Direct comparison of the acute effects of lysergic acid diethylamide and psilocybin in a double-blind placebo-controlled study in healthy subjects
Neuropsychopharmacology February 25, 2022 Friederike Holze, Laura Ley, Felix Müller et al. 223 citations
In healthy volunteers, 100 and 200 micrograms of LSD and 30 milligrams of psilocybin produce comparable subjective effects, including alterations of mind that are qualitatively and quantitatively very similar. The 15 milligram psilocybin dose produces clearly weaker subjective effects. The 200 microgram dose of LSD induces higher ratings of ego-dissolution, impairments in control and cognition, and anxiety than the 100 microgram dose. LSD at both doses has clearly longer effect durations than psilocybin. Psilocybin increases blood pressure more than LSD, whereas LSD increases heart rate more than psilocybin, though both show comparable overall cardiostimulant properties. Any differences between LSD and psilocybin appear dose-dependent rather than substance-dependent, except for the differential effects on heart rate and blood pressure.