--- title: "Research: LSD Microdoses as Effective as Opioids at Treating Pain" description: "According to new research, tiny doses of the psychedelic drug LSD could be an effective painkiller — perhaps as powerful, the scientists found, as conventional opioids like morphine. “This study in healthy volunteers shows that a low dose of LSD produces an analgesic effect in the absence of a psychedelic effect, as assessed with a […]" date: "2020-08-27" modified: "2020-08-27" authors: - name: "Jon Christian" job_title: "Executive Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/jonc" url: "https://futurism.com/neoscope/research-lsd-microdoses-effective-opioids-pain" categories: - "Health & Medicine" - "Medical" - "RX and Medicine" tags: - "health" - "lsd" - "medicine" - "opioids" --- # Research: LSD Microdoses as Effective as Opioids at Treating Pain ![Tiny doses of the psychedelic drug LSD could be an effective painkiller — perhaps as powerful, scientists found, as conventional opioids like morphine.]() *\Image: Futurism\* According to new research, tiny doses of the psychedelic drug LSD could be an effective painkiller — perhaps as powerful, the scientists found, as conventional opioids like morphine. "This study in healthy volunteers shows that a low dose of LSD produces an analgesic effect in the absence of a psychedelic effect, as assessed with a cold pressure tests," said lead researcher Jan Ramaekers, a professor of psychoparmacology and behavioral toxicology at Maastricht University, in a [press release](). "The magnitude of the analgesic effect appears comparable to analgesic effects of opioids in the same pain model." As described in research [published this week]() in the *Journal of Psychopharmacology,* Ramaekers and his colleagues gave either placebos or "microdoses" of LSD — between five and 20 micrograms, compared to the 100 micrograms or more you might find in a recreational dose — to 24 volunteers. Then they administered something called a "cold pressor test," in which the subjects were asked to submerge a hand in a tub of water that had been chilled to near-freezing. What they found was striking. The very low doses of LSD didn't seem to have much of an effect on participants' perception of pain, but the 20 microgram dose appeared to decrease participants' perception of pain by a substantial 20 percent. Amanda Feilding, the Director of the Beckley Foundation, which assisted with the research, expressed enthusiasm for the results. "The present data suggests low doses of LSD could constitute a useful pain management treatment option that is not only effective in patients but is also devoid of the problematic consequences associated with current mainstay drugs, such as opioids," she said in the press release. "Over 16 million people worldwide are currently suffering from Opioid Use Disorder and many more will become hooked as a result of oversubscription of pain medication." The research, is still early stage, and Ramaekers called for further trials to see if the findings can be replicated. But it's intriguing, [*New Atlas* points out](), because it builds on much earlier findings from the 1960s, when a researcher named Eric Kast conducted a series of promising experiments designed to probe whether LSD might be an effective pain medication. That work was cut short when the government cracked down on LSD research. But now, with authorities [starting to loosen those restrictions](), scientists like Ramaekers are interested in following up. "These findings strongly encourage clinical trials in pain patients to assess the replicability and generalizability of these findings," Ramaekers said in the release. ## Author I'm responsible for editing, assigning, and scouting at Futurism, as well as occasionally writing for the site. That work involves keeping an eye on a wide range of narratives and issues, but over the past few years I've become increasingly interested in how AI is shaping the future of media, the web, and information itself. My day-to-day often involves collaborating on reporting and commentary projects bylined by my colleagues, but I try to find time to do my own reporting as well; stories I've broken for Futurism have been cited by publications including the New York Times, the Washington Post, the New Yorker, Wired, Ars Technica, New York Magazine, the Columbia Journalism Review, Bloomberg, and more. I grew up in Southern Vermont and attended Vanderbilt University. Prior to Futurism, I contributed to outlets including the Boston Globe, Vice, Wired, Slate, the Atlantic, the Outline, Ars Technica and more, and did stints in farming and food service. I currently live in Brooklyn, New York, and in my free time I enjoy pinball, word games, cycling, running, and music production. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()