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Low Doses of LSD Acutely Increase BDNF Blood Plasma Levels in Healthy Volunteers

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101–110 of 138 posts

Re: Low Doses of LSD Acutely Increase BDNF Blood Plasma Levels in Healthy Volunteers

#101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I used it at a birthday party a few years ago. My main takeaways were twofold: First, it made me understand the concept of good and bad "vibes" w.r.t. to drug use. It was clear that the experience of taking LSD recreationally in a group of people was a much a social experience as a chemical one. Keeping the "vibe" positive, by playing the right kind of music, staying chill, and saying and doing the right things, was…

If you were not utterly blown away, you probably either took too small a dose and/or what you took wasn't actually LSD. However, different drugs do affect different people differently. So it's possible you're just not very sensitive to LSD, but it is pretty unlikely. With the right dose, set, and setting, it's unlikely that you would be so unimpressed.

What does "set" mean in this context?

Re: Low Doses of LSD Acutely Increase BDNF Blood Plasma Levels in Healthy Volunteers

#102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Claiming that acid or shrooms is addictive like heroine or cocaine is a big “Citation Needed” moment.

Yes this guy says two things are addictive, so he must have said that two are alike in their addictiveness. I really don't know what you need, but I'm pretty sure I don't have it.

Heck, saying that LSD is addictive at all is actually a really strong claim, which you didn’t support.

Re: Low Doses of LSD Acutely Increase BDNF Blood Plasma Levels in Healthy Volunteers

#103
post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

6-8 hours is not microdose territory. that's a half dose.

Ah thank you! I am very much experimenting at the moment, and don't really have anyone more experienced to talk to, so I wasn't sure what "high" / "medium " / "micro" was ....

Micro is usually in the 6-12 micrograms zone, it's so low thats it's barely noticeable at all, hence "micro".

The idea is to gain the positive effects of it without it making you high.

Around 10-20 is when people start noticing effects, being a small dose.

50, being half a dose, can feel very "muddy", as in, its kind of "half assed". You start to feel more high, but not as visual and enjoyable.

Normal dose would be the typical 100.

Although people's experiences of different dosages vary a lot. For some the sweetspot might be 70-100, for others it's 200-250.

Based on your description, it sounds like around half a dose, if you just sometimes get visual effects.

Re: Low Doses of LSD Acutely Increase BDNF Blood Plasma Levels in Healthy Volunteers

#104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you were not utterly blown away, you probably either took too small a dose and/or what you took wasn't actually LSD. However, different drugs do affect different people differently. So it's possible you're just not very sensitive to LSD, but it is pretty unlikely. With the right dose, set, and setting, it's unlikely that you would be so unimpressed.

What does "set" mean in this context?

Your mindset, which includes conscious and unconscious expectations and goals, how you're feeling around the time of the experience (depressed? anxious? indifferent? curious? hesitant?), how you feel about the people around you, any mental issues you may have, and how you approach the experience.

To maximize the chance of having a productive experience you'll want to make sure each of those elements is as helpful to your goals as possible.

What the appropriate set is will also depend on your setting, which includes not just the physical environment, but also what's happening there, and the people around you and their own mindsets and attitudes towards what you're going through, their ability to facilitate the experience, etc.

For example, while generally one is discouraged for partaking in psychedelics if one suffers from mental illness, in the context of psychedelic therapy with a trained therapist you like, trust, and respect, that could work for certain conditions.

But if you do have a mental illness please consult a trained, professional therapist before making a decision on this matter.

Re: Low Doses of LSD Acutely Increase BDNF Blood Plasma Levels in Healthy Volunteers

#106
post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ah thank you! I am very much experimenting at the moment, and don't really have anyone more experienced to talk to, so I wasn't sure what "high" / "medium " / "micro" was ....

Micro is usually in the 6-12 micrograms zone, it's so low thats it's barely noticeable at all, hence "micro". The idea is to gain the positive effects of it without it making you high. Around 10-20 is when people start noticing effects, being a small dose. 50, being half a dose, can feel very "muddy", as in, its kind of "half assed". You start to feel more high, but not as visual and enjoyable. Normal dose would be t…

I've filed this away in my notes, thank you for the thorough response :)

Re: Low Doses of LSD Acutely Increase BDNF Blood Plasma Levels in Healthy Volunteers

#107
post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What was the cause of the bad experience?

This is such a difficult question -- I honestly wish I knew the answer outright and could give it to you. I don't think I can do that much, but what I can do is offer some theories and context. (Note: I wrote at length about this experience, and my general experiences with both psychedelics + MDMA here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22991744 ) I'll write the following under the assumption that you/the reader d…

Agree. I have passed up opportunities to take LSD on several occasions as I knew my emotional state baseline positive enough. The time I did do it was at one of the happiest times of my life and it was a fun experience.

The time element of a deep LSD trip can make it very challenging. Being stuck in your thoughts for 18 hours is not for the light hearted

Re: Low Doses of LSD Acutely Increase BDNF Blood Plasma Levels in Healthy Volunteers

#108
For anybody looking to try psychedelics without the sketchiness of finding a dealer or buying online, you should know that you can discretely grow psilocybin mushrooms in your home for less than a hundred dollars initial investment, and with very little effort. It's legal to buy the spores in most states, and it only takes a couple of months to grow a nice canopy.

The best guide is https://www.reddit.com/r/unclebens/ or https://www.reddit.com/r/shrooms/comments/8e7g6n/how_to_grow.... Expect to read a lot before you start growing.

Re: Low Doses of LSD Acutely Increase BDNF Blood Plasma Levels in Healthy Volunteers

#109

Low doses may also prevent Alzheimers from progressing.[1][2] Ayahuasca/DMT[3] and psilocybin[4] may have similar effects. It's fascinating that a monthly visit to your local shaman may still be more safe and effective for depression, anxiety, and cognitive decline than anything western medicine has been able to produce. [1] https://www.forbes.com/sites/abbierosner/2020/02/21/microdos... [2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.…

> It's fascinating that a monthly visit to your local shaman may still be more safe and effective for depression, anxiety, and cognitive decline than anything western medicine has been able to produce.

I get the romanticized enthusiasm but let’s not crap on scientific process that easily. Sure there has been political pressures that stagnated psychedelic research, but for a while western medicine has been trying to work this out in a replicable and safely administrable manner. Shamans don’t operate under those limitations, hence the apparent “superiority”, with all associated, undocumented risks.

To get to the point of this paper, there are “western” substances that help with BDNF and cognitive decline too, eg. lithium, which is not as psychoactive and has a perfectly well documented risk profile (not saying risk free).

Re: Low Doses of LSD Acutely Increase BDNF Blood Plasma Levels in Healthy Volunteers

#110

For anybody looking to try psychedelics without the sketchiness of finding a dealer or buying online, you should know that you can discretely grow psilocybin mushrooms in your home for less than a hundred dollars initial investment, and with very little effort. It's legal to buy the spores in most states, and it only takes a couple of months to grow a nice canopy. The best guide is https://www.reddit.com/r/unclebens/…

Most states ... except California.
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