Beyond Psychedelic Microdosing: Therapeutic Potential, Neuropharmacology, and Safety Considerations in Low-Dose Psychoactive Use
Journal of Advances in Developmental Research June 18, 2026 Eric P. Rubenstein
The term 'microdosing' is often treated as a single phenomenon, but it actually describes a low-dose pattern applied across many substances with different mechanisms, effects, and risks. This conceptual review classifies psychedelic and psychedelic-adjacent substances—including classical psychedelics, dissociatives, empathogens, and natural compounds—by therapeutic plausibility, pharmacological mechanism, dose-response, perceptibility, tolerance, neuroplasticity, context, and evidence strength. The article argues that without separating these factors, microdosing research cannot yield interpretable or scientifically meaningful conclusions.