Acute effects of MDMA and LSD co-administration in a double-blind placebo-controlled study in healthy participants.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether co-administration of MDMA could enhance the acute subjective effects of LSD and improve its safety profile.
Results Summary
MDMA co-administration with LSD prolonged subjective effects but did not improve their quality or safety. The combination increased physiological effects (blood pressure, heart rate, pupil size) and oxytocin levels more than LSD alone.
Population
24 healthy adults (12 women, 12 men)
Effective Dosage
100 mg MDMA and 100 µg LSD
Duration
Single-dose intervention (duration not specified)
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
co-administration of MDMA (100 mg) and LSD (100 µg) | no change | quality of acute subjective effects | 24 healthy subjects (12 women, 12 men) | - | did not change the quality of acute subjective effects | #1 |
co-administration of MDMA (100 mg) and LSD (100 µg) | increase | duration of acute subjective effects | 24 healthy subjects (12 women, 12 men) | - | acute subjective effects lasted longer | #2 |
co-administration of MDMA (100 mg) and LSD (100 µg) | increase | plasma concentrations of LSD | 24 healthy subjects (12 women, 12 men) | - | higher plasma concentrations of LSD (Cmax and area under the curve) | #3 |
co-administration of MDMA (100 mg) and LSD (100 µg) | increase | plasma elimination half-life of LSD | 24 healthy subjects (12 women, 12 men) | - | longer plasma elimination half-life of LSD | #4 |
LSD + MDMA combination | increase | blood pressure | 24 healthy subjects (12 women, 12 men) | - | increased blood pressure more than LSD alone | #5 |
LSD + MDMA combination | increase | heart rate | 24 healthy subjects (12 women, 12 men) | - | increased heart rate more than LSD alone | #6 |
LSD + MDMA combination | increase | pupil size | 24 healthy subjects (12 women, 12 men) | - | increased pupil size more than LSD alone | #7 |
MDMA alone | increase | oxytocin levels | 24 healthy subjects (12 women, 12 men) | - | increased oxytocin levels more than LSD alone | #8 |
LSD + MDMA combination | increase | oxytocin levels | 24 healthy subjects (12 women, 12 men) | - | increased oxytocin levels more than LSD alone | #9 |
co-administration of MDMA (100 mg) | no change | acute effects | 24 healthy subjects (12 women, 12 men) | - | did not improve acute effects | #10 |
co-administration of MDMA (100 mg) | no change | safety profile | 24 healthy subjects (12 women, 12 men) | - | did not improve the safety profile | #11 |
There is renewed interest in the use of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) in psychiatric research and practice. Although acute subjective effects of LSD are mostly positive, negative subjective effects, including anxiety, may occur. The induction of overall positive acute subjective effects is desired in psychedelic-assisted therapy because positive acute experiences are associated with greater therapeutic long-term benefits. 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) produces marked positive subjective effects and is used recreationally with LSD, known as "candyflipping." The present study investigated whether the co-administration of MDMA can be used to augment acute subjective effects of LSD. We used a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover design with 24 healthy subjects (12 women, 12 men) to compare the co-administration of MDMA (100 mg) and LSD (100 µg) with MDMA and LSD administration alone and placebo. Outcome measures included subjective, autonomic, and endocrine effects and pharmacokinetics. MDMA co-administration with LSD did not change the quality of acute subjective effects compared with LSD alone. However, acute subjective effects lasted longer after LSD + MDMA co-administration compared with LSD and MDMA alone, consistent with higher plasma concentrations of LSD (Cmax and area under the curve) and a longer plasma elimination half-life of LSD when MDMA was co-administered. The LSD + MDMA combination increased blood pressure, heart rate, and pupil size more than LSD alone. Both MDMA alone and the LSD + MDMA combination increased oxytocin levels more than LSD alone. Overall, the co-administration of MDMA (100 mg) did not improve acute effects or the safety profile of LSD (100 µg). The combined use of MDMA and LSD is unlikely to provide relevant benefits over LSD alone in psychedelic-assisted therapy. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04516902.