Global safety data suggests severe physical complications from psychedelics are rare, based on WHO VigiBase analysis comparing classic psychedelics and MDMA

WHO VigiBase pharmacovigilance data analysis suggests severe physical complications from classic psychedelics are relatively rare in real world reports. The study examined reports from VigiBase from inception through December 14, 2025, focusing on LSD, psilocybin, DMT, and mescaline, plus MDMA. Across these substances, psychiatric disorders were the most frequent reported adverse event category, while cardiac disorders and “overdose” reports were uncommon. Reporting odds ratio comparisons against control substances (acetaminophen as negative control and oxycodone as positive control) indicated higher odds of substance use disorder and dependence signals for LSD and MDMA relative to acetaminophen. The researchers argue this pattern likely reflects polysubstance use, since VigiBase lacks case level details to separate effects of psychedelics from co administered intoxicants, and the data are limited by voluntary underreporting and missing patient context.