipsychotic medications primarily targeting D2 dopamine receptors. While Salvia Divinorum presents potential for addressing addiction in individuals with amphetamine or cocaine use disorders, its hallucinogenic properties may complicate treatment outcomes. Further research into the pharmacological characteristics of Salvinorin A is essential for developing safer therapeutic alternatives.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of dopamine neurotransmission and its role in addiction and psychosis.
  • Familiarity with the pharmacological effects of hallucinogens, particularly Salvinorin A.
  • Knowledge of antipsychotic medications and their mechanisms, especially D2 receptor antagonism.
  • Awareness of the dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia and its clinical implications.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the pharmacological profile of Salvinorin A and its receptor interactions.
  • Explore alternative treatments for addiction that minimize psychotic symptoms.
  • Investigate the long-term effects of antipsychotic medications on dopamine levels.
  • Examine case studies on the use of hallucinogens in therapeutic settings for addiction treatment.
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for researchers, mental health professionals, addiction specialists, and pharmacologists interested in the intersection of hallucinogens and treatment for addiction and psychosis.

cronxeh
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According to this paper http://www.sagewisdom.org/zhangetal.pdf Salvinorin A (active compound in Salvia Divinorum) lowers dopamine levels significantly right after injection.

And according to "Dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia" ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dopamine_hypothesis_of_psychosis ):

Disruption to the dopamine system has also been strongly linked to psychosis and schizophrenia. Dopamine neurons in the mesolimbic pathway are particularly associated with these conditions. This is partly due to the discovery of a class of drugs called the phenothiazines (which block D2 dopamine receptors) that can reduce psychotic symptoms, and partly due to the finding that drugs such as amphetamine and cocaine (which are known to greatly increase dopamine levels) can cause psychosis. Because of this, most modern antipsychotic medication is designed to block dopamine function to varying degrees. Blocking the D2 dopamine receptor is known to cause relapse in patients that have achieved remission from depression, and such blocking also counteracts the effectiveness of SSRI medication.

Could Salvia divinorum be used for treatment of psychosis in amphetamine/cocaine addicts and schizophrenia?
 
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Direct use of Salvinorin A may not be the best solution to drug-induced psychoses or schizophrenia. Since the agent itself a hallucinogen, you may simply be trading one symptom for another. Perhaps by studying the specific pharmacological/receptor characteristics of the drug we could more readily create a more useful agent with less deleterious side-effects.
 

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