Cited by 126Psychedelics and Drug StudiesNeuroethics, Human Enhancement, Biomedical InnovationsForensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis

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Motives and Side-Effects of Microdosing With Psychedelics Among Users

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Hutten, Nadia R P W, Mason, Natasha L, Dolder, Patrick C, Kuypers, Kim P C·2019·International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology

DOI 10.1093/ijnp/pyz029PMC PMC6600464

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Abstract

Background: Microdosing with psychedelics has gained considerable media attention where it is portrayed as a performance enhancer, especially popular on the work floor. While reports are in general positive, scientific evidence about potential negative effects is lacking aside from the prevalence and motives for use. The present study addressed this gap by surveying psychedelic users about their experience with microdosing including their dosing schedule, motivation, and potential experienced negative effects. Methods: An online questionnaire was launched on several websites and fora between March and July 2018. Respondents who had consented, were 18 years of age or older, and had experience with microdosing were included in the analyses. Results: In total, 1116 of the respondents were either currently microdosing (79.5%) or microdosed in the past (20.5%). Lysergic acid diethylamide (10 mcg) and psilocybin (0.5 g) were the most commonly used psychedelics with a microdosing frequency between 2 and 4 times per week. The majority of users, however, were oblivious about the consumed dose. Performance enhancement was the main motive to microdose (37%). The most reported negative effects were of psychological nature and occurred acutely while under the influence. Conclusion: In line with media reports and anecdotes, the majority of our respondents microdosed to enhance performance. Negative effects occurred mostly acutely after substance consumption. However, the main reason to have stopped microdosing was that it was not effective. Future experimental placebo-controlled studies are needed to test whether performance enhancement can be quantified and to assess potential negative effects after longer term microdosing.

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Figure 1. Percentage of respondents who indicated their main motivation to microdose, presented per category (performance enhancement: black bars; symptom alleviation: dark grey bars; mood enhancement: grey bar; curiosity: light grey bar; and other: white bar).CC BY-NC · PubMed Central

Figure 2. ( A) Percentage of respondents who stopped using at least 1 psychedelic substance in a regular dose (white bar) or a microdose (black bar) depicted per reason. (B) Percentage of respondents who experienced negative side effects and currently microdose (light grey bar) or who experience negative side effects and stopped microdosing (dark grey bar) depicted per type effect. (C) Percentage of respondents who experienced negative side effects and currently microdose (light grey bar) or who experienced negative side effects and stopped microdosing (dark grey bar) depicted per effect onset.CC BY-NC · PubMed Central

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Authors: Hutten, N. R. P. W., Mason, N. L., Dolder, P. C., & Kuypers, K. P. C.
Affiliations: Maastricht University (NL)
Corresponding author: Hutten, Nadia R P W
ORCID: Hutten, Nadia R P W
Mason, Natasha L
Dolder, Patrick C
Kuypers, Kim P C
Venue: International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Published: 2019-05-31
Volume: 22
Issue: 7
Pages: 426-434
ISSN: 1461-1457 (ISSN-L)
1469-5111
DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyz029
PMC: PMC6600464
OpenAlex: W2946918750
Cited by: 126
References: 21
Citations by year: 2026: 11 · 2025: 20 · 2024: 19 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 18 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 4
FWCI: 16.64
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: gold
doi.org
Licence: cc-by-nc
creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (vor, 1 d)
Locations: The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Research Publications (Maastricht University) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc)
Research Publications (Maastricht University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychedelics and Drug Studies
Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Philosophy › Neuroethics, Human Enhancement, Biomedical Innovations
Life Sciences › Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics › Toxicology › Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis
Keywords: microdosing, psychedelics, lysergic acid diethylamide, psilocybin, performance improvement, adverse outcomes, dosing frequency, user experience
MeSH terms: Adult, Female, Hallucinogens, Humans, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, Male, Motivation, Psilocybin, Surveys and Questionnaires, Substance-Related Disorders, Performance-Enhancing Substances

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Motives and Side-Effects of Microdosing With Psychedelics Among Users

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