LSD for Health & Longevity - Quick Reference Sheet
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LSD for Health & Longevity

Created on 10/01/2026 – Quick Reference based on Evidence Review created using AI4L / Opus 5.5 – Audit

LSD, a perception-altering psychedelic drug, is used as one supervised full dose for anxiety and low mood, or as repeated tiny "microdoses" for well-being. Full-dose trials, the largest company-funded, report rapid relief lasting months. Microdosing has not shown lasting benefit beyond expectation except longer sleep; aging effects unknown. Risks: frightening experiences, temporary blood-pressure rises and serious psychiatric reactions in people prone to psychosis or bipolar illness. Legal status limits access. (Full Review)

Protocol

Single-dose clinical protocol (Definium Therapeutics)
100 µg once, in the morning
Orally disintegrating tablet without psychotherapy; clinic monitoring until discharge criteria are met (92% by hour 8)
LSD-assisted psychotherapy (Liechti group, Basel; Peter Gasser)
Two sessions of 100–200 µg
Several weeks apart, with preparatory and integration psychotherapy; single administration per session
Microdosing (James Fadiman)
5–20 µg every third day
Commonly 10 µg, one day on, two days off, for 4–8 weeks, then a pause; controlled trials have not shown benefit over placebo
Time to effect
Anxiety and mood improvement
Day 2 to week 1
After a single full dose in phase 3 trials; acute effects begin within 30–60 minutes and peak at 2–3 hours
Persistence of improvement
12 weeks to 12 months
Persisted to 12 weeks in phase 3 trials, with Basel follow-up to 12 months
Longer sleep after microdoses
Night after each dose
10 µg every third day for six weeks in healthy men; no lost sleep on dosing days

Benefits

Contraindications
  • Personal history of schizophrenia, other psychotic disorders or bipolar I disorder, or a first-degree relative with these conditions
  • Current suicidal ideation with intent or a suicide attempt within the past 12 months
  • Uncontrolled hypertension (≥140/90 mmHg on repeated readings despite treatment)
  • Recent heart attack or stroke (<6 months), unstable angina (chest pain at rest or worsening), significant arrhythmia, or known valvular heart disease (moderate or worse)
  • Epilepsy or prior unexplained seizures
  • Current lithium therapy
  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding
  • Severe liver impairment (Child-Pugh Class C)
  • No sober, trained person present, or unsafe environments
    •
Key Interactions
  • SSRIs and SNRIs (e.g., sertraline, escitalopram, paroxetine, venlafaxine): Caution; reportedly blunted effects; paroxetine raised LSD exposure
  • Strong CYP2D6 inhibitors (bupropion, quinidine, terbinafine): Caution; higher and longer LSD exposure
  • Tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., amitriptyline, imipramine): Caution; reported to intensify responses
  • MAO inhibitors (e.g., phenelzine, tranylcypromine): Monitor; reported to weaken effects, risky re-dosing
  • Antipsychotics and 5-HT2A blockers (risperidone, olanzapine, quetiapine, ketanserin, trazodone): Monitor; blunted or abolished effects
  • Stimulants and sympathomimetics (amphetamine, methylphenidate, cocaine, MDMA): Caution; additive blood pressure and heart rate rises
  • Over-the-counter decongestants (pseudoephedrine, phenylephrine) and dextromethorphan (a cough suppressant): Caution; additive blood-pressure stimulation; serotonin-raising and dissociative effects
  • Supplements with additive stimulation (yohimbine, synephrine, high-dose caffeine): Caution
  • Serotonin-raising supplements (St. John's wort, 5-HTP, SAMe): Monitor
  • Alcohol and cannabis: Caution; 24-hour abstinence around dosing is standard in trials
  • Other interventions: Caution; trials exclude driving and hazardous work for 24 hours
    •

Risk & Side Effects

  • High: Acute anxiety and challenging experiences; nausea, headache and perceptual disturbance; raised blood pressure, heart rate and body temperature
    •
  • Medium: Psychosis, mania and serious psychiatric events, evidence conflicted
    •
  • Low: Persistent visual disturbances; seizures; injury and death from impaired judgment; counterfeit product
    •
  • Speculative: Heart valve damage with repeated dosing
    •

Monitoring

Marker Target Why
Resting blood pressure <120/80 mmHg Cardiovascular strain risk
Resting heart rate 50–70 bpm Stimulant effect baseline
Electrocardiogram (QTc) QTc <440 ms (men), <460 ms (women) Rhythm screening
Echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) No more than trace valve regurgitation Valve safety with repeated dosing
ALT and AST ALT <25 U/L; AST <25 U/L Liver clearance capacity
GAD-7 anxiety score <5 Defines anxiety response
PHQ-9 depression score <5 Defines mood response
CYP2D6 genotype Normal metabolizer (no target range) Predicts exposure

Cadence: Baseline before a first full dose or microdosing course, including a pregnancy test where relevant; blood pressure and heart rate before dosing and hourly for the first 8 hours of a full-dose session; symptom questionnaires at 1 day, 1 week, 4 weeks and 12 weeks after dosing, then every 3–6 months; for repeated microdosing, blood pressure weekly, an echocardiogram before courses beyond about 8 weeks and every 6–12 months while dosing continues; CYP2D6 genotype optional, one-time.

Qualitative Assessment

  • Stable reduction in everyday worry and rumination
  • Mood and motivation over weeks, not just on dosing days
  • Sleep quality and morning energy
  • Sense of connectedness and quality of relationships
  • Cognitive clarity and focus at work
  • Alcohol intake relative to personal targets
  • Absence of persistent visual disturbances, paranoia or unusual thoughts
Not medical advice. Educational distillation of a single evidence review. Confirm any decision with a qualified clinician, especially in the presence of prescription drugs or chronic conditions.