It has also piqued the interest of physicians and researchers, as more evidence is emerging that microdosing can improve mental health. A recent study found psilocybin may help cancer patients with depression and anxiety. Microdosing GLP-1 medications is largely experimental and lacks scientific support from clinical trials.
If the side effects persist, your health care provider may prescribe a different medication that supports blood sugar control and weight loss. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (semaglutide and tirzepatide) are a class of medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity (BMI of 30 or greater) or overweight (BMI of 27 or greater) with at least one other weight-related medical condition. As its popularity rises, it’s important to remember that the short and long-term effects of microdosing are still largely unknown. Many factors, including your current mental and physical health condition, play a role in the effects of psychedelics.
Conclusion: Is microdosing GLP-1s right for you?
Check out our full guide for microdosing mushrooms for beginners. Some individuals are very sensitive to GLP-1 medications and may experience gastrointestinal side effects (nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea). It becomes very difficult for them to tolerate the standard dose.
- The practice of microdosing GLP-1 medications is mainly experimental and off-label.
- Medications are prescribed by licensed physicians as part of our programs, and product packaging may differ from images.
- In the 1950s and 1960s, researchers (including the U.S. military) studied the effects of low doses of LSD.
- Microdosing GLP-1 medications is trending on social media because it promises fewer side effects at lower costs.
- Compounded versions are created by a licensed pharmacist using similar ingredients found in FDA-approved medications.
DAY 4: Second microdosing day
Another study in Frontiers in Psychiatry used an online questionnaire to ask people who microdose to compare its effects with those of other treatments for symptoms such as depression and anxiety. The answers indicated that people found microdosing more effective than some other forms of treatment but less effective than higher doses of psychedelics. It could lead to anxiety, overwhelming emotions, and other mood changes. If you have a mental illness like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, microdosing might not be for you.
Psychedelic
Common side effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists are usually dose-dependent and tend to emerge when you start the medication or increase the dosage. Therefore, starting at a low dose may help delay the onset of side effects until therapeutic levels are reached. People consider microdosing due to the high costs of these medications, ranging between $1,000 and $1,300 per month, without insurance coverage.
However, there is not much formal research into this practice yet, partly because most substances that people microdose are illegal and difficult to research. If you are seeking medical advice, diagnose, or treatment, we advise you to consult a medical professional or healthcare provider. Equally, we cannot help with the sourcing of illegal substances. To prevent psychological habituation, he also advises taking a break of at least a month after each microdosing cycle.
Then take notes of what else you have noticed and the insights you have gained. If you experience an unpleasant physical reaction to microdosing, such as headache, nausea, or fatigue, it’s essential that you investigate this. In the Netherlands, it’s possible to purchase fresh ready-to-use microdosing truffles that are vacuum-sealed in portions of 6 ×1 gram. There is no need for a scale, capsules, or even drying the truffles.
Start at low doses, titrate slowly
- Because they’re illegal in most places, there are no laws to make sure the dosing is accurate or safe.
- GLP-1 receptor agonists are powerful prescription medications that should always be used under the guidance of your healthcare provider.
- People using GLP-1 medication at their standard dose may experience the full therapeutic effect, in contrast to others who are microdosing.
- One definition is approximately 1/5 to 1/20 of a recreational dose.
- However, there is not much formal research into this practice yet, partly because most substances that people microdose are illegal and difficult to research.
However, your healthcare provider may prescribe microdosing depending on your body tolerance. The microdosing titration schedule for semaglutide and tirzepatide may be prescribed as follows. Perceived benefits include improved microdosing benefits and risks mood, creativity, and sociability. Side effects of decreased mood, cognitive impairment, neurosis, and feelings of disconnection from others have also been noted.
There is no definitive evidence yet that microdosing with psychedelics is either effective or safe.
There isn’t a single, clearly recognized definition of microdosing for any psychedelic drug, and this complicates attempts to perform consistent research. One definition is approximately 1/5 to 1/20 of a recreational dose. Likewise, LSD is an invisible, tasteless, odorless substance that usually comes either in liquid form or embedded into a piece of paper to be slipped under the tongue. If you are experiencing side effects with semaglutide, trying liraglutide (a daily injection with a shorter half-life) may be easier to tolerate than once-weekly options for some patients.
Plus, some substances don’t react well with psychiatric medications. Scientists are still learning about drugs and how they affect the body. Some people think microdosing psychedelics can boost mood, creativity, and more. When you expect to feel better, your brain often makes it happen. This is called the expectancy effect (which plays a role in the placebo effect). Skeptics are worried that uncontrolled access to these drugs might affect patients with mental illness, or might even precipitate mental illness such as psychosis in people that are vulnerable.
It is essential to be critical of unverified information you read online, follow evidence-based approaches, and discuss the pros and cons of microdosing with your healthcare provider before making a choice. Doses can be gradually increased while remaining below standard titration levels. Microdosing may also help reduce alcohol cravings in patients with alcohol use disorder by decreasing the appetite and delaying gastric emptying.
LSD and psilocybin remain active in the body for about 48 hours. If you microdose on a daily basis, your body develops tolerance and microdosing will become a habit in the same way that drinking coffee can become a habit. There’s uncertainty around the effectiveness of microdosing compounded versions of GLP-1s and a lack of research on the safety of this method. That means questions remain on how your body may react to a smaller dose than what your healthcare provider prescribed. Finally, it is important to understand that there isn’t yet definitive proof that microdosing is at all helpful, or even that it is safe in the long term. With these points in mind, it is fair to say that psychedelic drugs are becoming better understood, and are undergoing a resurgence of research and a more widely accepted use.
Is microdosing safe?
In this setting, healthcare professionals can respond in an emergency, and you know exactly what you’re taking and the dose. For some patients, microdosing GLP-1 medications may work to achieve their health goals. This practice is used off-label and not supported by any clinical research.
If you or a loved one are considering microdosing, speak with your healthcare provider and/or a mental health provider about your risks. In addition, monitor the clinical benefits of the medication, such as mild appetite suppression, weight changes, or changes in your blood sugar levels. Your doctor will make a dose adjustment slowly according to your body’s response and tolerance. There is no scientific data that supports microdosing semaglutide or tirzepatide.
While microdosing is used to reduce the risk of side effects, this is not supported by any clinical trials. You may experience new or unexpected reactions, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, fatigue, bloating, and headache. The primary concern with microdosing GLP-1 RAs is the lack of scientific evidence.