Live data from Hacker News

Microdosing with psilocybin mushrooms: a double-blind placebo-controlled study

nature.com

21–30 of 303 posts

Re: Microdosing with psilocybin mushrooms: a double-blind placebo-controlled study

#21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What is the difference between "Low Dose" and "Microdose" though? I have heard the specific term Low Dose before.

Microdose = sub-perceptual dose Threshold dose = dose at which effects can barely be perceived Low dose = dose at which effects become definitely perceptible The people in this study were taking something between a threshold dose and a low dose, given some interpersonal variability.

.5 is definitely a low dose for anyone who has experienced it more than a few times or an actual low dose at least once. Realistically, I'd expect only a first timer could possibly think .5 is imperceptible.

Re: Microdosing with psilocybin mushrooms: a double-blind placebo-controlled study

#24
Am I reading this right, from the abstract:

> The reported acute effects were significantly more intense for the active dose compared to the placebo, but only for participants who correctly identified their experimental condition.

Does that 'correct identification' go both ways, psilocybin & placebo? If so I don't think they claimed a strong enough result!

Re: Microdosing with psilocybin mushrooms: a double-blind placebo-controlled study

#25
post #24

Am I reading this right, from the abstract: > The reported acute effects were significantly more intense for the active dose compared to the placebo, but only for participants who correctly identified their experimental condition. Does that 'correct identification' go both ways, psilocybin & placebo? If so I don't think they claimed a strong enough result!

Some people may also just be more sensitive to serotonergics, therefore it's simply easier for them to identify

Re: Microdosing with psilocybin mushrooms: a double-blind placebo-controlled study

#26

Been doing it for some months on & off, this shit is legit. Altough 0,5g has me tripping so I rarely dose above 100 milligrams. Get up early, do a workout, take cold shower, meditate and then pop a microdose shrooms, feels great. Microdosing is like steroids for meditation. Especially helpful for the programmer logic types of people like me, gets you out of your head for some time and helps you connect with your emot…

Yeah, drugs feel great, news at 11. If psychiatry was just a matter of giving people a constant buzz, it would be solved a century ago.

I'm not judging you for wanting to be high all the time, I've been there myself. But be intellectually honest and call it that, at least. Because it's not some kind of psychological panacea, and I wish people would stop implying it is.

And yes, I've tried it. It made me high, but generally I was far less productive than I would be taking stimulants for my ADHD instead.

Re: Microdosing with psilocybin mushrooms: a double-blind placebo-controlled study

#27

I see the appeal of microdosing, but to me it renders similar to the kick you might get out of rebelliously sipping a pocket-flask at work. You get the mental boost of "letting loose" while impaired just below the radar.

This is a common fallacy perpetuated by people who have only experienced the alcohol drug. Microdoses of psychedelics are not impairing. On the contrary, they can improve performance, especially in abstract problem solving.

Apparently not, according to this study at least.

Re: Microdosing with psilocybin mushrooms: a double-blind placebo-controlled study

#28
post #25
post #24

Am I reading this right, from the abstract: > The reported acute effects were significantly more intense for the active dose compared to the placebo, but only for participants who correctly identified their experimental condition. Does that 'correct identification' go both ways, psilocybin & placebo? If so I don't think they claimed a strong enough result!

Some people may also just be more sensitive to serotonergics, therefore it's simply easier for them to identify

But regardless of what enabled them to identify it - even if just a 50:50 guess, but a correct one - thinking they were on it (vs. thinking they were not) made it a significant enhancement?

That seems like a 'bigger' result to me than what's claimed. (Which is why I'm not sure I'm understanding it correctly.)

Re: Microdosing with psilocybin mushrooms: a double-blind placebo-controlled study

#29

I see the appeal of microdosing, but to me it renders similar to the kick you might get out of rebelliously sipping a pocket-flask at work. You get the mental boost of "letting loose" while impaired just below the radar.

This is a common fallacy perpetuated by people who have only experienced the alcohol drug. Microdoses of psychedelics are not impairing. On the contrary, they can improve performance, especially in abstract problem solving.

This study doesn't bear that out, nor have any other placebo-controlled trials.

Also, I've experienced about 40 different psychoactive drugs, including both micro and megadoses of psychedelics. And my experience tracks with GP in that it does cognitively impair you. Maybe don't make blanket statements about people you disagree with, it doesn't make your argument look any stronger.

Re: Microdosing with psilocybin mushrooms: a double-blind placebo-controlled study

#30

Been doing it for some months on & off, this shit is legit. Altough 0,5g has me tripping so I rarely dose above 100 milligrams. Get up early, do a workout, take cold shower, meditate and then pop a microdose shrooms, feels great. Microdosing is like steroids for meditation. Especially helpful for the programmer logic types of people like me, gets you out of your head for some time and helps you connect with your emot…

Yeah, drugs feel great, news at 11. If psychiatry was just a matter of giving people a constant buzz, it would be solved a century ago. I'm not judging you for wanting to be high all the time, I've been there myself. But be intellectually honest and call it that, at least. Because it's not some kind of psychological panacea, and I wish people would stop implying it is. And yes, I've tried it. It made me high, but gen…

Trust me I tried all kinds of drugs and psychedelics are not the kind that get you hooked. Stimulants are especially addictive in my opinion. Psychs are the kind of drugs you say I have enough for a while if you overdo. On top of it they build tolerance immediately.
Post reply on HN