However, many people who microdose report feeling a heightened sense of awareness, focus, energy, or creativity, Dr. Tsang adds. Microdosing mushrooms is generally safe for most people and doesn’t have addictive qualities, she says. As mentioned in the dose section above, one of the most common microdose side effects or disadvantages alcohol and aging effects is when folks accidentally take a little too much. So for some that can mean tripping slightly, like seeing some patterning and swaying visually when you rest your eyes, but for others it can be less about seeing visuals and more about feeling a little too altered to focus on tasks at hand or go about your daily business.
Then he read anecdotes of Silicon Valley influencers claiming increased energy from taking tiny doses of psychedelics. So he decided to start microdosing a few times a week, eating a “small nibble” — about half an inch — of mushrooms to see if it would improve his mood. A) Percentage of respondents who stopped using at least 1 psychedelic substance in a regular dose (white bar) or a microdose (black bar) depicted per reason. (B) Percentage of respondents who experienced negative side effects and currently microdose (light grey bar) or who experience negative side effects and stopped microdosing (dark grey bar) depicted per type effect. (C) Percentage of respondents who experienced negative side effects and currently microdose (light grey bar) or who experienced negative side effects and stopped microdosing (dark grey bar) depicted per effect onset.
Another study published in the journal Frontiers in Psychiatry asked participants via an online questionnaire about their experiences with microdosing. The participants in the study were over the age of 18 and had been diagnosed with at least one mental health condition. The results suggested that many participants felt that microdosing was more effective than some other types of conventional treatment, yet not as effective as standard doses of psychedelics.
Little is known about the prevalence, effects, safety, and long-term impacts, so more research is needed to fully understand the potential help or harm that microdosing may hold. The legality of the practice depends on the substances used—two of the most popular substances are illegal, but some others can be legally microdosed. The current stance by microdosing experts, including Dr. James Fadiman is that the microdosing protocols of 10-weeks, with a 4-week pause afterwards, are generally considered safe for those with pre-existing heart conditions. If you have a pre-existing heart condition, it’s advised to avoid extended periods of microdosing and monitor your heart functions regularly.
Not all people with color blindness experienced this, but there is a chance that it will occur. Among Fadiman’s gathered responses of microdosers, there was not a single case of reported psychosis, a risk that requires strong consideration when taking a high dose. However, while no known anecdotal reports exist, it is understanding alcohol use disorder national institute important to note that this does not rule out the possibility of psychosis triggered by microdosing. As it turns out, psychedelics are among the safest substances on the “drugs” spectrum—below weed, alcohol, and MDMA. In total, 3590 of 5681 respondents consented, were 18 years or older, and completed the questionnaire.
Naturally occurring psychedelic substances such as psilocybin extract from magic mushrooms and mescaline have been used for their beneficial health effects for thousands of years. The classification of psychedelic substances such as psilocybin and LSD as drugs of abuse without any medical use has, however, hindered research on the therapeutic effects of these substances. Because of the promising potential seen in research on standard doses of psychedelic substances, the potential of microdosing as a mental health and substance use treatment warrants further research.
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 drug withdrawal symptoms treatment and management 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.
For a recent article I wrote about athletes who microdose, psychedelic researcher at Johns Hopkins University, Matthew Johnson, Ph.D., told me there could potentially be long term effects of microdoses, but scientists still haven’t worked it out yet. However, what he could tell me is that part of how psilocybin mushrooms work is by stimulating the serotonin 2B receptor. And so, that same heart valve issue may also be a risk of long-term chronic microdosing, but scientists still need to figure it out.
In addition, respondents were asked to indicate where they found their microdosing schedule. The reasons people microdose are as varied as the individuals themselves, but there are some overall trends. Many of the 83 people who filled out a survey I created reported microdosing for some kind of mental health reason, like depression, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder, ADD/ADHD, addiction, and even pain management. Side effects of decreased mood, cognitive impairment, neurosis, and feelings of disconnection from others have also been noted.
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. Findings show that the majority of the respondents indeed microdose to enhance performance. Only one-fifth experienced negative effects of which most occurred acutely after consumption of the substance. Negative effects were not a reason to stop microdosing whereas absence of self-rated efficacy was.
While research is ongoing, some early studies have shown that the substances could be as effective as some traditional treatments for anxiety and depression. But experts say more research is needed on the subject to truly establish its mental health benefits. Mushroom expert, Paul Stamets, also has developed his own protocol specifically for microdosing Psilocybe cubensis mushrooms. He also recommends combining microdoses of psilocybin containing mushrooms with the supplements Niacin (a form of Vitamin B3) and Lion’s Mane (a non-psychedelic medicinal mushroom).
An online questionnaire was launched on several websites and fora between March and July 2018. Respondents who had consented, were 18 years of age or older, and had experience with microdosing were included in the analyses. Other research suggests psilocybin may also help treat substance use disorders, depression, anxiety, PTSD, and OCD. More than half of Americans say they’re open to trying psychedelic medicine, according to a survey by Mindbloom, a ketamine treatment provider. Finding a flow state is one of the main reasons microdosing is gaining popularity among artists, musicians, writers, programmers, and even athletes who find that the practice helps them get out of their heads and become more embodied in their workouts.
Some participants also reported a little trouble winding down for bed and sleeping, especially if they took the microdose in the late afternoon. First of all, it’s important to mention that different strains, species, and even batches of mushrooms vary in strength, so even though I’m about to lay out some number ranges, it’s always best to start low and find your personal threshold when testing out a new batch. Secondly, everyone’s biology is slightly different, so what might be a microdose for one person might be way too strong of an experience for another and vice versa.
Although the study had a large sample size, the number of individuals in various subgroups according to age, gender, and substances used for microdosing was relatively small. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) describes these substances as having “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.” This means that it is illegal to cultivate, possess, or sell such substances for either personal use or distribution. The practice of microdosing has grown considerably in recent years, particularly as it has gotten media coverage from a number of high profile publications. Interest in microdosing has grown alongside related practices such as the use of “smart drugs” and nootropics. It was during the 1960s that counterculture figures such as psychologist Timothy Leary helped to popularize hallucinogens.
