Rankings / Mood, Anxiety & Stress

LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide)

Mood, Anxiety & Stress · Classic psychedelic / 5-HT2A agonist

Tier C+

Reviewed by Read Off Label · Last reviewed · How we grade

psychedeliccontrolled-substance
5.7 / 10
Tier C+
Ev 6 Bn 6.5 Sf 5

Bottom line

Read Off Label grades LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) as C+ (5.7/10) based on moderate evidence, med-high benefit magnitude, and a med-risk safety profile.

MindMed MM120 (standardized LSD tartrate) Ph2b showed ~48% remission in GAD at 12 weeks with single dose; Ph3 ongoing.

Typical use: 50-200 mcg (recreational); 100-200 mcg clinical; 5-20 mcg 'microdose' — Schedule I US; Class A UK.

What this is

MindMed MM120 (standardized LSD tartrate) Ph2b showed ~48% remission in GAD at 12 weeks with single dose; Ph3 ongoing. Gasser terminal-illness anxiety work (Swiss) was pioneering. Microdose RCTs (Imperial, Hartogsohn) show no consistent cognitive or mood benefit over placebo.

Mechanism

5-HT2A agonist with partial activity at 5-HT1A, 5-HT2C, D2; extremely potent; longer duration than psilocybin (~8-12 hr); MindMed LSD (MM120) in Ph3 for GAD

Dose & route

50-200 mcg (recreational); 100-200 mcg clinical; 5-20 mcg 'microdose'

Citations

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Common questions

Does LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) work?
Read Off Label rates the evidence for LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) as Moderate and the benefit magnitude as med-high, producing an overall grade of C+ (5.7/10). MindMed MM120 (standardized LSD tartrate) Ph2b showed ~48% remission in GAD at 12 weeks with single dose; Ph3 ongoing.
Is LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) safe?
LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) has a med risk profile in published human data. Legal status: Schedule I US; Class A UK. This is not medical advice — see the disclaimer.
What is the typical dose for LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide)?
50-200 mcg (recreational); 100-200 mcg clinical; 5-20 mcg 'microdose'
How does LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) work?
5-HT2A agonist with partial activity at 5-HT1A, 5-HT2C, D2; extremely potent; longer duration than psilocybin (~8-12 hr); MindMed LSD (MM120) in Ph3 for GAD

This is an independent synthesis of published research by a non-clinician. Scores are opinions supported by citations, not prescriptions. See the full disclaimer and methodology for how this score was produced and what it does and doesn't mean.