A New Use for an Old Compound: Microdosing LSD to Reduce Fibromyalgia Symptoms
April 17, 2026 Sara Arciniegas Ruiz, Sari Prutchi Sagiv, Hagit Eldar-Finkelman
In a mouse model of fibromyalgia, repeated very low doses of LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) that do not cause hallucinations reduced pain-related behaviors and discomfort in a sex- and route-dependent manner. Female mice receiving intraperitoneal injections showed sustained reductions in pain-related facial expressions and mechanical sensitivity. Oral dosing produced earlier but shorter-lasting effects. Male mice showed improved mechanical sensitivity and selected behavioral parameters with both administration routes. No major safety concerns were observed. The findings suggest that microdosed LSD could potentially be repositioned as a treatment for fibromyalgia by targeting both pain perception and mood-related components.