LSD Dosing in Clinical and Research Settings
Direct Answer
LSD is not approved for clinical use and has no established therapeutic dosing guidelines; however, research studies demonstrate that doses of 50-200 µg are physiologically safe in controlled settings, with 100-200 µg producing full psychedelic effects and 25-75 µg representing lower-dose ranges. 1, 2
Research-Based Dosing Framework
Standard Psychedelic Dose Range
- 50-200 µg represents the established research dose range for full psychedelic experiences in controlled clinical trials 3, 1
- 100 µg and 200 µg doses produce robust subjective effects with 96% and 91% of subjects reporting >50% "good drug effect" ratings, respectively 1
- Peak plasma concentrations occur 1.2-2 hours post-administration with an apparent half-life of 2.8-4.3 hours 4
Lower Dose Range ("Microdosing")
- 13-26 µg repeated doses have been studied for "microdosing" protocols, administered at 3-4 day intervals 5
- 26 µg produces modest subjective effects including detectable drug effects and mild stimulant-like responses, but does not significantly improve mood or cognitive performance 5
- 50-75 µg represents a threshold range where 37% of subjects at 25 µg and 91% at 50 µg report >50% good drug effects 1, 4
Safety Profile by Dose
Cardiovascular Effects
- No subjects experienced systolic blood pressure >180 mmHg at any dose up to 200 µg 1
- Peak heart rate >100 bpm occurred in 0%, 6%, 20%, and 25% of subjects at 25,50,100, and 200 µg doses respectively 1
- Maximum recorded heart rates were 129 bpm (at 50 µg) and 121 bpm (at 200 µg) in isolated cases 1
Adverse Subjective Effects
- Negative subjective effects increase with dose but remain lower than positive effects: maximal ratings of >50% "bad drug effects" occurred in 0%, 9%, 27%, and 31% at 25,50,100, and 200 µg respectively 1
- Anxious Ego-Dissolution ratings were 3.4%, 13%, 20%, and 22% at 25,50,100, and 200 µg doses 1
- 28% of participants experienced at least one mild expected adverse event in studies using 50-100 µg doses 4
Temperature Effects
- Peak body temperature >38°C occurred in 0%, 11%, 7%, and 34% of subjects at 25,50,100, and 200 µg respectively 1
- Temperature elevations were moderate and self-limiting in controlled settings 1
Critical Safety Considerations
Absolute Contraindications
- LSD is physiologically non-toxic at standard dosages (50-200 µg) but can cause severe psychological disturbance 3
- Massive overdoses (far exceeding 200 µg) have been associated with two documented fatalities in the literature 3
- Physical restraint during psychological agitation has contributed to fatal cardiovascular collapse in two cases where standard LSD doses were taken 3
Monitoring Requirements in Research Settings
- Kidney and liver function remain unaltered with single-dose LSD administration 1
- Six subjects (7%) reported transient flashback phenomena in pooled analysis of 83 subjects 1
- Controlled setting with trained attendants is essential for safe administration 4
Practical Dosing Algorithm for Research Contexts
Initial Dose Selection
- Start with 50-75 µg for first-time participants to assess individual sensitivity while producing detectable effects 4
- Use 100 µg for standard psychedelic research protocols where robust subjective effects are desired 1, 4
- Reserve 200 µg for experienced participants or protocols requiring maximal psychedelic intensity 1
Dose Escalation Protocol
- Allow minimum 1-week intervals between doses when escalating (e.g., 50 µg followed by 75 µg) 4
- For repeated low-dose protocols, use 3-4 day intervals with doses of 13-26 µg 5
Common Pitfalls
- Drug substitution risk: One reported "LSD toxicity" death was likely caused by 25i-NBOMe, a different compound with dangerous thermoregulatory effects 3
- Dose uncertainty: Some studies had uncertainties in correct LSD dosing, requiring adjustment based on measured plasma concentrations 1
- Setting-dependent outcomes: LSD safety data applies specifically to controlled research environments with medical supervision, not recreational use 3, 1