Disclaimer: Northpoint and its affiliates do not endorse the use of microdosing or any mind-altering substance, especially for those in recovery. This article is purely educational, hoping to provide readers with information they may need to make healthier choices.
“People are like, ‘Yeah microdosing!’ But in reality, there is not a single controlled trial ever on this yet. So whether it’s helpful or hurtful we don’t know.”
— Dr. Stephen Ross, MD, Director, Division of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, Bellevue Hospital
Is microdosing a form of drug abuse? Or, as supporters suggest, is it a safe way to use psychedelic drugs to improve one’s quality of life?
Although the practice is gaining in popularity, many unanswered questions about microdosing should be considered when discussing its safety and effectiveness. Let’s look at what you need to know about microdosing.
“Get your loved one the help they need. Our substance use disorder program accepts many health insurance plans. This is our residential program.”
First Things First—What is the Definition of Microdosing?
“In fact, true believers make it sound like it’s Adderall, Prozac, a venti Starbucks coffee, and a weeklong meditation retreat combined into a single ingestible substance.”
Microdosing is the practice of using extremely small amounts of psychedelic drugs to supposedly realize certain purported positive effects, including:
Increased physical energy and performance
Improved stamina
Emotional balance
Better problem-solving skills
As a treatment for a variety of conditions – anxiety, depression, psychosis, ADHD, and PMS
The idea is borrowed from the pharmaceutical industry’s “minimum effective dose” principle. This principle states that the user should consume the lowest possible amount that produces the desired effects without also triggering any negative side effects.
A “microdose” of a psychedelic drug is typically between one-tenth and one-half the “normal” amount, depending upon the substance. Dosages this small do not usually produce the hallucinatory or psychedelic effects common to such substances, indicating that the dose is “sub-perceptual”. However, proponents of microdosing say there is a cellular response that results in several positive benefits.
The Supposed Benefits of Microdosing
“What microdosing seems to do is rebalance people. Here’s a generalization, which is how I’ve come to this conclusion: A number of people, by the time they’ve finished a month, say, “I’m sleeping better, I’m eating more healthy food, I’ve returned to yoga and I’m doing meditation. They’ve improved their relationship to their body ― or their body has improved their relationship to them…What seems to happen with microdosing is that you’re more attuned to your own real needs.”
— Dr. James Fadiman, Ph.D.
Although there is a shortage of verified, peer-reviewed scientific data on any microdosing advantages, there is a plethora of anecdotal reports purporting supposed positives. According to these subjective accounts, microdosing can help in a wide variety of ways:
Anxiety—academic, general, or social
Asperger’s Syndrome
Athletic Performance – boosted energy and stamina
Bipolar Disorder
Contentment – aids in “living in the now”
Creativity
Depression
Dexterity – driving, playing a musical instrument, etc.
Empathy – increased caring and consideration for others
Healthy choices – better adherence to meditation, yoga, exercise, and diet routines
Job performance – increased production, greater enjoyment and satisfaction
Learning – promotes greater focus; languages, computer programming, advanced math
Menstruation – eases PMS symptoms, pain, and cramping
Migraines
Mood elevation
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Procrastination
Problem-solving
Psychotherapy – grants greater personal insight
Recovery from addiction
Stuttering
Trauma – reduces unexpected triggers
Writing – eliminates writer’s block
“We treat both addiction and co-occurring disorders and accept many health insurance plans. Take a look at our inpatient program.”
What Is a Typical Microdosing Schedule?
“With microdoses, the point would be to create subtle changes in people’s psychopharmacology or experience, in much the same way as most traditional pharmaceuticals are used now.”
— Brad Burge, Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies
The regular, daily use of any psychedelic drug can lead to tolerance – the need for ever-increasing amounts to achieve the same results. And because they affect the brain so profoundly, taking higher doses of psychedelics or hallucinogens can trigger unpredictable results. For this reason, microdosing every day is not recommended. In his book, The Psychedelic Explorer’s Guide, Dr. Faldiman recommends a once-every-three-days schedule:
Day 1 – Microdose day
Day 2 – Aftereffects, no dose
Day 3 – No dose
Day 4 – Microdose day
People experience psychedelic microdosing differently. For that reason, it is recommended that when beginning a microdose schedule, the user take a day or two off from work and other social commitments. This gives the person an opportunity to judge the effects for themselves. While microdosing, it is important not to change your daily routine. The entire purpose of a microdose regimen is supposed to be to enhance your everyday life.
How Long Does a Microdose Last?
“It’s like the coffee to wake up the mind-body connection.”
— Martijn Schirp, hallucinogen enthusiast
The duration of a microdose varies widely depending on the specific psychedelic substance used. Reported effects range from approximately eight to seventy-two hours. Additional factors such as body weight, metabolism, and diet also influence duration and intensity.
A typical microdosing pattern follows a three-day cycle. Day 1 (Microdose): noticeable effects are experienced throughout the day. Day 2 (No dose): subtle, residual effects often persist, sometimes described as greater emotional balance or mental clarity. These lingering effects appear to be distinct to microdosing; by contrast, a full dose of psilocybin typically resolves within six hours, and LSD within twelve. At microdose levels, however, the influence of either substance may extend into the following day. Day 3 (No dose): most individuals return to their baseline state.
For safety and self-awareness, individuals experimenting with microdosing are encouraged to maintain a structured journal. Tracking emotional, cognitive, and physical changes over time can help identify patterns, prevent unintentional escalation, and provide valuable data for discussion with a qualified clinician or recovery professional.
LSD: Microdosing Acid
“Today I took my first microdose. My senses are ever-so-slightly-heightened, a feeling all but unappreciable, so perhaps it’s psychosomatic…”
— Ayelet Waldman, A Really Good Day: How Microdosing Made a Mega Difference in My Mood, My Marriage, and My Life
LSD, or acid, is the psychedelic substance most commonly used during microdosing. In fact, it has become a kind of “life hack” for Silicon Valley tech workers wanting to increase their productivity. While a typical dose of LSD is about 100 µg, a microdose is approximately 10 µg. Users self-report several positives:
Problem-solving
Creativity
Innovation
Insight
LSD molecules are metabolized within a couple of hours, so it is somewhat surprising to discover how long the effects and aftereffects continue to linger after a microdose – up to 72 hours. This means that a person wanting to microdose LSD may need to experiment quite a bit to determine their proper amount and schedule. Otherwise, they run the risk of complications such as tolerance or a “bad trip”.
A 2017 study conducted by the University of North Carolina discovered that LSD’s psychedelic longevity is due to how its molecules fit into the brain’s receptors. Interestingly, the receptor protein folds over the LSD like a tight-fitting lid, thereby trapping the drug inside.
Psilocybin: Microdosing Magic Mushrooms
“What you get is the best parts of Adderall with none of the side effects. You function better physically and mentally. You find the office jerk bearable and you’re more compassionate about the flaws of others. You feel you’ve had a pretty good day.”
— Dr. James Fadiman
A typical effective dose of psilocybin-containing “magic mushrooms” is approximately 2.5 grams. In contrast, a microdose generally falls between 0.2 and 0.5 grams of dried material. This range accounts for significant variability among mushroom and truffle strains, each of which can contain differing concentrations of psilocybin.
Proper preparation is essential for accuracy and safety. The mushrooms should first be thoroughly dried, then ground into a fine, consistent powder to ensure even distribution of active compounds and precise measurement. Because individual mushrooms vary in size and potency, weighing pieces directly without grinding can lead to dosing errors. For consistency, some users encapsulate the powdered material into pre-measured doses. Although this process can be time-consuming, omitting it increases the risk of unintentional overconsumption.
Anecdotal reports describe positive subjective experiences from microdosing, though these remain unverified in controlled clinical studies. One participant reported, “Psilocybin makes me feel like I did as a child—content and grounded. During my test days, I feel more love for myself, and I can give that to others.” Such accounts, while compelling, should be interpreted cautiously and not regarded as evidence of safety or therapeutic benefit.
Cannabis: Microdosing Marijuana
“Our bodies are already working to prevent dementia, reduce inflammation, and respond to any pathological process. If we can enhance the functioning of that system with a little bit of extra THC, we can benefit.”
— Dr. Dustin Sulak, D.O.
Individuals who microdose cannabis often prefer edible products rather than smoking, as edibles allow for more predictable dosing and consistent results. Smoking remains the least precise method due to multiple uncontrollable factors—such as the potency of the flower, the size of the inhalation, and the efficiency of the delivery device.
In contrast, commercially produced cannabis edibles provide standardized information about tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content, which helps users more accurately gauge dosage. For instance, in states like Colorado, a standard serving contains 10 milligrams of THC. A typical microdose, however, is about 5 milligrams—half of that standard amount.
Microdose-level effects from edibles generally begin within 45 minutes of ingestion and peak around two to three hours later. Because edibles are metabolized through the digestive system, their onset is slower but their effects are often longer-lasting and more controlled. Notably, microdosed edibles represent one of the fastest-growing segments of the commercial cannabis market, reflecting the increasing demand for more precise and measured use.
Mellowness
Focus
Creativity
Contentment
What Other Substances Can Be Microdosed?
“There’s much greater connectivity — parts of the brain that rarely talk to each other … talk to each other.”
— Dr. David Nutt, President, European Brain Council
Theoretically, any psychedelic drug can be used while microdosing. Some other common psychedelics include:
Mescaline/Peyote
Ibogaine
MDMA/Ecstasy
Ketamine
Dextromethorphan
Ayahuasca
“We accept many health insurance plans. Get your life back in order, take a look at our residential program.”
Microdosing Risks: What You Need to Know
“Someone might be expecting a kind of sparkly day, just a really productive day at work—and next thing you know, they’re grasping hold to their office chair wondering why the world is dissolving.”
— Dr. Matthew Johnson, Ph.D., Johns Hopkins Hospital
Despite all of these compelling—yet unscientific—subjective reports about the supposed benefits, the risks of microdosing cannot be ignored:
Most psychedelics are illegal, making possession and use a crime punishable by prison time.
Consequently, most psychedelics are unregulated. This means that there is no easy way for users to know what they are getting, in terms of purity, potency, and safety.
Unregulated products can make it difficult to determine the correct microdose.
Inaccurate microdosing can lead to either an unexpected full-blown psychedelic experience or even an unpleasant bad trip.
Psychedelics are associated with certain mental illnesses, including panic attacks, psychosis, or schizophrenia.
Tolerance and cross-tolerance with other psychedelics.
In addition, specific psychedelics have their own hazards:
LSD
Flashbacks – up to 50% of users report at least one flashback
What are the Current Limitations of Microdosing Research?
“If you’re connected to an academic research institution, a research hospital, are a physician in a clinic or have a solo practice, it is easier and easier to get government approval to do research. However, it is equally obvious that 99% of psychedelic users do not sign up for research projects and are very, very unlikely ever to do so.”
— Dr. James Fadiman
LSD was first introduced for psychiatric use in 1947 and was eventually administered to more than 40,000 patients worldwide. Early studies explored its potential for treating mood disorders, addiction, and anxiety. However, by 1965, growing government concern over its widespread non-medical use led to a halt in production and the end of therapeutic distribution. From that point forward, LSD was available only for approved scientific research under strict regulatory control.
By the early 1980s, even sanctioned research had sharply declined, and by the turn of the century, legitimate clinical investigation was nearly nonexistent. In recent years, scientific interest in psychedelics has reemerged, though most studies continue to focus on full-dose administration and its neurological and psychological effects rather than on microdosing or sub-perceptual use.
What’s the Bottom Line about Microdosing?
“The scientific basis is pretty shaky right now. Its benefits are plausible and very interesting, but the claims of ‘everything fits together and goes right and you’re in a good mood and in the flow,’ well, we all have those types of days regardless of any pharmacological intervention.”
— Dr. Matthew Johnson
It cannot be emphasized strongly enough that self-medicating with potent—and often illegal—psychedelic substances to manage mental health symptoms carries significant risk. This is particularly concerning given the absence of peer-reviewed scientific evidence supporting the safety or efficacy of microdosing for any psychiatric condition. Individuals who experiment outside of clinical oversight risk ingesting unknown or contaminated substances, misjudging dosage, or experiencing acute psychological distress or physical complications.
Despite the growing number of personal anecdotes, it is essential to remember that responsible treatment development follows a structured, evidence-based process. There are no safe shortcuts. Moreover, emerging research suggests that microdosing may provide no measurable therapeutic benefit at all. Any perceived improvement could be attributable to the placebo effect.
As Dr. Matthew Johnson of Johns Hopkins University explains, the sub-perceptual effects of microdosing are “so subtle that they fall within the range of barely perceptible—and it’s right in the range where people can so easily fool themselves.”
