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Microdosing FAQ: Theory Meets Practice
Microdosing has been having a moment for more than a decade, and it shows no sign of fading. Ever since psychologist James Fadiman helped popularize the idea with his “The Psychedelic Explorer’s Guide”, the practice has spread into mainstream wellness culture, and curiosity about it keeps growing.
In simple terms, microdosing means taking tiny, “sub-perceptual” amounts of psychedelics (most often psilocybin or LSD) on a regular but spaced-out schedule, commonly every few days. The doses are typically very small — around 5-20 µg of LSD or up to 0.5 g of dried magic mushrooms2 — and the whole point is not to feel any noticeable altered state, but to seek subtle benefits like better mood, focus, or sleep while going about everyday life.
With the hype has come a wave of new research — but also a lot of myths and fantasies. So States of Mind decided to find out what’s actually true about microdosing, in theory and in practice.
Sleep, Mood, and the Placebo Question
In theory (in other words, in the research so far), the strongest signal is around sleep: in a 2024 controlled trial3, people who microdosed LSD slept about 24 minutes longer the night after dosing. Large surveys also find that microdosers report lower anxiety and depression4 than non-microdosers, though these rely mostly on self-reports. Creativity, one of the most anecdotal claims, holds up the least: people often feel more creative, but objective tests show little to no real change5.
The big caveats are that many studies are small, short, and based on self-reported data, so the science is still catching up to the enthusiasm. There’s also the placebo effect6 to reckon with, when a benefit comes from expecting the substance to work rather than from the substance itself. In microdosing research, it can’t be ruled out: people who expect good results after the dose tend to get them2. But that’s not entirely bad news. If a simple, low-risk practice helps someone feel calmer or more focused, that’s still a result, however it works.
From Theory to Practice (and Practitioners)
To go beyond the studies, we gathered the most pressing questions from online communities and put them to experienced practitioners. How do psilocybin and LSD differ in outcomes? What side effects to watch for? Which microdosing protocols actually make sense for beginners?
We brought these to three microdosing guides and educators: Kayse Gehret, founder of “Microdosing for Healing”, Amanda Gedeon, microdosing practitioner, and Lauren Alderfer, PhD, author of “Mindful Microdosing: A Guidebook and Journal”. Their views don’t always line up with one another — and that’s exactly what makes the conversation worth having. Here’s what we found out.
Which is better for microdosing — psilocybin or LSD — and what are the key differences?
Both are beautiful, transformative medicines… just different! A person’s experience will be unique to them, but in general I tend to recommend psilocybin for people who are just starting out in psychedelic practice and laying a foundation. I also love psilocybin for working with grief and loss, spiritual connection and development, chronic pain, expanding one’s inner landscape, nervous system dysregulation and related disorders.
I tend to recommend LSD to people seeking to tap into deeper creativity, focus and energetic stamina — it’s wonderful for problem-solving, sustained focus, feeling crisper, lighter and more articulate. In my experience, LSD also offers a more ‘predictable’ effect and sensation, whereas a mushroom experience will be reliably unpredictable. One of my favorite aspects of working with psilocybin is a curiosity around how they uniquely move in a person, what will they be teaching in this cycle? It’s always new & fascinating.
Not only does each substance have its own signature personality but factors such as intention, access, safety, comfort with legality, set and setting come into play when making a choice.
I’d rather ask which is better for you and what you are hoping to get from your microdosing cycle. I like to describe them as introspective (psilocybin) and extrospective (LSD). I find psilocybin connects you to your emotions, needs, and parts whereas LSD shows you how you think, how you observe the world, and how you interpret things. One is more heart-centred whilst the other is more mind-focused.
What side effects can microdosing cause, and how can you manage them?
The two most important questions I ask in intakes and assessments with new microdosing clients lately are 1/ How comfortable and resourced is this person in navigating amplified emotions? And 2/ How ready are they to be honest with themselves? Mushrooms, especially, can offer big honesty and truthfulness… and will do so in the most clever and creative ways until we get the message! My clients who express feeling innately drawn to psilocybin mushrooms — called to it — tend to share a certain courage, a readiness for honesty about themselves and their lives.
The biggest “side effects” with microdosing tend to be related to the amplification of emotions and releasing latent energy — this can feel like temporary anxiety, malaise, melancholy, grief and cleansing tears, fatigue and more. What science might call “side effects” are actually often signs of real healing taking place.
Microdosing has shown to be extremely safe with almost no negative side effects*; however, knowing how to microdose with certain health conditions (eg., tinnitus) or medications (eg., SSRIs) becomes important for a positive experience.
Most substances used for microdosing have extremely low (to none) toxicity. However, that doesn’t mean they are safe for everyone, and ‘side effects’ are usually associated with your baseline state and whether you should actually be microdosing (hence screening being so important).
If you exceed your sweet spot, you can experience headaches, jittery sensations, irritability and other uncomfortable sensations. It’s important to calibrate to find your ideal dose. It shouldn’t be assumed that a pre-weighed dose/capsule is suitable for you.
Does microdosing actually improve creativity and work productivity?
Science has shown that psychedelics quiet the default-mode network* — the habit-oriented, ruminating, repetitive mind — and enliven the creative, expansive, receptive parts of our mind. We are more open to ideas, changes and novelty, making new neural connections and actually ‘growing’ our minds. I work with a lot of artists, creatives and entrepreneurs, and I’ve seen first-hand that microdosing leads many to an incredibly expanded creativity, expressiveness, and access to flow states. Many people also find themselves more prolific, less prone to procrastination and over-thinking, and enjoying more sustained energy.
Reports certainly support these outcomes* as well as the science on neuroplasticity from psychoactive microdosing substances.
Plenty of citizen research suggests it does, however the science hasn’t caught up yet and whilst studies are taking place that show the impact psychedelics have on the brain, the majority are for larger doses. For microdosing, evidence is still inconsistent and some points to the placebo effect*. That being said, if productivity, creativity, focus and overall wellbeing are improved because of the placebo effect, then I’d say that’s a pretty great result in itself.
Is it safe to microdose while taking antidepressants? Do SSRIs/SNRIs blunt the effects?
Yes, in most cases, and I find there is so much misinformation out there on this subject! In our Microdosing Facilitator Training we focus on navigating pharmaceuticals, especially antidepressants. Microdosing can be exceptionally supportive for people who wish to mindfully taper off their pharmaceutical medications.
SSRIs and SNRIs can blunt the microdosing experience — especially in the first month of practice — and an experienced guide can help a person create a dosing schedule and protocol that reflects that. As is almost always the case with psychedelic practice: it depends on the individual, so I do often recommend that people on antidepressants be in communication with their prescriber or a trusted clinician we recommend for them.
Citizen science reports continually show success when tapering off correctly and under guidance. That guidance may need to include a psychiatrist or other mental health professional. As a microdosing coach, I often recommend this team approach to ensure safety. Yes, SSRIs blunt the effect, so dosage is then calculated accordingly.
I wouldn’t say it’s unsafe, but I’d also question the point of it. Antidepressants block serotonin receptors whilst psychedelics activate them, so taking them together is contradictory. Beginning a microdosing cycle whilst you are tapering off SSRI’s is a more suitable option, but never without medical supervision and a good support system.
How does microdosing affect sleep quality, and when is the best time to dose?
If someone is coming to practice specifically for insomnia or disordered sleep, I will usually recommend microdosing with Amanita muscaria* first. In my experience, I’ve found the dosing time of day to be much more impactful when working with Amanita than psilocybin, and sometimes we need to experiment a bit the first couple weeks before honing in on the perfect dose-time. I have seen incredible results with Amanita, with many people saying it’s the first time they have slept very well, through the night and dreaming again in decades.
* Source
One of the biggest benefits reported from microdosing, whether ingested in the morning or before bedtime, is improved sleep. The importance of good sleep and its benefits to overall health cannot be overstated. For some people, if microdosing before bedtime interrupts sleep, it is best to switch to ingesting in the morning. The timing of when to ingest is a personal preference and depends on which choice best supports the person’s intention.
Most people report sleeping better, however, I wouldn’t say that better sleep is a benefit of microdosing. This may have more to do with the practice that surrounds the entire process, being able to set boundaries, having conversations instead of going over and over them internally, finding more time for yourself, etc. Naturally, these acts provide a sense of relief, which in turn helps your nervous system.
Certain substances, such as LSD, should be taken before 10 am as they also bind to dopamine receptors* which can be energetic and stimulating, with others you can be more flexible but I always suggest incorporating them into your morning routine and then changing if something suggests you should.
For beginners, which protocol works best — Fadiman, Stamets, or something else?
There is such an art to dosing and protocols; I love teaching on this topic! After supporting 2000+ individuals in practice, I’ve noticed certain patterns and distinct characteristics that support the dosing process and inform the protocol. I don’t believe there is one “best” — it will always be unique — but I will say I find the Fadiman protocol* (1 day on, 2 days off) consistently ideal for LSD microdosing.
Dosing and protocols are something I love to co-create with each client — participating in the process helps them tap into their own knowing, confidence and intuition, establish a personal relationship with the medicine, and empowers them with sovereign choice.
I personally like the Microdosing Institute Protocol* of one day on, then one day off, for beginners. However, it depends on the intention and/or health condition; for instance, for cluster headaches or mild dementia, the protocols are different.
Protocols aren’t conditioned by your level of experience but by your needs. It’s important to state that both your sweet spot and protocol can vary from cycle to cycle, as your baseline state will always vary. When I work with a client, I start with one, then switch to another to see how it feels. As I am in touch with my clients on a daily basis, I’m very aware of how microdosing is affecting them and can make decisions accordingly. Every person is different, every process is different, every cycle should be tailored with that in mind.
