Magic mushroom compound probed as brain tool against opioid addiction
NCT ID NCT06810310
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jul 10, 2026 · Updated 4 times
Summary
This study looks at how psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, affects brain circuits linked to motivation and self-control in people with opioid use disorder. Twenty-four adults in the Philadelphia area will receive either a low or high dose of psilocybin, then undergo brain scans and behavioral tests. The goal is to understand brain changes that might help prevent relapse, not to test psilocybin as a direct treatment.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- psilocybin (PEX010)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this study could reveal how psilocybin affects brain pathways tied to addiction, pointing toward new ways to support recovery from opioid use disorder.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-phase study with only 24 participants, focused on brain imaging rather than clinical outcomes. Results may not lead to a treatment or apply to everyone.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 2
Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.
- Participants
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About 24 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Dec 2025
- Expected to finish
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May 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 60 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * An informed consent document voluntarily signed and dated by the subject. * Either 1) have a confirmed prescription for BUP-NX in a drug monitoring program database, have been on a stable dose of BUP-NX for at least one week, and plan to continue taking BUP-NX for at least 12 weeks or 2) have received an injection of Sublocade® within the past month, or 3) are currently on methadone maintenance therapy and on a consistent dose for at least a week. Subject must provide a urine that is buprenorphine-positive (for subjects taking buprenorphine) or methadone-positive (for subjects taking methadone), during screening. * Physically healthy males and females, aged 18-60 years old, who meet criteria for opioid use disorder (based on DSM-5 criteria) as their primary diagnosis and are voluntarily seeking treatment. * Females must be non-pregnant and non-lactating. Additionally, for females with childbearing potential (i.e., have not undergone sterilization via hysterectomy, bilateral tubal ligation, or bilateral oophorectomy, or at least 1 year post-menopausal) participants must agree to use an acceptable form of contraception (e.g. abstinence, intrauterine device, hormonal injection, hormonal implant, hormonal patch/ring/pill, condoms (male or female), etc.) during study participation and to continue its use for the duration of the study * Subject must read at or above eighth grade level and speak, understand, and write in English. * IQ score of greater than or equal to 80. Exclusion Criteria: * Participation in clinical trial and receipt of investigational drug(s) during 30 days prior to the research study, except as explicitly approved by the Principal Investigator. * Currently meets DSM-5 criteria for moderate to severe substance use disorder for any substance other than cocaine, alcohol, marijuana or nicotine as determined by the semi-structured interview. Any prior use of psilocybin is exclusionary. Patients with comorbid Alcohol Use Disorder will be accepted if their alcohol use disorder is not severe enough to require a medicated alcohol detoxification. * Meets current or lifetime DSM-5 criteria for schizophrenia or any psychotic disorder, or organic mental disorder or has a first-degree family history of these disorders, this includes a history of hallucinogen-persistent perception disorder (HPPD) * Meets current DSM-5 criteria for bipolar disorder --Meets current DSM-5 criteria for severe Major Depressive Disorder (mild and moderate MDD as well as in stable remission are allowed if no suicidal risk and no ongoing antidepressant therapy). * Current or past significant trauma exposure with elevated Post-Traumatic Stress symptoms at the discretion of the PI. * Presence of any another psychiatric disorder that in the opinion of the PI will interfere with completion of the study or place the patient at heightened risk through participation in the study. * Current or past month active suicidal ideations or lifetime history of serious suicidal attempt. * Has evidence of significant hepatocellular injury as evidenced by elevated bilirubin levels (greater than 1.3), or, pulmonary (e.g., COPD), endocrine, cardiovascular, renal (creatinine clearance less than or equal to 60ml/min) or gastrointestinal disease (e.g., Crohn's disease), or current HIV infection, and/or clinically significant levels (over 3.5x upper limit of normal) of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and serumalanine aminotransferase (ALT). Patients with documented Gilbert's syndrome will be included regardless of bilirubin levels. * History of serious head trauma or injury causing loss of consciousness that lasted more than 3 minutes and/or associated with skull fracture or intracranial bleeding or abnormal MRI. * Seizure disorder or history of seizures not related to drug or alcohol withdrawal (excluding childhood febrile seizure). * Presence of magnetically active prosthetics, plates, pins, broken needles, permanent retainer, bullets, etc. in patient's body (unless a radiologist confirms that its presence is unproblematic). An x-ray may be obtained to determine eligibility. * Claustrophobia or other medical condition that disables the participant from lying in the MRI for approximately 60 minutes. * Non-removable skin patches, at discretion of PI. * Has received medication that could interact adversely with psilocybin within the time of administration of study agent based on the Medical Director's guidance. * Needs treatment with any psychoactive (e.g., anti-depressants) medications (with the exception of Benadryl used sparingly, if necessary, for sleep). * \*Have the following cardiovascular conditions: 1. coronary artery disease, congenital long QT syndrome (prior diagnosis), cardiac hypertrophy, cardiac ischemia, congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction (prior diagnosis); 2. tachycardia (defined as heart rate greater than 100 beats per minute); 3. a clinically significant Screening ECG abnormality (e.g., atrial fibrillation); Note: A QTcF interval greater than 450 milliseconds is considered a clinically significant ECG abnormality 4. artificial heart valve; 5. any other significant current or history of cardiovascular condition, based on the clinical judgment of Medical Director, that would make a participant unsuitable for the study. * \*At Screening or Baseline have elevated blood pressure as defined as: 1. Screening blood pressure SBP greater than135 mmHg or DBP greater than 85 mmHg on three separate readings; or 2. Baseline blood pressure SBP greater than140 mmHg or DBP greater than 90 mmHg on three separate readings
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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University of Pennsylvania
RECRUITINGPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, United States
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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