Effects of ayahuasca on the endocannabinoid system of healthy volunteers and in volunteers with social anxiety disorder Results from two pilot, proof-of-concept, randomized, placebo-controlled trials.
To assess endocannabinoid (anandamide, AEA 2-arachidonoylglycerol, 2-AG) plasma levels in healthy volunteers and in volunteers with social anxiety disorder (SAD) after a single oral dose of ayahuasca or placebo. Post hoc analysis of endocannabinoid plasma levels (baseline, 90 and 240 min after drug intake) from two parallel-group, randomized, placebo-controlled trials. In Study 1, 20 healthy volunteers ingested ayahuasca (average 1.58 mgml dimethyltryptamine (DMT)) or placebo, and in Study 2, 17 volunteers with SAD received ayahuasca (average 0.680 mgml DMT) or placebo. A significant difference was observed in AEA concentrations in Study 2 after ayahuasca intake (Χ Although our findings suggest that ayahuasca could modulate AEA levels in SAD patients, the high interindividual variability in both trials and the small samples preclude definitive conclusions. More research with larger samples is needed to better understand the effects of ayahuasca and other hallucinogens in the endocannabinoid system.