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lsd and sleep: microdosing research shows potential for managing depressive disorders

a new clinical trial for the lsd drug mb22001 found that it could help both sleep and depression.

by angelica bottaro
published apr 24, 2024
read time 3 minute read
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read time 3 minute read
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new research suggests microdosing lsd may help both sleep and depression. getty images
new research from mindbio therapeutics has found a strong connection between microdosing psychedelics and sleep as it relates to depressive disorders. the clinical trial aimed to examine the role of a particular psychedelic drug known as mb22001 on sleep, as it’s already been proven to benefit mood and energy levels in people with depression.

the connection between sleep and depression

getting enough good quality sleep is crucial for overall health. during sleep, the body stays active, working to store new information, remove toxic waste, repair cells, and restore energy.  if a person doesn’t get enough sleep, these processes are hindered, leading to various issues, including difficulties regulating emotions.
the connection between sleep and depression acts as a catch-22: not enough quality sleep increases the risk for depression and depressive symptoms, but when a person already has depression, they are less likely to get enough shuteye because of how the condition affects the level of restorative sleep a person gets each night.

the study parameters and results

the research surrounding psychedelics and sleep as it pertains to depression used mb22001, a form of lsd, in randomized controlled clinical trials and found that participants were able to get better sleep after microdosing as opposed to those who were in the placebo group.

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participants experienced an average of 24 minutes of extra time spent asleep. while that may not seem like a lot, studies examining sleep times and their effects found that getting any extra sleep can significantly impact a person’s ability to regulate their emotions and reduce depressive symptoms.
the study also showed that people who microdosed also had more rapid eye movement (rem) sleep, which is the point of sleep in which brain activity is nearly similar to what it is when awake. rem sleep is essential for mood regulation, memory retention, and learning. since rem and mood go hand in hand, getting more is thought to have a positive effect on depressive symptoms.

other research on psychedelics for sleep and depression

the study conducted by mindbio therapeutics isn’t the first of its kind to examine the connection between psychedelics and sleep and depression. another study looked at similar connections between psilocybin, a different type of psychedelic, and sleep and found that it, too, helped increase rem sleep in participants. while the drug in question is different, both studies confirm that using psychedelics to improve sleep scores could be a viable new therapy for those with sleep disorders and depression.
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using mb22001 in future therapies

the results of the clinical trials are promising and could eventually become first-line therapies that come without all the typical side effects of antidepressants or sleep aids. that said, the research is still in its infancy.
there are currently two phase 2 clinical trials going on, with new trials being developed, to help further explore the effects of mb22001 and whether it can act as a replacement therapy for those who have tried other forms of treatment without adequate results or want to avoid the side effects that often cause emotional distress on top of depressive symptoms.
as reported in yahoo finance, mindbio’s ceo justin hanka is optimistic that the drug will change the way people tackle depression and sleep-related disorders, stating that “microdosing mb22001 is a disruptive treatment methodology that we know improves sleep, depression, and mood, and our ambition is to develop this treatment globally at scale for affordable access to patients without the limitations and side effects of common antidepressants.
angelica bottaro
angelica bottaro

angelica bottaro is the lead editor at healthing.ca, and has been content writing for over a decade, specializing in all things health. her goal as a health journalist is to bring awareness and information to people that they can use as an additional tool toward their own optimal health.

read more about the author

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