Microdosing: Definition, Effects, Uses, Risks, Legality
If you’re considering microdosing psilocybin, talking with a doctor or therapist about whether microdosing or psychedelic therapy may be right for you can be a good starting point. If you’re microdosing or thinking about microdosing in the future, it can be beneficial to find a doctor or therapist you trust enough to discuss your intentions and use. However, it’s important to understand that these substances are still illegal in most countries and remain unapproved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). He notes that moving, stretching, or exercising right after microdosing can help reduce anxiety and physical discomfort.
DAY 4–30
“On the ‘off days’ — day 2 and 3 when you aren’t taking a microdose, you might feel more focused and productive,” he adds. Psych Central interviewed Oregon-based psychotherapist and co-founder of Yale Psychedelic Science Group Peter H. Addy, PhD, LPC, LMHC, who specializes in psychedelic harm reduction and integration work. Addy discussed how microdosing psilocybin can impact your mental well-being. They rely on the existing microdosing community to take part, which, as we’ve covered, isn’t necessarily a representative sample.
Full-Dose vs. Microdose
During the 1960s, some psychiatrists experimented with MDMA as a potential treatment for mental health concerns. Microdosing has become a buzzword with big promises behind it, but there’s not much research to support its effectiveness. Given the lack of regulation for psychedelic substances, the practice also carries risks.
How Microdosing Psilocybin May Help Improve Mental Health
Most other hallucinogenic drugs aren’t legal, however, more research is being done on their therapeutic use, which could change laws in the future. People with a history of psychotic disorders, such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or other disorders, may also want to avoid microdosing, as the practice may be too stimulating. There is not yet enough strong evidence, including comparative research using placebos, to make a case for microdosing. For many people, the intention of microdosing may differ from that of normal psychedelic or hallucinogenic substance taking. However, the more common term for microdosing — a small fraction of a “normal dose” — is rather vague, as it does not provide a defined numerical value.
However, a combination of other factors, such as stress reduction or increased focus, may lead to this benefit. Again, evidence for this is anecdotal, and scientific studies are yet to back these claims. The number of microdosers has increased with media reporting and the emergence of online microdosing communities. According to the same study, some participants also experienced negative side effects, like increased anxiety and what does it mean to be an enabler a “cycling pattern“ between depressive and euphoric moods.
DAY 2 : Transition day
People who took lower doses were more likely to report headaches and fatigue than those who took full doses. While microdosing appears to be relatively safe, it does carry some risks. Without any formal regulation, it’s difficult to know exactly what you’re taking or how potent it is.
- Furthermore, experts know little about the effects of long-term microdosing.
- An overview of route of administration and frequency of use per psychedelic for microdosing is presented in Table 4, which shows that the frequency of microdosing ranges between 2 and 7 times per week, depending on the substance.
- While reports are in general positive, scientific evidence about potential negative effects is lacking aside from the prevalence and motives for use.
The majority of respondents who microdosed with LSD and psilocybin (57–78%) reported using microdosing several times per week, ranging between 2 and 4 times per week, respectively. One-half of the microdosers (47.6%) indicated to have microdosed while working, of which studying and computer/office work were the most prevalent daily occupations. The motives to microdose in descending order were for performance enhancement (37%), mood enhancement (29%), out of curiosity (15%), and for self-medication (14%). The most reported side effects while microdosing were psychological in nature and occurred acutely. Microdosing with psychedelics, the practice of taking a low dose of a psychedelic every couple of days, seems to be an increasing trend among science, technology, engineering, and mathematics professionals. Multiple anecdotal reports suggest performance enhancing effects; however, these positive reports may overshadow potential negative experiences.