Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England)Aug 25, 2026

Salvinorin A in humans: How it is processed, affects the body, and its safety

Psychedelic Science Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Aug 26, 2026

Abstract

A systematic review included 12 clinical trials with 174 participants examining the effects of salvinorin A.

Salvinorin A is a highly selective k-opioid receptor agonist and is associated with rapid onset of effects within seconds.
Peak effects of salvinorin A occur at 1-2 minutes, with resolution of effects within 30 minutes.
Inhalation of salvinorin A (0.375-21 μg/kg) produced consistent pharmacokinetic profiles, while sublingual administration led to slower onset and longer duration.
No serious adverse events were reported, and physiological parameters remained largely stable, with only mild increases in blood pressure and heart rate observed.
Acute psychological effects varied, with some participants experiencing disorientation and anxiety, while others reported positive subjective changes.
Long-term adverse effects were rare, and the potential for abuse appeared low.

Simplified

Salvinorin A, the principal psychoactive constituent of Salvia divinorum, is a highly selective κ-opioid receptor agonist and a rare example of a κ-opioid receptor-mediated psychedelic drug. Preclinical work of salvinorin A has shown promising effects in neuropsychiatric animal models. However, human studies remain heterogeneous and fragmented, highlighting the need for synthesis. Thus, we conducted a systematic review to synthesize available human studies of salvinorin A, with a focus on pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, safety, and longer-term effects. We searched PubMed, Web of Science, and EMBASE from inception to January 18, 2026. We included 12 clinical trials comprising 174 participants. Most studies enrolled medically healthy, hallucinogen-experienced volunteers and administered salvinorin A by inhalation (0.375-21 µg/kg or 0.2-12 mg). Pharmacokinetic profiles were characterized by rapid onset within seconds, peak effects at 1-2 minutes, and resolution within 30 minutes, consistent with fast absorption and clearance. Sublingual administration in two studies produced slower onset and longer duration, whereas oral dosing was inactive in one study. No serious adverse events were reported. Physiological parameters were largely stable, with occasional mild increases in blood pressure/heart rate. Acute psychological effects included disorientation, anxiety, and distress in subsets of participants, alongside reports of positive subjective changes. Long-term adverse effects were rare, and abuse potential appeared low. Overall, salvinorin A exhibits a distinct human neuropsychopharmacological profile compared with serotonergic psychedelics. These findings support cautious further investigation in controlled studies. Further, salvinorin A can serve as a model for probing κ-opioid receptor-mediated alterations of consciousness in humans.