logo
episode-header-image
May 21
27m 45s

Can Microdosing Psychedelics Actually Im...

Dear Media
About this episode

Did you know that some people take a small dose of LSD in the morning instead of an SSRI to treat depression? Microdosing psychedelics has become more mainstream, and today, Dr. Sara explores the growing body of research on microdosing to improve overall health. Although limited, studies have shown that microdosing LSD and psilocybin can improve blood pressure, sleep, mood, social cognition, and—anecdotally—creativity, with no reported adverse side effects. Dr. Sara examines the intricacies of these studies and highlights some of their limitations—particularly the lack of research on microdosing in women, and why this needs to change as the field continues to grow. To finish, Dr. Sara shares her personal experience with microdosing and what she hopes to see in the future.


// BOOKS AND ARTICLES ON MICRODOSING // 


Microdosing: The people taking LSD with their breakfast


Silicon Valley Is Micro-Dosing ‘Magic Mushrooms’ To Boost Their Careers


Mommies Who Mushroom


Microdosing Psilocybin Mushrooms Improves Mood And Mental Health After One Month, New Study Finds


Ayelet Waldman — A Really Good Day: How Microdosing Made a Mega Difference in My Mood, My Marriage, and My Life


James Fadiman — Microdosing for Health, Healing, and Enhanced Performance


James Fadiman — The Psychedelic Explorer's Guide: Safe, Therapeutic, and Sacred Journeys


// RESOURCES ON MICRODOSING LSD // 


Study published in 2024 (examining doses of 5 to 20 micrograms of LSD): Murphy, Robin J., Suresh Muthukumaraswamy, and Harriet de Wit. 2024. "Microdosing Psychedelics: Current Evidence From Controlled Studies." Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging 9 (5): 500-511. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpsc.2024.01.002.  


Study published in 2024 by Allen et al. (examining 10 micrograms of LSD in men):  Allen, Nathan, Aron Jeremiah, Robin Murphy, Rachael Sumner, Anna Forsyth, Nicholas Hoeh, David Menkes, William Evans, Suresh Muthukumaraswamy, Frederick Sundram, and Partha Roop. 2024. "LSD Increases Sleep Duration the Night After Microdosing." Translational Psychiatry 14. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-024-02900-4.


Study of eight men given LSD for creativity:  Murphy, R.J., R.L. Sumner, K. Godfrey, et al. 2025. "Multimodal Creativity Assessments Following Acute and Sustained Microdosing of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide." Psychopharmacology 242: 337–351. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-024-06680-z.


Study in men on LSD and sleep (80 subjects):  Allen, Nathan, Aron Jeremiah, Robin Murphy, Rachael Sumner, Anna Forsyth, Nicholas Hoeh, David B. Menkes, William Evans, Suresh Muthukumaraswamy, Frederick Sundram, and Partha Roop. 1 2024. "LSD Increases Sleep Duration the Night After Microdosing." Translational Psychiatry 14 (1): 191. 


// RESOURCES ON MICRODOSING MUSHROOMS // 


Study of 34 people given 0.5 grams of dried mushroom: Cavanna, Federico, Stephanie Muller, Laura Alethia de la Fuente, Federico Zamberlan, Matías Palmucci, Lucie Janeckova, Martin Kuchar, Carla Pallavicini, and Enzo Tagliazucchi. 2021. "Microevidence for Microdosing with Psilocybin Mushrooms: A Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study of Subjective Effects, Behavior, Creativity, Perception, Cognition, and Brain Activity." bioRxiv 2021.11.30.470657. https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.11.30.470657.


// RESOURCES ON MICRODOSING LSD AND MUSHROOMS // 


Polito, Vince, and Priyanka Liknaitzky. 2022. "The Emerging Science of Microdosing: A Systematic Review of Research on Low Dose Psychedelics (1955-2021) and Recommendations for the Field." Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews 139 (August): 104706. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104706.  


Polito V, Liknaitzky P. Is microdosing a placebo? A rapid review of low-dose LSD and psilocybin research. J Psychopharmacol. 2024 Aug;38(8):701-711. doi: 10.1177/02698811241254831. Epub 2024 Jun 14. PMID: 38877715; PMCID: PMC11311906. 


 // KEEP IN TOUCH WITH DR. SARA //


If you have a question, leave a voicemail at speakpipe.com/treated 

Follow on IG: @saragottfriedmd @treatedwithdrsara

Watch Treated on YouTube


Produced by Dear Media

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next
Jul 9
What Your Labs Say About Hormones, Inflammation, and Toxic Load with Kayla Barnes-Lentz
Today, Dr. Sara and longevity expert Kayla Barnes-Lentz dive deep into the emerging science of microplastics, detox pathways, and personalized medicine. Drawing from Kayla’s recent lab work—which included elevated BPA (bisphenol A) levels and genetic vulnerabilities—they explore ... Show More
1 h
Jul 2
Start Here: The Hormone Series with Dr. Sara
Welcome to Hormones 101—the first episode in Dr. Sara’s deep-dive hormone series. In this foundational solo, Dr. Sara breaks down what hormones are, why they matter, and how imbalances can impact everything from mood and metabolism to sleep, libido, and energy. She introduces the ... Show More
1 h
Jun 25
Surviving the United States of Dysregulation with Dr. Nicole LePera (The Holistic Psychologist)
Do you always feel a sense of urgency—like you’re on edge, reactive to everything around you? Or, on the other hand, shut down and withdrawn? Then you may be experiencing dysregulation. Dysregulation occurs when the body and mind fall out of balance and struggle to return to a ne ... Show More
1h 2m
Recommended Episodes
May 9
What 13 Top Female Experts Shared On Sex, Hormones, Confidence and Aging Powerfully | Camp Be More Take Aways - 1192
You missed Camp Be More? No worries, girl — I’ve got you. In this episode, I’m recapping the most jaw-dropping, empowering, and need-to-know takeaways from 13 of the most renowned female experts in midlife health, hormones, aging, sex, and confidence. Whether you're navigating pe ... Show More
54m 45s
May 13
Interview: Aging, menopause, and rethinking fashion for comfort in midlife | Stacy London
“My lens around style doesn’t have anything to do with style anymore — it’s about physicality,” says stylist and fashion consultant Stacy London. “What do I want to be able to do? How do I keep myself strong?” Stacy’s message has resonated for many women, and for this episode, sh ... Show More
52m 11s
Feb 2025
#325 - What Your Doctor Won’t Tell You About Cancer, Hormones & Healing with Dr Leigh Erin Connealy
I’ve been trying to get Dr. Leigh Erin Connealy on the podcast since last year—and after moving countries twice (and totally butchering her name 🤣 as us Aussies do), we finally made it happen.  It was worth the wait!Dr. Connealy is an absolute powerhouse when it comes to treatin ... Show More
1h 8m
Jul 2024
625 Optimal Health + Hormones with Dr. Stephanie Estima
I am so excited to welcome world-renowned health expert on female-centric healthcare, Dr. Stephanie Estima, to the show! We're talking all about optimal health and hormones, discussing the changes we typically see as we move into perimenopause and menopause, and finding out how w ... Show More
39m 15s
Aug 2024
The Gulf Between Your Internal Life And How The World Sees You | Anna Marie Tendler
New episodes come out every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for free, with 1-week early access for Wondery+ subscribers --- Lessons learned from the psychiatric hospital We’ve got a fascinating and very personal discussion today about the often very painful gap between the way you ... Show More
1h 4m
May 19
Make it Attractive to Age: Transition with Style & Confidence with Stacy London
Ready to rewrite your menopausal story? Stacy London is here to discuss the multifaceted experience of menopause, describing it as a 'reckoning to a renaissance.' Along with Dr. Mindy, Stacy explores the profound physiological, emotional, and psychological shifts that women under ... Show More
1h 1m
Mar 2025
#353 - Moral Injury as Doctors and Dentists with Dr. Karen Leitner
Do you ever feel like no matter how much you do, it’s never enough? If you’ve fallen into a cycle of overworking, overgiving, and feeling overwhelmed, you can break free with the help of this episode. Dr. Tarryn McCarthy welcomes Dr. Karen Leitner, a physician and coach, to talk ... Show More
32m 30s
Sep 2024
How To Eat To Balance Hormones, Boost Energy & Burn Fat with Dr Mindy Pelz #474
CAUTION: This podcast discusses fasting, and its advice may not be suitable for anyone with an eating disorder. If you have an existing health condition or are taking medication, always consult your healthcare practitioner before going for prolonged periods without eating. For ma ... Show More
1h 59m
May 2
How Samantha Bee Is Surviving Menopause
Samantha Bee is tired of the stigma that still surrounds talking about menopause. The Emmy-winning comedian and writer sits down with CNN Medical Correspondent Meg Tirrell to share why she’s opening up about this phase of her life. Plus, how she realized her body was changing – f ... Show More
28m 44s
Jan 2025
Dr. Mary Claire Haver: The Critical Truth About Women's Health After 30 & The Menopause Revolution | EP 857
Have you listened to the FULL EPISODE yet?"Osteoporosis is real and 50 percent of women will have an osteoporotic fracture before they die. If you fall and break your hip, your chance of death in one year is 30 percent with surgery." - Dr. Mary Claire HaverIn this eye-opening con ... Show More
7m 4s