S125. Subjective and Behavioral Effects of Microdoses of LSD in Healthy Human Volunteers

Bershad, Anya K.; Schepers, Scott T.; Bremmer, Michael; Wit, Harriet de

doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2019.03.876

Cited by 6 publications

(12 citation statements)

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“…Cognition tests administered via the CANTAB battery revealed no significant treatment effects for any dose group on the two dose days it was administered (i.e., doses 3 and 6). These results are consistent with recent findings that cognition was unaffected after acute dosing of 6.5 μg, 13 μg, and 26 μg LSD in healthy participants (Bershad et al 2019). In a previous study presenting other PD results from the current trial, Yanakieva et al (2018) argue that temporal dilation of suprasecond intervals observed under microdoses of LSD may be the result of a disruption of cognitive functions such as working memory and attention.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

“…The overall lack of detectable cognitive effects (either positive or negative) produced by LSD suggests that the doses used up to 20 μg were either insufficient to produce any discernible acute or cumulative effects in healthy participants or that doses of LSD ranging from 5 to 20 μg do not have an effect on cognition in a healthy population. Bershad et al (2019) also found no cognitive effects of acute 6.5 μg, 13 μg, or 26 μg LSD in healthy participants. Potential effects on memory and learning should be explored in a clinical population that would not be prone to ceiling effects.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 78%

“…Supporting this interpretation, a review of historical LSD research indicates that study results appear to be highly influenced by the setting of the study (Hartogsohn 2016), and recent research has shown heightened suggestibility under the drug (Carhart- Harris et al 2015) that may enhance the suggestion of "feeling sleepy" as the participants were confined to a bed throughout the day. Furthermore, the increase in vigilance reduction was not observed in participants in Bershad et al (2019), discussed below. However, vigilance reduction has been reported in higher dose studies of LSD Schmid et al 2015), and may be a dose-independent subjective effect of the drug.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

“…However, a positive linear relationship between the dose and "bad drug effects" was detected, as well as for "feeling dizzy" and "feeling like the body is different or changed." In a study on younger healthy participants, Bershad et al (2019) found a dose-dependent increase in "feel drug," "like drug," "feel high," and "dislike drug," and also reported increases in the following from the eleven new subscales on LSD dosing days compared with placebo: experience of unity, blissful state, and impaired control and cognition. An important difference between the current population and that of Bershad et al (2019) is that the participants in our trial were psychedelic-naïve while those in the recent study had moderate previous drug use, which included at least one use of a classic psychedelic or MDMA.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In a recent study, healthy young adults were administered placebo, 6.5 μg, 13 μg, and 26 μg LSD in randomized order at 1-week intervals (Bershad et al 2019). In this within-subject design, LSD produced dose-dependent subjective effects.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of low dose lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) in healthy older volunteers

Family¹,

Maillet²,

Williams³

et al. 2019

Psychopharmacology

104

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Research has shown that psychedelics, such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), have profound anti-inflammatory properties mediated by 5-HT 2A receptor signaling, supporting their evaluation as a therapeutic for neuroinflammation associated with neurodegenerative disease. Objective This study evaluated the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of orally repeated administration of 5 μg, 10 μg, and 20 μg LSD in older healthy individuals. In the current paper, we present safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamic measures that relate to safety, tolerability, and dose response. Methods This was a phase 1 double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study. Volunteers were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 dose groups (5 μg, 10 μg, 20 μg LSD, and placebo), and received their assigned dose on six occasions (i.e., every 4 days).Results Forty-eight older healthy volunteers (mean age = 62.9 years) received placebo (n = 12), 5 μg (n = 12), 10 μg (n = 12), or 20 μg (n = 12) LSD. LSD plasma levels were undetectable for the 5 μg group and peak blood plasma levels for the 10 μg and 20 μg groups occurred at 30 min. LSD was well tolerated, and the frequency of adverse events was no higher than for placebo. Assessments of cognition, balance, and proprioception revealed no impairment. Conclusions Our results suggest safety and tolerability of orally administered 5 μg, 10 μg, and 20 μg LSD every fourth day over a 21-day period and support further clinical development of LSD for the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 78%