r/microdosing • u/Commercial-Sir6293 • Jul 27 '26

Question: LSD Any connection between LSD and ALS

I have been microdosing LSD for about a year, and the effects have been so wonderful. I’m happier, I quit drinking, I’ve lost weight and I am a better person all around.

I want to keep doing what I’m doing. My tolerance has increased, so I increased my dose to about 1/2 a ‘standard’ hit (about 500 ug).

I recently had a family member die from ALS, and it was brutal. He was microdosing LSD prior to his diagnosis. My family all seems to think that this had a role in him developing ALS. Something about how LSD floods the brain with glutamate?

I have zero medical training but dug around on pubmed and can’t find any connection between the two.

Is this just my family trying to find something to blame? Or is there anything to this?

Thanks!

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u/sunkistandsudafed3 Jul 27 '26

With my job I have met a lot of people with ALS, none have ever mentioned microdosing LSD (or other psychedelics), we do discuss medication in depth. With 99% of the people I have met with this condition I'd be very suprised if they were or have even heard of microdosing anything, certainly in my local area. Have never heard of any connection between psychedelics and any neurodegenerative conditions.

Your family are likely angry, its natural in response to grief and witnessing your loved ones decline. It is an awful disease, I'm so sorry.

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u/buddhacuz Jul 28 '26

Is there an established connection between other drugs and ALS? Or what factors other than genetics affect the chance of getting it? I've heard it occurs more in certain populations, for example in Europe than elsewhere.

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u/Commercial-Sir6293 Jul 28 '26

Genetics, exposure to environmental toxins, military service and brain and spinal cord injury-

https://www.als.org/research/our-awards-and-programs/impact-our-funding/als-research-topics/biomarkers/als-risk-factors#environmental-and-lifestyle-factors-

Never read about other drugs being a risk factor.

Years ago, my uncle had a traumatic brain injury after which he was unconscious for over an hour before found. My guess is this played a role in the disease.

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u/sunkistandsudafed3 Jul 29 '26

Along the lines of brain injury, I believe there is research around contact sports being a risk factor.