Distinct acute effects of LSD, MDMA, and D-amphetamine in healthy subjects.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to characterize and compare the acute autonomic, subjective, and endocrine effects of LSD, MDMA, and D-amphetamine in healthy subjects.
Results Summary
LSD induced stronger subjective effects, including altered consciousness, emotional excitation, and cognitive impairments, compared to MDMA and D-amphetamine. It also produced greater autonomic responses like increased heart rate but had distinct psychological and mystical effects.
Population
28 healthy subjects
Effective Dosage
0.1 mg (single dose)
Duration
Single-dose administration (acute effects measured)
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
LSD (0.1 mg) | increase | heart rate | 28 healthy subjects | - | increased | #1 |
MDMA (125 mg) | increase | heart rate | 28 healthy subjects | - | increased | #2 |
D-amphetamine (40 mg) | increase | blood pressure | 28 healthy subjects | - | increased | #3 |
LSD (0.1 mg) | increase | 5 Dimensions of Altered States of Consciousness scale | 28 healthy subjects | - | induced significantly higher ratings on | #4 |
LSD (0.1 mg) | increase | Mystical Experience Questionnaire | 28 healthy subjects | - | induced significantly higher ratings on | #5 |
LSD (0.1 mg) | increase | subjective drug effects | 28 healthy subjects | - | produced greater | #6 |
LSD (0.1 mg) | increase | ego dissolution | 28 healthy subjects | - | produced greater | #7 |
LSD (0.1 mg) | increase | introversion | 28 healthy subjects | - | produced greater | #8 |
LSD (0.1 mg) | increase | emotional excitation | 28 healthy subjects | - | produced greater | #9 |
LSD (0.1 mg) | increase | anxiety | 28 healthy subjects | - | produced greater | #10 |
LSD (0.1 mg) | increase | inactivity | 28 healthy subjects | - | produced greater | #11 |
LSD (0.1 mg) | decrease | concentration | 28 healthy subjects | - | induced greater impairments in subjective ratings of | #12 |
LSD (0.1 mg) | decrease | sense of time | 28 healthy subjects | - | induced greater impairments in subjective ratings of | #13 |
LSD (0.1 mg) | decrease | speed of thinking | 28 healthy subjects | - | induced greater impairments in subjective ratings of | #14 |
MDMA (125 mg) | increase | good drug effects | 28 healthy subjects | - | produced greater ratings of | #15 |
MDMA (125 mg) | increase | liking | 28 healthy subjects | - | produced greater ratings of | #16 |
MDMA (125 mg) | increase | high | 28 healthy subjects | - | produced greater ratings of | #17 |
MDMA (125 mg) | increase | ego dissolution | 28 healthy subjects | - | produced greater ratings of | #18 |
D-amphetamine (40 mg) | increase | activity | 28 healthy subjects | - | increased ratings of | #19 |
D-amphetamine (40 mg) | increase | concentration | 28 healthy subjects | - | increased ratings of | #20 |
MDMA (125 mg) | increase | plasma concentrations of oxytocin | 28 healthy subjects | - | increased | #21 |
LSD (0.1 mg) | no change | plasma concentrations of brain-derived neurotrophic factor | 28 healthy subjects | None | altered | #22 |
MDMA (125 mg) | no change | plasma concentrations of brain-derived neurotrophic factor | 28 healthy subjects | None | altered | #23 |
D-amphetamine (40 mg) | no change | plasma concentrations of brain-derived neurotrophic factor | 28 healthy subjects | None | altered | #24 |
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is a classic psychedelic, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is an empathogen, and D-amphetamine is a classic stimulant. All three substances are used recreationally. LSD and MDMA are being investigated as medications to assist psychotherapy, and D-amphetamine is used for the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. All three substances induce distinct acute subjective effects. However, differences in acute responses to these prototypical psychoactive substances have not been characterized in a controlled study. We investigated the acute autonomic, subjective, and endocrine effects of single doses of LSD (0.1 mg), MDMA (125 mg), D-amphetamine (40 mg), and placebo in a randomized, double-blind, cross-over study in 28 healthy subjects. All of the substances produced comparable increases in hemodynamic effects, body temperature, and pupil size, indicating equivalent autonomic responses at the doses used. LSD and MDMA increased heart rate more than D-amphetamine, and D-amphetamine increased blood pressure more than LSD and MDMA. LSD induced significantly higher ratings on the 5 Dimensions of Altered States of Consciousness scale and Mystical Experience Questionnaire than MDMA and D-amphetamine. LSD also produced greater subjective drug effects, ego dissolution, introversion, emotional excitation, anxiety, and inactivity than MDMA and D-amphetamine. LSD also induced greater impairments in subjective ratings of concentration, sense of time, and speed of thinking compared with MDMA and D-amphetamine. MDMA produced greater ratings of good drug effects, liking, high, and ego dissolution compared with D-amphetamine. D-Amphetamine increased ratings of activity and concentration compared with LSD. MDMA but not LSD or D-amphetamine increased plasma concentrations of oxytocin. None of the substances altered plasma concentrations of brain-derived neurotrophic factor. These results indicate clearly distinct acute effects of LSD, MDMA, and D-amphetamine and may assist the dose-finding in substance-assisted psychotherapy research.