Psilocybin for Microdosing

32 papers and 6 clinical trials exploring psilocybin as a treatment for microdosing.

CompoundClassic Psychedelic

Psilocybin

Psilocybin is a naturally occurring tryptamine psychedelic that acts as a prodrug to psilocin, a potent 5-HT2A receptor agonist. It is the furthest advanced psychedelic in clinical development, with two positive Phase III trials in treatment-resistant depression and expanding regulated access in Australia, Germany, and US states.

Full Psilocybin profile
IndicationAround 300 million people worldwide are affected by a variety of mental health conditions that microdosing may address.

Microdosing

Microdosing involves the regular consumption of sub-hallucinogenic doses of psychedelics, primarily for cognitive enhancement and emotional wellbeing. Although popularised through anecdotal reports, rigorous scientific evidence on its effects is still limited, pointing to a critical need for further research in this emerging field.

Full Microdosing profile

Academic Research

32 papers
Open Accessindividual

Assessing the Potential Cardiovascular Risk of Microdosing the Psychedelic LSD in Mice

Chronic administration of sub‑hallucinogenic (microdose) LSD in mice produced no ventricular thickening or other ECG-detected cardiotoxic changes, whereas serotonin (positive control) caused significant ventricular thickening. In vitro assays showed similar 5‑HT2B affinity across mouse and human receptors and that low‑dose LSD yields only transient 5‑HT2B activation compared with the cardiotoxin d‑fenfluramine, together providing no evidence of cardiovascular risk from prolonged low‑dose LSD in this mouse model.

Published
Journal
ACS Pharmacology and Translational Science
Authors
Calderon, J. R., Effinger, D. P., King, J. L., Kopecky, B. J., McCorvy, J. D., O'Connell, C. K., Schalk, S. S., Thompson, S. M., Wallingford, J. R.
Open Accessindividual

Salience, Sensemaking, and Setting in Psilocybin Microdosing: Methodological Lessons and Preliminary Findings of a Mixed Method Qualitative Study

Using momentary ecological assessment and retrospective interviews, the study found psilocybin microdosing was associated with loosening of mental structures, increased salience of external stimuli, greater cognitive flexibility but reduced cognitive stability and occasional ego-dystonic content, with highly structured environments tending to produce more positive appraisals. Crucially, momentary and retrospective reports were often diametrically opposed, highlighting methodological biases and the need for systematic mixed-methods studies to accurately characterise the lived experience of microdosing.

Published
Journal
OSF Preprints
Authors
Bon, J., Elersič, K., Hudnik, L. K., Levačić, A., Oblak, A., Pregelj, P.

Clinical Trials

6 trials

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