--- title: Experimental Psychedelic ‘Toad Venom’ Found Effective in Treatment-Resistant Depression description: Adults with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) experienced rapid and significant improvement in symptoms following treatment with GH001, a synthetic formulation of mebufotenin. image: https://alert.psychnews.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/toad_iStock-475856348.jpg --- 3/26/26 2:15 PM # Experimental Psychedelic ‘Toad Venom’ Found Effective in Treatment-Resistant Depression ![Picture of Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Psych%20News%20Email%20Banners/PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png?width=50&name=PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png) [ Psychiatric News Alert ](https://alert.psychnews.org/author/psychiatric-news-alert) Share: [facebook-f icon ](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://alert.psychnews.org/experimental-psychedelic-toad-venom-found-effective-in-treatment-resistant-depression) [linkedin-in icon ](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://alert.psychnews.org/experimental-psychedelic-toad-venom-found-effective-in-treatment-resistant-depression) [Twitter icon ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://alert.psychnews.org/experimental-psychedelic-toad-venom-found-effective-in-treatment-resistant-depression) [pinterest-p icon ](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/link/?url=https://alert.psychnews.org/experimental-psychedelic-toad-venom-found-effective-in-treatment-resistant-depression) [envelope icon ](mailto:?body=https://alert.psychnews.org/experimental-psychedelic-toad-venom-found-effective-in-treatment-resistant-depression) ![toad_iStock-475856348](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/toad_iStock-475856348.jpg?width=220&height=147&name=toad_iStock-475856348.jpg)Adults with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) experienced rapid and significant improvement in symptoms following treatment with GH001, a synthetic formulation of mebufotenin, according to a [report](https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2846834) published yesterday in *JAMA Psychiatry*. No severe or serious adverse events were reported.   Mebufotenin is a psychedelic compound that has high affinity for the serotonin 5-HT1A receptor. Found in several plants and also secreted by the Colorado River toad, it’s known colloquially as “toad venom.”   **Why It’s Relevant** Defined as failure to show improvement following at least two adequate trials of antidepressants, TRD is associated with profound impairment in functioning. Few treatments are currently approved for the condition, so there is a substantial unmet need for safe, effective pharmacotherapies offering rapid and sustained remission.   **By the Numbers** - Eighty-one adults ages 18 to 64 were randomized to receive either up to **three escalating doses of inhaled GH001 (6mg, 12mg, and 18mg)** or a matched placebo dosing regimen on a single day, with doses spaced an hour apart. - On day eight, the average reduction in Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) score from baseline was** 15.2 points for patients treated with GH001 compared with 0.3 points for patients treated with placebo**. - Twenty-three of 40 patients** (57.5%) receiving GH001 achieved remission **(defined as MADRS score of 10 or less); none of the placebo-treated patients did. - More than **70% of adults who took GH001 reported a treatment-emergent adverse effect**, compared with 7% of the control group. The most common GJ001 side effects were nausea, salivary hypersecretion, and paresthesia (pins-and-needles sensations); all reported effects were mild or moderate in severity. **The Other Side** The effects of psychedelics are difficult to conceal and may have biased patients and staff participating in the study, possibly amplifying perceived benefit or suppressing response when no psychoactive effects were experienced. Additionally, the sample size was relatively small, and the short eight-day trial makes direct comparison with other TRD treatments difficult.   **Takeaway Message** Future research should include patients with more advanced levels of treatment resistance and longer symptom durations, and should explore the longer-term efficacy and safety of GH001. The authors concluded: “Significant improvements in depression symptoms observed after GH001 vs placebo treatment support its potential as a novel, rapid-acting treatment for treatment-resistant depression.”   **Related Information** “[Helping Patients With Treatment Resistant Depression Reach Remission](https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.pn.2025.07.7.42)”   **Source** Wiesław J. Cubała, et. al. GH001 vs placebo in patients with treatment-resistant depression: a randomized clinical trial. *JAMA Psychiatry*. Published March 25, 2026. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2026.0096   (Image: Getty Images/iStock/Patrick_Gijsbers)   [treatment-resistant depression](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/treatment-resistant-depression), [psychedelic](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/psychedelic), [clinical trial](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/clinical-trial), [serotonin](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/serotonin), [mebufotenin](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/mebufotenin), [GH001](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/gh001), [toad venom](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/toad-venom) ## Related Posts [![](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/nasal_spray_iStock-1021476354-Jun-24-2025-09-16-34-9541-PM.jpg?height=200&name=nasal_spray_iStock-1021476354-Jun-24-2025-09-16-34-9541-PM.jpg) ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2019/06/esketamine-plus-antidepressant.html) ## [Esketamine Plus Antidepressant Maintenance Delays Relapse in Refractory Depression, Study Finds](https://alert.psychnews.org/2019/06/esketamine-plus-antidepressant.html) 6/6/19 12:00 AM [ Read more ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2019/06/esketamine-plus-antidepressant.html) [![](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/shutterstock_107239559-Jun-24-2025-09-18-55-4366-PM.jpg?height=200&name=shutterstock_107239559-Jun-24-2025-09-18-55-4366-PM.jpg) ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2014/10/clozapine-monotherapy-more-cost.html) ## [Clozapine Monotherapy More Cost-Effective Than Antipsychotic Polypharmacy, Study Shows](https://alert.psychnews.org/2014/10/clozapine-monotherapy-more-cost.html) 10/28/14 12:00 AM [ Read more ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2014/10/clozapine-monotherapy-more-cost.html) [![](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/infusion-iStock-1227547328-Jun-24-2025-04-23-29-9380-PM.jpg?height=200&name=infusion-iStock-1227547328-Jun-24-2025-04-23-29-9380-PM.jpg) ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2023/05/ketamine-comparable-to-ect-for-patients.html) ## [Ketamine Comparable to ECT for Patients With Refractory Depression Without Psychosis](https://alert.psychnews.org/2023/05/ketamine-comparable-to-ect-for-patients.html) 5/26/23 12:00 AM [ Read more ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2023/05/ketamine-comparable-to-ect-for-patients.html) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Psychiatric News Alert", "url" : "https://alert.psychnews.org/author/psychiatric-news-alert" }, "dateModified" : "2026-03-26T18:15:48.563Z", "datePublished" : "2026-03-26T18:15:48.000Z", "headline" : "Experimental Psychedelic ‘Toad Venom’ Found Effective in Treatment-Resistant Depression", "image" : [ "https://alert.psychnews.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/toad_iStock-475856348.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://alert.psychnews.org/experimental-psychedelic-toad-venom-found-effective-in-treatment-resistant-depression", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://alert.psychnews.org/hubfs/PN-Blue-Box.jpg" } } } ```