Microdosing Unveiled: Expert's Take On The Practice's Ups & Downs

(See Part 1: Exclusive Insights: How Tech Leaders Are Finding Balance Through Microdosing Psychedelics)

Paul Austin, the trainer of psychedelics microdosing practitioners, spoke to Benzinga about his collaboration with Lauren Mugglebee, who transitioned from a career at Meta  META to coaching high-end tech and corporate clients in Silicon Valley. 

Austin is focused on passing on knowledge and expertise from what he has learned in his years of microdosing research and practice, including the existing risks and challenges.

He says a tangible upside of microdosing is that it lowers the risk threshold of working with psychedelics. “The higher of a dose level you go, the more likely you are to have what could be a very difficult, challenging or even detrimental experience.”

Risks Of Microdosing

The liabilities of working with psychedelics begin with the substances’ current illegal status.

There’s also the conditioned belief around "magic-solving pills," among people who have experience with Prozac, Zoloft, Lexapro, Adderall and Ritalin. On the contrary, it’s important not to take microdosing as a typical pharmaceutical medication, further placing the focus on external results rather than a comprehensive process. 

“This is why I think coaching is so important and helpful,” Austin says. “It's not that much about indicating the amount to take, but more so around ‘How do you actually utilize that window neuroplasticity with microdosing to weave in your behavior?’ The last thing we want is for people to feel like they are dependent on the psychedelic or the microdose, even in order to feel.”

Like Mugglebee, Austin also highlights the importance of responsible titration and break periods to avoid potential manic states from microdosing too much or too often -especially for more dopamine-energetic LSD.

Austin doesn’t see a risk for intoxication through microdosing. Yet clinical and psychological dependence could occur, in the sense that a person has to keep taking the substance in order to feel a certain way or to avoid having their depression or other issues return.  

In cases of transitioning from pharma meds, Austin reinforces the importance of guidance from medical professionals in view of possible contraindications with lithium-containing psychiatric medications, for example.

Firsthand Experience & Informed Decisions Are A Must

As much as it is essential for coaches to explain to their clients that they're not medical professionals, there are clear, established boundaries of what they can and cannot do. Austin says it is important that microdosing coaches utilize ethics based on their own experiences with psychedelics before guiding their clients. 

Additionally, it is important that coaches communicate both the benefits and risks. They should also be certain that their clients are making informed decisions, including fully comprehending the different psychedelic substances, protocols and the importance of tailoring the approach to their individual needs. 

This article aims to serve as an informational resource on microdosing. Benzinga is not endorsing the use of psychedelics for either therapeutic or recreational purposes.

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Photo: Benzinga edit with photos by Pixabay and Pexels.