Researchers say the benefits of microdosing outweigh the drawbacks

Last updated: March 4, 2025

People who microdose psychedelics often have very positive things to say about it. For instance, it can improve mood and boost creativity, while the side effects are often mild. New research published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology compares the pros and cons of this phenomenon, with striking results.

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Not enough research

Rotem Petranker, director of the Canadian Centre for Psychedelic Science, and his colleagues noticed that more and more people are interested in taking small doses of LSD or psilocybin. However, scientific research on this phenomenon is scarce, while there are a vast number of anecdotal findings. They felt that had to change.

"I’ve always been curious about mind expansion: I’ve been meditating since I was 19, have had periods of extensive lucid dream training, and have had a near-death experience. Psychedelics seem to be in the same vein, so anyone interested in mapping consciousness would be wise to consider psychedelics as a useful paradigm,” Petranker said in an interview. He is also associate director of the Psychedelic Studies Research Program at the University of Toronto and a doctoral candidate at York University.

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Microdosers vs. non-microdosers

"When I started this research, it was with the idea that although the study of psychedelics has returned to the mainstream in the 21st century and the results seem promising, there are still many gaps in our knowledge. When I started, there was no published research on microdosing, so I thought this was a good way to establish legitimacy in the field."

"We had no funding or other support, so my colleague Thomas Anderson and I used our prior knowledge of designing surveys for research purposes to get a sense of what people who microdose experience, and whether they differ from non-microdosers in a few key aspects, such as mental health and creativity," the study author continued.

The researchers’ previous work, based on 278 self-identified microdancers, found that people who took very small doses of psychedelic substances often reported improved mood, focus, and creativity. In their new study, the researchers sought to replicate and expand upon those findings using data from the 2019 wave of the annual Global Drug Survey.

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Increasing clarity

The survey included responses from 123,814 participants in 215 countries and territories. Notably, 4,783 participants reported having microdosed LSD in the past 12 months, 2,832 participants reported having microdosed psilocybin in the past 12 months, and 862 participants reported microdosing both substances in the past 12 months.

This also revealed the same pattern: microdosing psychedelic substances consistently led to improved mood and creativity. When asked about their most common challenge with microdosing, more than half of the participants chose “none; I have not experienced any side effects.” For LSD, the next most commonly reported challenges were reduced energy and mental confusion, while for psilocybin, the most commonly reported challenges were physical discomfort and reduced focus. "Overall, those who microdose report that the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks," Petranker told PsyPost.

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Effects Not Yet Clear

But don’t jump to conclusions. To determine the true effects of microdosing, randomized, placebo-controlled trials are needed, the researchers acknowledge.

"We don’t know if microdosing does anything at all; it could be that everything reported in the literature is the placebo effect. Published studies in the field are either convenience samples—people who microdose and want it to work—or they involve subpar designs that tell us absolutely nothing. We are also unaware of the long-term health effects of microdosing, which could be good, bad, or negligible," Petranker explained.

Accurate Weighing and Dosing in Microdosing

Microdosing is all about consistency. A microdose of psilocybin or psilocin typically ranges between 0.05 and 0.3 grams of dried material, depending on the substance, the individual, and the intended effect. These are quantities where a standard kitchen scale falls short: it often has an accuracy of only 1 gram. For reliable microdosing, you need a precision scale with a minimum accuracy of 0.01 grams (10 milligrams), preferably 0.001 grams (1 milligram).^²

For psilocybin-containing material, such as dried mushrooms, the following guidelines serve as a starting point. Magic truffles are sold fresh and have a higher moisture content; the effective dose for fresh material is therefore roughly five to six times higher than for dried material.

The standard protocol used by researchers is the Fadiman protocol: one day of use, followed by two rest days. This prevents tolerance from developing and gives the body time to recover. Protocols vary; some users opt for every other day or a fixed daily schedule (e.g., 4 days on, 3 days off). Consistency and accurate tracking of dose and effect are essential to assess whether microdosing works for you^.²

A precision scale with 0.01-gram accuracy is the minimum recommendation. If you want to microdose with magic truffles, keep in mind that the moisture content can vary by batch, causing the effective psilocybin amount per gram of fresh weight to vary. Dried material is generally more consistent to dose.

Microdosing falls into a legal gray area in the Netherlands for psilocybin-containing mushrooms (Schedule I of the Opium Act), but magic truffles are legally available. Never combine microdosing with SSRI antidepressants, lithium, or MAO inhibitors. For persons 18 years of age and older only.

About the author

Editor

Derek Vince

Derek writes for Dutch Smart about smart shop products, cultivation techniques, and harm reduction. He combines practical experience with factual, evidence-based information, without hype or vague promises.

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