Analysis of information sources in references of the Wikipedia article "Psychedelic microdosing" in English language version.
Decades earlier, Albert Hofmann, the "discoverer" of LSD and its hallucinogenic effects, mentioned that "very small doses, perhaps 25 micrograms," could be useful as an antidepressant (Ghose 2015; Horowitz 1976) or as a substitute for Ritalin (Fadiman 2017; Horowitz 1976). [...] Abramson et al. (1955) who conducted a range of experiments with LSD in the 1950s combined the data of 141 experimental sessions in 31 participants; eight of them received a dose between 1 and 25 mcg of LSD. [...]
One dosing method of psychedelics is the use of so called "microdoses"—very low concentrations of various psychedelics that do not reach the threshold of perceivable behavioral effects. This is usually 10% of active recreational doses (e.g., 10–15 µg of LSD, or 0.1–0.3 g of dry "magic mushrooms") taken up to three times per week.
In addition, the strong prior expectations that many people have about psychedelics directly contribute to the psychedelic experience and as a consequence it has been suggested that psychedelics may act as a 'super-placebo' (Hartogsohn, 2016). Specifically, strong prior expectations (e.g., that a specific intervention will likely trigger a mystical experience) will increase the likelihood of having e.g., a mystical-type experience (Maij et al., 2019), and this placebo-effect is further boosted by the psychedelic-induced suggestibility.
Another problem is that some classical psychedelics are also agonists of the 5-HT2B receptor, which is expressed in heart tissue and can cause long-term cardiac problems. Kristensen's company Lophora aims to solve that with its lead compound LPH-5, a phenylethylamine derivative with an extra molecular ring that makes it less flexible. LPH-5 has a 60-fold higher selectivity for 5-HT2A over 5-HT2B.
The Grateful Dead learned they could use small amounts as a stimulant, an effect they used extensively during the recording of the album Aoxomoxoa in 1968 and 1969.143 The use of lower doses of DOM echoed DOET's "psychic energizer" effects and may be the first documented use of subpsychedelic doses of a psychedelic for cognitive enhancement, a practice that is now called microdosing.144
Despite this history, microdosing, as practiced today, is a relatively new trend that traces its roots to James Fadiman's 2011 book, which contains several case reports from people who report having microdosed. 252 The practice was also popularized by Ayelet Waldman in her autobiographical book, A Really Good Day: How Microdosing Made a Mega Difference in My Mood, My Marriage, and My Life.253 Though people have likely microdosed for centuries in Mexico and elsewhere throughout the world, Fadiman and Waldman brought this mode of psychedelics consumption to a larger audience, garnering the media attention that has perpetuated the trend, and ultimately triggering an explosion of scientific research into microdosing since 2018.254
In addition, the strong prior expectations that many people have about psychedelics directly contribute to the psychedelic experience and as a consequence it has been suggested that psychedelics may act as a 'super-placebo' (Hartogsohn, 2016). Specifically, strong prior expectations (e.g., that a specific intervention will likely trigger a mystical experience) will increase the likelihood of having e.g., a mystical-type experience (Maij et al., 2019), and this placebo-effect is further boosted by the psychedelic-induced suggestibility.
One dosing method of psychedelics is the use of so called "microdoses"—very low concentrations of various psychedelics that do not reach the threshold of perceivable behavioral effects. This is usually 10% of active recreational doses (e.g., 10–15 µg of LSD, or 0.1–0.3 g of dry "magic mushrooms") taken up to three times per week.
In addition, the strong prior expectations that many people have about psychedelics directly contribute to the psychedelic experience and as a consequence it has been suggested that psychedelics may act as a 'super-placebo' (Hartogsohn, 2016). Specifically, strong prior expectations (e.g., that a specific intervention will likely trigger a mystical experience) will increase the likelihood of having e.g., a mystical-type experience (Maij et al., 2019), and this placebo-effect is further boosted by the psychedelic-induced suggestibility.
Another problem is that some classical psychedelics are also agonists of the 5-HT2B receptor, which is expressed in heart tissue and can cause long-term cardiac problems. Kristensen's company Lophora aims to solve that with its lead compound LPH-5, a phenylethylamine derivative with an extra molecular ring that makes it less flexible. LPH-5 has a 60-fold higher selectivity for 5-HT2A over 5-HT2B.
Decades earlier, Albert Hofmann, the "discoverer" of LSD and its hallucinogenic effects, mentioned that "very small doses, perhaps 25 micrograms," could be useful as an antidepressant (Ghose 2015; Horowitz 1976) or as a substitute for Ritalin (Fadiman 2017; Horowitz 1976). [...] Abramson et al. (1955) who conducted a range of experiments with LSD in the 1950s combined the data of 141 experimental sessions in 31 participants; eight of them received a dose between 1 and 25 mcg of LSD. [...]
James Fadiman first ignited the microdosing craze with his 2011 book, The Psychedelic Explorer's Guide. Before this book, microdosing was largely unknown — though Albert Hofmann first mentioned the practice in a 1976 High Times article.
Albert Hofmann, Ph.D. — the man who invented LSD — took microdoses of the substance for most of the later years of his life. He lived to the ripe old age of 102.
The Grateful Dead learned they could use small amounts as a stimulant, an effect they used extensively during the recording of the album Aoxomoxoa in 1968 and 1969.143 The use of lower doses of DOM echoed DOET's "psychic energizer" effects and may be the first documented use of subpsychedelic doses of a psychedelic for cognitive enhancement, a practice that is now called microdosing.144
High Times: What general medical uses might LSD be marketed for in the future? Hofmann: Very small doses, perhaps 25 micrograms, could be useful as a euphoriant or antidepressant.
Another problem is that some classical psychedelics are also agonists of the 5-HT2B receptor, which is expressed in heart tissue and can cause long-term cardiac problems. Kristensen's company Lophora aims to solve that with its lead compound LPH-5, a phenylethylamine derivative with an extra molecular ring that makes it less flexible. LPH-5 has a 60-fold higher selectivity for 5-HT2A over 5-HT2B.
The Grateful Dead learned they could use small amounts as a stimulant, an effect they used extensively during the recording of the album Aoxomoxoa in 1968 and 1969.143 The use of lower doses of DOM echoed DOET's "psychic energizer" effects and may be the first documented use of subpsychedelic doses of a psychedelic for cognitive enhancement, a practice that is now called microdosing.144
