How much, when and how? The basics of microdosing
How much should I microdose?
Everyone has their own ideal dose.
If in doubt, start LOW or start on a DAY OFF (or before going to bed).
It’s usually best to simply start low, with half a standard microdose.
For example, 0.5g of fresh truffles would be half the standard 1g dose.
If you’re determined to find the perfect dose quickly, choose a time when you don’t have to drive, work or talk to strangers, and start with a full standard microdose.
Microdosing with mushrooms
If you’re growing your own Cubensis mushrooms using a grow kit, the amount you’ll need is much lower.
Around 0.1g of magic mushrooms is a standard microdose.
Make sure you dry and powder your mushrooms properly to ensure they’re all of consistent potency. You’ll also need to invest in a precision scale (don’t worry, they’re cheap).
When should I take my first microdose?
Start on a day that’s relatively relaxed – if you can.
Most people get the most out of their microdose when they take it in the morning after breakfast. Simply swallow it with a glass of water. If you’re taking truffles, don’t even chew them.
You might also consider taking your first microdose an hour or two before going to bed.
Experiment to see which time of day works best for you.
In the morning after breakfast (so it’s digested slowly!) or at night before bed, for more vivid dreams.
You can also split the dose and take half in the morning and half at night.
How often should I microdose?
Different sources will give you different answers, but many people start with a fixed schedule and then gradually move on to intuitive dosing.
We recommend a ‘6 days on, 1 day off’ cycle for psilocybin mushrooms. Again, this is for a genuine microdose – i.e. amounts that don’t have an immediate effect on you.
This means your nervous system receives a continuous supply of nutrients and can engage in slow, steady healing.
The day off gives you a point of reference for tracking your progress. It isn’t necessary to avoid tolerance, as the body only builds up tolerance at higher doses.
The Stamets protocol suggests ‘4 days on, 3 days off’, on the assumption that you’re more interested in a boost to your mood and productivity than in sustained healing effects.
There is also the Fadiman protocol of ‘1 day on, 2 days off’ – but this was developed for LSD, where breaks are essential to keep the immune system functioning properly.
What should I feel, and how quickly?
Nothing, for a few days. A genuine microdose doesn’t alter your perception. You’re completely sober and ready for anything, but just slightly more functional.
With the perfect dose, you should feel:
- sober
- alert
- light, unburdened
- emotionally aware
Microdosing is most beneficial if you do it for at least a few weeks, as the effects build up over time. Not only does your body improve by utilising its resources, it also becomes more efficient in how it uses them. So if you’re wondering...
How long can/should I microdose?
Your mind sets the limits. Most people stop microdosing when they no longer actively feel the benefits, because they’ve become so used to them.
Your body literally has no threshold for when psilocybin microdosing becomes a bad thing – because it doesn’t.
So you can microdose for years on end without taking a break. In fact, many people have done just that. But again, most people get bored.
Try to stick with it for at least 1–2 months before taking a break; otherwise, the results will be less impressive and feel more random.
How do I know if I’m microdosing too much?
If you’re microdosing too much, your body will ramp up the healing process, which can actually feel as though you’re getting worse.
Symptoms that might indicate you should reduce the dose could include:
- feeling overly emotional
- unusual sensitivity
- irritability or outright anger
- Tingling in the extremities
Can I combine microdosing with medication?
Yes, but.
Only a genuine microdose is safe to take alongside any medication. Remember, a genuine microdose means a quantity so small that it has NO direct effect on your state of mind.
As soon as you go beyond the micro dose, you need to keep a very close eye on any kind of interaction between your medication and your dose.
This may also mean experiencing unwanted side effects from the medication you’re taking. For example, if you
Can I use microdosing to replace antidepressants?
Yes, many people use psilocybin microdosing to successfully taper off their antidepressants. However, this is generally not recommended by most psychiatrists. Bear that in mind.
If you’re going to try it anyway, this seems to work best for the majority of people:
- Find your personal microdose. For people taking antidepressants, this can often be more than a standard dose, but make sure you increase the dose only gradually over the course of several days.
- Carry on with your antidepressant routine until you’ve found a dose of psilocybin mushrooms that you feel comfortable with. (You shouldn’t feel either depressed or ‘high’).
- Taper off the antidepressants veeeery slowly.
- Gradually reduce the microdose amount (as your body recovers from the side effects of the antidepressants, it will become more sensitive again, so you’ll need less).