Single-dose psilocybin reduces neuropathic pain and outperforms gabapentin in a mouse study, with effects linked to serotonin 5-HT2A signaling

Psilocybin reduced neuropathic pain in mice after a single dose and produced longer-lasting effects than gabapentin in a preclinical comparison. The pain relief depended on serotonin 5-HT2A receptor signaling, pointing to a mechanism beyond simple sedation or temporary symptom suppression. Neuropathic pain is often difficult to treat, and gabapentin is a common first-line drug despite limited efficacy and side effects in many patients. The findings highlight psilocybin as a potential non-opioid approach for chronic nerve pain and suggest that psychedelic compounds may influence pain pathways through receptor systems tied to both perception and neural plasticity. The results remain preclinical rather than clinical, so relevance to human treatment is still uncertain. Even so, the work adds to broader interest in psychedelic-assisted medicine by extending possible applications beyond mood disorders into chronic pain management.