A low dose of lysergic acid diethylamide decreases pain perception in healthy volunteers

Abstract

Background: Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is an ergot alkaloid derivative with psychedelic properties that has been implicated in the management of persistent pain. Clinical studies in the 1960s and 1970s have demonstrated profound analgesic effects of full doses of LSD in terminally ill patients, but this line of research evaporated after LSD was scheduled worldwide. Aim: The present clinical study is the first to revisit the potential of LSD as an analgesic, and at dose levels which are not expected to produce profound mind-altering effects. Methods: Twenty-four healthy volunteers received single doses of 5, 10 and 20 µg LSD as well as placebo on separate occasions. A Cold Pressor Test was administered at 1.5 and 5 h after treatment administration to assess pain tolerance to experimentally evoked pain. Ratings of dissociation and psychiatric symptoms as well as assessments of vital signs were included to monitor mental status as well as safety during treatments. Results: LSD 20 µg significantly increased the time that participants were able to tolerate exposure to cold (3°C) water and decreased their subjective levels of experienced pain and unpleasantness. LSD elevated mean blood pressure within the normal range and slightly increased ratings of dissociation, anxiety and somatization. Conclusion: The present study provides evidence of a protracted analgesic effect of LSD at a dose that is low enough to avoid a psychedelic experience. The present data warrant further research into the analgesic effects of low doses of LSD in patient populations.

Exploring the relationship between microdosing, personality and emotional insight: A prospective study

“…Bershad et al (2019) observed a dose-related subjective sensitivity to drug effects, and an increase in ratings of vigor at 26 mg of LSD. Ramaekers et al (2020) observed a significant increase in pain tolerance and decreased pain perception, which was significant at doses of 20 mg of LSD. Family et al (2020) found no adverse effects from 5 to 20 mg LSD but no marked cognitive changes.…”

“…Although acute effects of microdosing have been found to be subtle in clinical trials (Bershad, Schepers, Bremmer, Lee, & Wit, 2019;Ramaekers et al, 2020;Yanakieva et al, 2018), proponents claim that regular microdosing can lead to a range of long-term benefits, such as improved mood, wellbeing, sociability, creativity and performance (Webb, Copes, & Hendricks, 2019). Andersson and Kjellgren's (2019) thematic analysis of 32 microdosing videos on the Youtube platform aimed to understand microdosers' experiences, expectations, approaches, and viewpoints.…”

Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide Microdoses in Healthy Participants

“…Additional data from this study are published elsewhere. 19 Participants Participants were recruited from the University of Maastricht campus via advertisement, via social media, and by word of mouth. Only healthy participants who were between 18 and 40 years old, who had a body mass index between 18 and 28 kg/m 2 , and who had at least one previous experience with a hallucinogen were included in the study.…”

Cross-Sectional Associations Between Lifetime Use of Psychedelic Drugs and Psychometric Measures During the COVID-19 Confinement: A Transcultural Study

“…Parallel with the pandemic, several studies have been published regarding the potential therapeutic effects of psychedelic drugs, such as ayahuasca, psilocybin, and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) (24)(25)(26)(27), especially for the treatment of mental health issues (25,(28)(29)(30). Other studies have shown their potential for the treatment of pain (31,32) and neurodegenerative disorders (33,34). These benefits have also been observed in real-world situations through large population surveys, where psychedelic drug users have been shown to have a lower rate of mental health problems (35,36), reduced psychological distress and suicidality (37), and better outcomes in terms of internationally-validated health indicators (38).…”