Low doses of LSD

<50 mcg. A collection of references and abstracts.

Newsgroups: alt.psychoactives
Subject: Re: LSD dosages
Message-ID: <2N557B1w165w@qedbbs.com>
From: marsthom@qedbbs.com (Mark Thompson)
Date: 23 Jul 93 12:32:00 GMT

Abstracts regarding low doses of LSD (Less than 50 mcg)

Bibliography on Psychotomimetics 1943-1966. Reprinted with permission of Sandoz Pharmaceuticals by US Department of Health, Education & Welfare, Public Health Service National Institute of Mental Health. RM315.Z9 S23

GREINER T, BURCH N R, EDELBERT R
Psychopatholgy and psychophysiology of minimal LSD-25 dosage.
A prelimiary dosage-response spectrum.
Arch.Neurol.& Psychiat. 79:208 (1958)

Double-blind studies on 14 healthy subjects confirmed that LSD fails to elicit a physiological response in doses less than 20 mcg. Dramatic psychic symptoms, e.g. deviations from normal in body image, thought, and emotion, occurred only with dosages in excess of 20 mcg. However, careful observation and questioning revealed certain changes in affect and psychomotor activity with doses as low as 7 mcg. Classical schizophrenia-like symptoms first begin to appear when the dose exceeded 30 mcg.

STOLL W A
Lysergsaure-diathyl-amid, ein Phantastikum aus der Mutterkorngruppe.
(LSD, a hallucinatory agent from the ergot group)
Schweiz.Arch.Neur. 60 (1947).

A report is made of the mental effects of LSD. LSD was administered on 29 occasions to 16 normal subjects and on 20 occasions to 6 schizophrenics. LSD produced a state of intoxication of the acute exogenic reaction type. Stress is laid on the fact that LSD is active in very small amounts (20-30 mcg. orally).

STOLL W A
Ein neues, in sehr kleinen Mengen wirsames Phantastikum. (An new hallucinatory agent, active in very small amounts) Schweiz. Arch. Neur. 60,483 (1947).

.20-30 mcg. LSD given orally to mentally normal subjects produced an intoxication of the acute exogenic reaction type lasting several hours. LSD produced autonomic and motor symptoms, disturbances of optical perception, clouding of consciousness, a tendency to euphoria, etc.

DELAY J, PICHOT P
Diethylamide de l'acide d-lysergique et troubles psychiques de l'ergotisme.
(LSD and psychic disorders in ergotism)
C.r. Soc. Biol. 145,1609 (1951)

The authors observed after 20-50 mcg. LSD euphoria with compulsive laughter, depression, mental disorders and even slight states of confusion. In some cases, there were visual illusions, hallucinations resembling those caused by mescaline, disorders of synaesthesia and posture sense. The authors find a [superficial] similarity between the effects of LSD and the psychic symptoms observed in epidemics of ergotism.

GAUSTAT H, FERRER S, CASTELIS C, LESERVE N, LUSHNAT K
Action de las diethylamid de l'acide d-lysergique (LSD-25) sur les fonctions psychiques et l'electroencephalogramme.
(Effect of LSD on mental functions and the EEG)

In 7 of 12 normal subjects 40-60 mcg. LSD orally produced autonomic, psychic and EEG responses. In 4 subjects only 1 or 2 of these responses were observed. In 1 case LSD had no effect. The effects are considered to be an expression of neurotic hyperexcitability (shortening of refractory period) and a reduction in the "filtering" of impulses through nervous centers.

ARNOLD O H, HOFF H
Untersuchungen uber die Wirkingsweise von Lysergsaurediathylamid. (1. Mittelung.)
(Investigations on teh mode of action of LSD (1st communication))
Wein. Ztschr.Nerenh. 6,129 (1953)

Normal subjects exhibit "specific" reactions to 25-100 mcg. LSD: disturbances of self-awareness, ideation and perception. Chronic alcoholics do not exhibit these reactions, especially after delirium tremens. In Korsakow's syndrome the specific reactions are absent only when lower portions of the brain (medulla, midbrain) are affected. Delirium tremens produces symptoms which are similar to those produced by LSD but of greater intensity.

FREDERKING W
Ueber die Verwendung von Raushdrogen (mesklan und Lysergsaurediaethylamid) in der Psychotherapie.
(The use of LSD and mescaline in psychotherapy)
Psyche 7,342 (1953/54)

LSD (40-60 mcg. orally) and mescaline (0.3-0.5 Gm i.m.) were used in neurotic patients refractory to psychoanalysis. Over 100 "intoxication" studies (including author's personal investigations). LSD employed in 60 instances. The "intoxication", as does a dream, exerted a therapeutic effect aiding psychoanalysis (24 cases described). The therapeutic effect of LSD was better than that of mescaline. Caution is required in cases of anxiety states and suspected schizophrenia. The author strongly recommends that each physician using LSD should, under supervision, study the effect of a high dose of LSD himself in order to facilitate interpretation of a patient's experiences under LSD.

GAMNA G, BOFANTE B, VILLATA E
Autoesperienze con LSD
(Personal studies with LSD)

Four studies were made of 10 and 50 mcg. LSD orally (by two psychiatrists and one chaplain). The mental symptoms were relatively few and were accompanied by sympaticotonia, neutrophilia and an increase in gamma globulin.

ROUBICEK J
Toxicke a experimentali dusevni porouchy (Toxic and experimental psychoses) Csl.Psychiat. 56,8 (1960)

Based on previous studies, the author emphasizes the importance of the experimental psychoses, which are provoked by LSD or Psilocybin, for research and psychiatric therapy.

Especially emphasized is that small doses of LSD(30-40mcg.) or Psilocybin can be used with good results in ambulant treatment of psychoneurotic and psychosomatic disorders. 200 patients received LSD, some on several occasions. Only 2 unpleasant situations occurred (sexual aggression towards the therapist). The influence of LSD and mescaline on the artistic ability of professional and amateur painters is also reported.

SAVAGE C
Variations in ego feeling induced by d-lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD-25)
Psychoanalyt.Rev. 42:1 (1955)

Report on 300 observations of LSD in 32 hospitalized mental patients and 6 normal controls. The dosage employed was 10-100 mcg. orally or parenterally. In normal subjects an effect was produced by 10 mcg. but in acute schizophrenics 100 mcg. was required to produce a much slighter effect. In acute schizophrenics the symptoms caused by LSD appeared to be an exaggeration of symptoms that already existed. Chronic schizophrenics exhibited behavior similar to that observed in acute episodes. Schizoid patients with depression and involutional depressives (most subjects developed tolerance to LSD after repeated doses.) It is concluded that LSD makes it impossible for the ego to integrate the evidence of its senses and to coordinate its activities.

ABRAMSON H A
Lysergic Acid Diethylamide(LSD-25): XIX. As an adjunct to brief psychotherapy, with special reference to ego enhancement.
J.Psychol. 41:199 (1956)

1. Previous data on the nature of the ego enhancement occuring during the LSD-25 reaction is amplified by making a direct comparison with the ego depression simultaneously occuring. During the LSD-25 reaction advantage may be taken of the integrative function of the ego if the therapist recognizes the presence of the processes of ego reinforcement.

2. Although ego depression may occur during the LSD-25 reaction to produce a psychotic state, this state is associated primarily with doses greater than 50 micrograms by mouth. The nature of the ego depression is shown by a verbatim recording. The subject was essentially incapable of communicating effectively with the interviewer during the height of the LSD-25 response.

3. The nature of the integrative processes during ego enhancement with small doses of LSD-25 (20 to 50 micrograms) is illustrated by verbatim recordings. It is emphasized that during the LSD-25 reaction, the integrative functions of the ego often operate effectively to utilize preconscious and unconscious material during therapeutic interviews lasting as long as four hours and covering periods of observation lasting six hours. Whether or not the LSD-25 reaction develops into one where ego reinforcement or one where ego depression is emphasized depends to a great extent upon the relationship of the therapist to the patient. During the same therapeutic interview the therapist can manipulate the nature of the response.

4. It is believed that LSD-25 may be utilized to more effectively mobilize psychodynamic vectors during the analysis of the transference.

5. In non-psychotic groups studied, important relationships developed amongst groups consisting of two to five members. These always led to some insight and better adaptive techniques both at work and in community activities on the part of the subjects who met repeatedly. This suggests the possible use of LSD-25 as an adjuvant to group therapy.

6. Preliminary data are reported on the effect of LSD-25 on the reassociation of dreams. It is stressed that verbatim recordings are a necessary condition for the successful utilization of dream reassociation.

BERLIN L, GUTHRIE T, WIEDER A, GOODELL H, WOLFF H G
Studies in human cerebral function: the effects of mescaline and lysergic acid on cerebral processes pertinent to creative activity.
J.Nerv & Ment.Dis. 122:487 (1955)

LSD (50 mcg.) or mescaline (400-700 mg) orally impaired the highest integrative functions of 4 graphic artists. Drawings revealed an unusual expansiveness and relaxation of control, both colour and line being free and bold. (black and white illustrations). No major difference in effect between LSD and mescaline. Similar impairment of functions was noted in a playwright given 50 mcg LSD orally.

ABRAMSON H A, JARVIK M E, LEVINE A, KAUFMAN M R, HIRSH M W
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD-25): XV. The effects produced by substitution of a tap water placebo.
J.Psychol. 40:367 (1955)

Studies in 33 normal subjects revealed that tap water is capable of eliciting certain responses from certain subjects who believe they have received LSD.