Imagine feeling a little brighter and more creative during tough times. In a recent trial, people with major depressive disorder took microdoses of LSD over eight weeks and reported an impressive average reduction of 60% in their depression symptoms. On days they took the drug, they noted feeling happier and more creative, which is a hopeful sign for those struggling with depression. Interestingly, the study found no signs of tolerance, meaning the effects didn’t wear off over time, even as doses were adjusted. While this trial involved only nineteen participants, the findings hint at the potential of microdosing as a new approach to improving mood in those facing depression. As we look for new ways to help people feel better, these results could pave the way for more in-depth studies.
Can microdosing LSD really boost mood in people with depression?
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What this means for you:
Microdosing LSD may lead to short-term mood improvements in people with depression. What this means for you:
Microdosing LSD may lead to short-term mood improvements in people with depression. View Original Abstract ↓
INTRODUCTION: Despite growing interest in microdosed psychedelics, clinical trial evidence remains limited. We present daily mood, subjective perception of effects, and pharmacokinetics from an 8-week regimen of microdosed lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) as a treatment for major depressive disorder in an open-label trial in which participants reported a mean symptom reduction of 60%.
METHODS: Participants took 16 sublingual LSD doses: 8 μg onsite, with bloods collected at eight time-points, then twice weekly at home with titration (6-20 μg). Pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated using non-compartmental and compartmental modelling. Daily questionnaires were used to assess depression severity with the self-reported Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD6), and mood with visual analogue scales (VAS). Drug effects were recorded with VAS scales on each dosing day. Linear mixed models were used to compare dosing days to one- and two-day post-dosing, and to identify linear trends (tolerance/sensitisation) of drug effects.
RESULTS: Nineteen participants (males n = 15, 79%) received the intervention. Daily VAS indicated increased scores of mood-related states (e.g., more creative, happier) on dosing days (p = 0.009 to 0.039), but not in depression (p = 0.291). There was no indication of tolerance or sensitisation (p > 0.081). Non-compartmental AUC0-tlast was 836 ± 319 pg.h/mL, Cmax 212 ± 77.7 pg/mL and Tmax 1.17 ± 0.56 h.
DISCUSSION: Results suggest short-term improvements in mood following microdosed LSD in people with depression, warranting confirmation in controlled trials. It provides the pharmacokinetic parameters of 8 μg of LSD in a sample of people with depression and indicates no tolerance or sensitisation to repeated microdoses of LSD, despite incremental dose titration.