India, Oct. 28 -- A single dose of a psychedelic nasal spray helped reduce depression symptoms in people who did not respond to standard antidepressant medications, according to a clinical trial published in JAMA.
The drug, called mebufotenin or 5-MeO-DMT, produces a short-lasting psychedelic experience. Previous research cited in the study found that its effects peak within 8 to 15 minutes and usually wear off within 45 to 60 minutes.
The clinical trial took place between September 2023 and April 2025 at 38 sites across Australia, Europe and the United States. It included 193 adults aged 18 to 75 with moderate to severe depression that had not improved after treatment with two to five antidepressant medications.
Researchers randomly ass...