5.4: Microdosing

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Microdoses are 1/10-1/5 of a standard dose of a psychedelic substance (10-30 micrograms for LSD, 0.10-1.0 grams of psilocybin). A microdosing program is continuing to microdose 1-2 times a week for a period of 4-6 weeks (Fadiman, 2011). Due to the void of research on this topic, the effects of microdosing are unknown. Therefore, opportunities for research are plenty but will be largely exploratory. Longitudinal designs will be integral to microdosing research, as it is vital to understand whether or not these effects persist once the program has ceased. Whether or not the researcher is interested in acute effects from a single microdose, cumulative effects of continuous microdosing, or short-, medium-, or long-term effects will determine which methodologies are employed.

Microdoses are sub-perceptual, meaning, the amount is not enough to “trip” but has been anecdotally reported to produce meaningful changes in cognition and emotionality (Johnstad, 2018). Anecdotal reports include increased energy, positive mood, less reactivity, enhanced focus, increased creativity, as well as amelioration of brooding, rumination, mild-depressive symptoms, and a significant amount of microdosers also report improving their habits and health-related behaviors (Fadiman, 2011; Gregoire, 2017; Johnstad, 2018; Waldman, 2017; Wong 2017). Despite these substantial anecdotal reports, there is very little work looking at the effects of microdosing, and controlled longitudinal studies are non-existent.