Microdosing Psychedelics: Do the Benefits Outweigh the Risks?

A recent study suggests that the benefits of microdosing may not come without side effects

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Microdosing is the act of taking small, sub-hallucinogenic doses of psychedelic drugs such as LSD, psilocybin (magic mushrooms), and DMT. This practice has been growing in popularity and often touted as a “productivity hack” by young professionals in Silicon Valley.

Despite a plethora of anecdotal evidence claiming the positive effects of microdosing, the scientific literature on its purported benefits are sparse due to safety concerns and legal restrictions surrounding psychedelics. Proponents of microdosing are only banking on the long safety record of these substances in a bid to take advantage of its therapeutic benefits. However, one important question remains:

Is microdosing really safe?

While psychedelic substances may be less harmful and non-addictive compared to other recreational drugs, scientists don’t know for sure if the same holds true when taken in small, intermittent doses over an extended period of time.

Reported benefits of microdosing

There is an increasing number of people who report positive effects of microdosing. Its popularity doesn’t come as a surprise since the practice encompass many physical, mental, and emotional benefits.

A research published in the Harm Reduction Journal cited the following categories of benefits, as reported by its 278 study participants:

Improved mood (26.6%): Relates to happiness, peace, calm, and reduction in symptoms of depression. Improved focus (14.8%): Better concentration, awareness, mindfulness, and attentiveness. Creativity (12.9%): Boost in divergent thinking, curiosity, and openness. Self-efficacy (11.3%): Improvements in productivity, confidence, self-care, and other behaviors that promote mental health. Improved energy (10.5%): Increased alertness, wakefulness, and stimulation Social benefits (7.6%): Increased extraversion, empathy, verbal fluency, and sense of connection. Cognitive benefits (5.8%): Improvements in problem-solving ability, clarity of thought, and memory. Reduced anxiety (4.2%): Reduction in overall anxiety levels. Physiological enhancements (3.0%): Enhanced senses, cardiovascular endurance, improved quality of sleep, and reduced headaches. Other benefits (2.2%): Miscellaneous benefits not captured in other categories. Reduced symptoms (1.1%): Stress reduction, smoking cessation, and reduced dependence to substance.

Note: The values derived are from open-ended responses of the study participants, not from observed effects.

Despite unknown risks and insufficient studies supporting the effectiveness of microdosing, the anecdotal benefits seem to be enough to fuel the growth of this practice.

Microdosing study on rats

Researchers at the University of California published the results of a first-of-a-kind study on the effects of microdosing on rats. In most medical testings, rats are commonly used as test subjects as they have a genetic, behavioral, and biological resemblance to humans.

During the study, the researchers administered intermittent, low doses of DMT to the animals every third day for up to seven weeks — a schedule that mimics the way humans microdose. The reasons for using DMT are twofold:

DMT is known to affect the cognitive functions, behavior, and sociability of rodents; It shares a similar chemical structure to LSD and psilocybin — two psychedelic drugs commonly used in microdosing.

The researchers conducted various tests to observe the rodents’ behaviors and cognitive functions, especially in areas that microdosing seems to have benefits.

What the researchers found was that the rats treated with DMT show positive effects on anxiety, depression, and fear extinction, as compared to the rats that have not been treated. These findings are consistent with the reported benefits of microdosing in humans.

The areas with no significant impact (at least, only in rats) were on memory and sociability.

Unexpected side effects

Along with the study’s promising results, the researchers also found adverse reactions that some microdosers may find disconcerting.

During the study, male rats showed significant weight gain despite consuming less food than their untreated counterparts. The male rats that received intermittent low doses of DMT gained weight at a faster rate and were 25% heavier than the control group. The researchers found it difficult to explain the discrepancy as both rat groups have the same energy output throughout the study.

A more serious side effect is the decrease in the dendritic spine density in female rats. Dendritic spines are protrusions from neurons that help transmit synaptic signals in the brain. This breakdown suggests that DMT may be cytotoxic (similar to venom), which is fatal to brain cells. This effect, however, is not present in the brain of male rats.

The researchers hope to conduct further studies on these concerning outcomes, especially on the boundaries of microdosing’s harms and benefits. Cytotoxicity, for instance, is more harmful to an aging brain — possibly suggesting that microdosing is only beneficial up to a certain age.

Final thoughts

The recent study on rats provided helpful insights into the potential risks and benefits of microdosing. However, this has also opened more questions that need conclusive answers.

Until clinical studies prove otherwise, it may be best to avoid microdosing DMT to prevent possible side effects on metabolism and risk of brain injury. In this case, a potentially fatal consequence is clearly not worth the benefits.

Microdosing also employs a wide range of substances aside from LSD, psilocybin, and DMT. However, not all psychedelics are created equal — it is possible that different substances can have different side effects. Only research and medical testing can vouch for the safety of each drug, not anecdotal shreds of evidence.

A growing body of research is already exploring the potential benefits of psychedelics in treating a myriad of health conditions. But, until more studies prove their safety and efficacy, microdosing should be approached with caution, and not regarded as entirely risk-free.