This completed double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (n=24) aimed to investigate the effects of co-administering MDMA with LSD in healthy subjects. The study, conducted by the University Hospital in Basel, Switzerland, assessed the acute subjective and autonomic effects of LSD alone and in combination with MDMA.
The trial employed a 4-period crossover design with four treatment conditions: 100 μg LSD + MDMA placebo, LSD placebo + 100 mg MDMA, 100 μg LSD + 100 mg MDMA, and LSD placebo + MDMA placebo. The study enrolled participants between the ages of 25 and 65, who demonstrated sufficient understanding of the German language, willingness to adhere to the study protocol, and refrained from consuming illicit psychoactive substances during the study. The primary outcome measures included assessing the intensity and duration of subjective effects, mood ratings, altered states of consciousness, and autonomic effects. Secondary outcome measures involved analyzing plasma levels of LSD, MDMA, blood-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and oxytocin, administering psychological insight questionnaires and assessing the effect of moderation through personality traits. The trial began on January 1, 2021, and concluded on August 22, 2022.
Trial Details
Trial Number
Sponsors & Collaborators
University of BaselThe University of Basel Department of Biomedicine hosts the Liechti Lab research group, headed by Matthias Liechti.
MindMed
MindMed is one of the largest companies in the psychedelics space and is developing various psychedelics for mental health disorders.
Papers
Acute effects of MDMA and LSD co-administration in a double-blind placebo-controlled study in healthy participantsThis double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover study (n=24) investigates the co-administration of MDMA (100mg) and LSD (100µg) compared to their individual use and placebo. Findings reveal that while the combination doesn't enhance the quality of subjective effects compared to LSD alone, it prolongs these effects, elevates plasma concentrations of LSD, and extends LSD's plasma elimination half-life. However, the combination also increases blood pressure, heart rate, and pupil size more than LSD alone. It does not improve the safety profile of LSD, indicating that combining MDMA and LSD may not offer substantial benefits over LSD alone in psychedelic-assisted therapy.
Measures Used
States of Consciousness QuestionnaireThe States of Consciousness Questionnaire (SOCQ) was developed to assess the occurrence features of the change in consciousness induced by psilocybin and includes the Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ). The SOCQ consists of 100 items, 43 of which are from the MEQ.