Is microdosing safe?

The truth is that whether or not microdosing is safe depends on several things. These include the substance that you are microdosing, the amount of the substance, the environment you are in, and you—your physical and mental health as well as your experiences.

Many people find benefits to microdosing including healing, inspiration, and guidance. While others have negative experiences. Figuring out if microdosing is safe is a question that only you can answer for yourself. But part of that is knowing and understanding yourself, your body, and your needs.

What is microdosing?

Microdosing is taking small amounts of a mind-altering substance—like psychedelics or marijuana for example—to impact your brain but not so much that you get high.

When microdosing, you might barely even notice the effects of the drug you’re taking. For example, you may feel a little less stressed, a little more focused, creative, or productive. [1] But you aren’t feeling the effects of the drug that put you at high risk for negative symptoms or experiences.

Every drug is different. With every substance, you can take a certain amount where you will feel high or drunk—this is the clinical threshold or the certain amount of the drug you need to take to reach this point. But when you microdose, you don’t hit that threshold. So you only feel the positive effects of the substance without any of the negative ones.

What are the pros and cons of microdosing?

To determine if microdosing is right for you, it’s worth it to weigh the pros and cons. Even if you are already microdosing, this can help you determine if your use is having a positive or negative impact on you, your relationships, and your life.

Pros of microdosing

People who microdose do report many benefits to their mental, physical, or spiritual well-being. For some microdosing enables them to feel more focused, connected, creative, or healthy.

Here are some examples of pros from people who microdose: [1][2][3][5]

• Helps with stress
• Improves mood, energy, concentration, and creativity
• Works faster than psych. drugs, medications, etc.
• Reduces symptoms of depression, anxiety, PTSD, and substance use disorders
• Helps with health, spirituality, and healing
• Helps with mindfulness, intrusive thoughts, focus (“flow state”)
• Feeling close to nature and more connected to self or others

Cons of microdosing

While many people experience positive effects of microdosing, some studies report that the evidence that microdosing works is inconsistent. In these studies, some people falsely reported experiencing positive microdosing effects or the evidence provided was anecdotal. [1][4]

While there are pros to microdosing, some people experience negative effects from microdosing. These effects may impact their mood, health, and overall well-being.

Some reported negative experiences include: [5]

• Decreased focus and mood
• Increased anxiety
• Negative changes in energy such as restlessness, fatigue, or brain fog
• Increased headaches and migraines
• Insomnia
• Negative physical experiences like tingling, numbness, stomach issues, etc.
• Experiencing difficulty in social situations like awkwardness and oversharing

Some people were also worried about the consequences of using illegal drugs to microdose. This included finding safe places to access the substances and the fear of being judged by others for using them. Microdosing can also be a challenge for someone who has a history of addiction to other substances. Their use could become a problem if they microdose to “feel good,” or as an unhealthy coping strategy.

If the pros outweigh the cons, microdosing may be something that you might want to consider. But if you have more cons than pros, then microdosing may not be the best choice for you.

If you are going to microdose

Whether or not you microdose is up to you. If you decide that microdosing is right for you, then think about doing it safely. And consider the impact on both your physical and mental health.

Here are some tips to keep in mind if you are going to microdose:

• Know your risks. Take time to learn about the substance that you want to use. Think about your health and medical history, and how the effects could impact you. If you have a history of addiction or psychosis, then it may be a good idea to find support and weigh the pros and cons before deciding to microdose.
• Talk to someone who has experience and knowledge. This person can share their experiences with you and help you make sure that your use is safe. They can also provide support and answer any questions that you may have.
• Be careful when doing your own research online. Listening to lived experiences on Tik Tok, Reddit, podcasts, etc. are helpful, but it’s also important to read and find information from credible, reliable sources online. This may provide more information about research, studies, and symptoms than individual experiences.
• Monitor your use of microdosing. It’s crucial to check in and be honest with yourself about your microdosing. Ask yourself: why am I using? How often am I using? Is my use negatively impacting my work, school, or relationships? I am using more than I intend to? Reflecting on your microdosing can help you make sure that your use isn’t becoming an addiction.
• Reach out for support if you need it. Remember you are not alone. If you have questions or concerns about microdosing it may be helpful to reach out to someone with lived experience like a peer, a mental health professional, or someone else who can guide you and get you the support you need.

Show References