Recruiting
Phase 2

Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy

Sponsor:

University of British Columbia

Code:

NCT05585229

Conditions

Opioid Dependence

Chronic Pain

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 19 - 70+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

Psilocybin-assisted Psychotherapy

Study Details

Brief summary:

This is an open-label pilot trial to assess the safety and feasibility of a novel 8-week psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy intervention to facilitate successful tapering/discontinuation of opioid pain medication in adult patients receiving long-term opioid therapy for chronic pain. Participation will last approximately 8 months and includes one or two psilocybin-assisted therapy sessions. The study will evaluate the incidence and severity of adverse events during and after treatment, the number of participants who drop out of the study for intervention-related reasons, and the self-reported benefits and harms of the intervention.

Conditions

Opioid Dependence

Chronic Pain

Study ID

NCT05585229

Start date

Oct 27, 2025

Status verified date

Nov, 2025

Completion date

Aug 31, 2026

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Aug 31, 2026

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 19 - 70+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Must be 19 - 75 years of age.
2. Have a diagnosed noncancer chronic pain condition including but not limited to neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia, chronic headaches/migraines, back pain, musculoskeletal pain.
3. Currently on a stable dose of opioid therapy on short-acting, long-acting, or combination of opioid medication types, for a minimum duration of 90 consecutive days.
4. History of at least one unsuccessful attempt to taper or discontinue long-term opioid therapy, and has expressed current interest in making another attempt to reduce or discontinue.
5. Able to swallow capsules/tablets.
6. If of childbearing potential, agree to practice an effective means of birth control throughout the duration of the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Have any of the following cardiovascular conditions: uncontrolled hypertension, coronary artery disease, congenital long QT syndrome, cardiac hypertrophy, greater than first degree AV block, cardiac ischemia, congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, tachycardia, chronic bradycardia, artificial heart valve, a clinically significant screening ECG abnormality, or any other significant cardiovascular condition.
2. Asthma
3. Have moderate to severe hepatic impairment.
4. Chronic pain is due to cancer.
5. Women who are pregnant, who intend to become pregnant during the study, or who are currently breastfeeding.
6. Have a history of stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA).
7. Meet DSM-5 criteria for severe alcohol or drug use disorders (other than Opioid use Disorder).
8. Nicotine dependence that would prevent the participant from remaining nicotine free for the duration of dosing sessions (i.e., 6-8 hours).
9. Have Epilepsy.
10. Clinically significant sleep disorders such as sleep apnoea not on appropriate treatment.
11. Have Insulin-dependent diabetes.
12. Participants who are or have been taking mood stabilizers (e.g. lithium), SSRIs/SNRIs (e.g. citalopram, venlafaxine, vortioxetine, duloxetine), herbal remedies with serotonin activity (e.g. 5-HTP, St. John's Wort), dopamine agonists (e.g. bupropion), tricyclic antidepressants (e.g. amitriptyline), antipsychotics (e.g. haloperidol), amphetamines (e.g. amphetamine/dextroamphetamine salts, methylphenidate, dextroamphetamine, lisdexamfetamine), monoamine oxidase inhibitors (e.g. isocarboxazid, phenelzine, selegiline, tranylcypromine), alcohol or aldehyde dehydrogenase inhibitors (e.g. disulfiram), and UDG modulators (i.e. UGT modulators such as phenytoin, regorafenib, eltrombopag) during the study or in the preceding 8 weeks.
13. Hallucinogenic or psychedelic drug use within 12 months (i.e. any use of mescaline, 2C-B, psilocybin, LSD, 5-MeO-DMT, ibogaine ayahuasca, MDA, MDMA, ketamine or any related molecules).
14. Meet DSM-5 criteria for schizophrenia spectrum or other psychotic disorders, including major depressive disorder with psychotic features, or Bipolar I or Bipolar II Disorder.
15. Have a first degree relative with schizophrenia, Bipolar I or Bipolar II Disorder.
16. Meet DSM-5 criteria for diagnosis of antisocial or borderline personality disorders.
17. Participants with a history of a developmental disorder.
18. Participants diagnosed with serious comorbidities that may or may not influence mental health in the opinion of the qualified investigator.

Study Design

Enrollment

10 participants

Anticipated

Intervention Model

Single group

Primary purpose

Treatment

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Psilocybin-assisted Psychotherapy

Participants will undergo a single-arm, 8-week therapeutic intervention using natural standardized psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy as a treatment for opioid tapering in chronic pain patients. Specifically, they will undergo one or two standardized natural psilocybin (PEX010) dosing sessions; 25mg at week 3 and 37.5mg at week 7.

Interventions

Psilocybin-assisted Psychotherapy

Participants will complete a 8-week structured psychotherapeutic intervention involving administration of 25mg and 37.5mg PEX010 on two separate occasions.

Primary outcome measure

  • Feasibility of psilocybin administration [ Time Frame: Week 31 ]
  • Acceptability of psilocybin administration [ Time Frame: Week 31 ]
  • Safety of psilocybin administration [ Time Frame: Up to 33 Weeks ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Locations

University of British Columbia - Okanagan Campus

Recruiting

Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada, V1V 1V7

Contacts

More Information

Sponsor

University of British Columbia

Last update posted

Dec 4, 2025

Last verified

Nov, 2025

Keywords

  • Opioid Tapering
  • Psilocybin
  • Psychotherapy
  • Chronic Pain
  • Hallucinogens
  • Opioid Use Disorder

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by University of British Columbia on 2025-12-04.