Might Microdosing Psychedelics Be Safe and Beneficial? An Initial Exploration.
James Fadiman, Sophia Korb
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs 2019 DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2019.1593561 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1,000 |
| Population | More than a thousand individuals from 59 countries |
| Intervention | LSD |
| Dose | 10 micrograms every three days |
| Duration | 18 months overall; individual participation ranged from one week to four months |
| Topics | LSD Microdosing Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Psychedelics Microdosing Benefits LSD |
| Citations | 122 |
| Key findings | Spaced but repeated microdoses of LSD were followed by improvements in negative moods, especially depression, and increases in positive moods. |
Abstract
Albert Hoffman suggested that low doses of LSD might be an appropriate alternative to Ritalin. Following this possibility, a systematic exploration of the effects of "microdoses," comprising hundreds of lengthy descriptive reports, was undertaken. Based on these reports, using a psychedelic in the microdose range (10 micrograms) every three days was determined to be safe across a wide variety of individuals and conditions. Over 18 months, more than a thousand individuals from 59 countries did a daily evaluation of negative and positive emotional state using the PANAS checklist plus written reports for between one week and four months. Participant reports suggested that spaced but repeated microdoses were followed by improvements in negative moods, especially depression, and increases in positive moods. Increased energy, improved work effectiveness, and improved health habits were observed in clinical and non-clinical populations. Smaller samples described alleviation of symptoms in migraine headaches, pre-menstrual syndromes, traumatic brain injury, shingles, and other conditions not previously associated with psychedelic use.
In the evidence
This study is part of the evidence base for 3 syntheses in the library. Here is how each one recorded it.
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Spaced but repeated microdoses of LSD (10 micrograms every three days) were followed by improvements in negative moods, especially depression, and increases in positive moods, energy, and work effectiveness.
Synthesized
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Spaced repeated microdoses of LSD (10 micrograms every three days) were followed by improvements in negative moods, especially depression, and increases in positive moods, along with increased energy and work effectiveness.
Synthesized
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State of the evidence: Microdosing Supports
Spaced but repeated microdoses of LSD (10 micrograms every three days) were followed by improvements in negative moods, especially depression, and increases in positive moods, energy, and work effectiveness.
Synthesized
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on microdosing, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microdosing psychedelics: personality, mental health, and creativity differences in microdosers Respondents recruited from online forums | 2019 | Observational study | |
| Positive expectations predict improved mental-health outcomes linked to psychedelic microdosing Individuals planning a weekly microdosing regimen | 2021 | Prospective observational study | n = 81 |
| Psilocybin microdosers demonstrate greater observed improvements in mood and mental health at one month relative to non-microdosing controls Psilocybin microdosers and non-microdosing comparators | 2022 | Naturalistic observational study | n = 1,133 |
| Nonlinear Pharmacokinetics of Oral Quinidine and Verapamil in Healthy Subjects: A Clinical Microdosing Study Healthy subjects | 2011 | Observational cohort | |
| Microdosing with psychedelics to self-medicate for ADHD symptoms in adults: A prospective naturalistic study. Adults with ADHD who intended to start microdosing on their own initiative | 2022 | Prospective study | n = 233 |