The patients taking placebos reported the same results as those taking the actual LSD.
A study testing a low-dosage LSD treatment for adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) didn’t pan out as planned. A new article in JAMA (Journal of American Medical Association) Psychiatry reviewed a study that looked at microdosing of LSD since the practice has gained so much attention. Unfortunately, the study found no evidence that it worked.
The researchers were prompted to engage in the study due to the anecdotal claims that microdosing LSD alleviated ADHD symptoms. The say that a microdose is generally considered one-tenth to one-twentieth of a recreational dose, an amount that does not induce significant acute perceptual changes or interfere with daily activities. The researchers said that microdoses or low doses of LSD typically range from 5 to 20 μg, with a common practice of taking the psychedelic once every 3 days over several weeks. The study
It was a 6-week, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group phase 2A randomized clinical trial conducted between December 17, 2021, and December 4, 2023. Adults aged 18 to 65 years with a prior ADHD diagnosis who presented with moderate to severe symptoms were eligible for inclusion.
Mind Medicine acted as the legal sponsor, monitored the study, and provided the data for the analysis.
A total of 53 participants were picked to either take LSD or the placebo. The patients received either LSD (20 μg) or placebo twice weekly for 6 weeks (total of 12 doses) in a drinkable solution. The report stated that after the first dose, participants stayed on-site for 6 hours for clinical surveillance and to assess acute effects and pharmacokinetics. On subsequent dosing days, the participants were allowed to leave the study center immediately after drug administration.
According to the study, both the LSD and placebo groups exhibited a significant reduction of ADHD symptoms. “However, there was no difference in symptom reduction between the 2 groups,” said the report.
The study did determine that the LSD was physically safe and psychologically well-tolerated overall.
MindMed recently reported earnings and told investors that its lead drug candidate, an orally dissolving tablet form of LSD, […]
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