LSD shows early promise as a potential anxiety treatment
Brief:
A new study shows that a “one and done” dose of LSD keeps anxiety at bay. Adults with generalized anxiety disorder who received higher doses of MM120 reported rapid and lasting relief for up to 12 weeks, offering hope for new treatments beyond traditional antidepressants.
A new study suggests that one carefully measured dose of LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) could bring lasting relief to people struggling with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)—a condition that affects roughly one in 10 people each year.
Researchers tested 198 adults with GAD using different doses of a proprietary form of LSD called MM120, developed by MindMed. The results were striking:
- Higher doses (100 or 200 micrograms) brought fast and lasting improvements in anxiety and depression symptoms.
- Lower doses (25 or 50 micrograms) worked no better than a placebo.
- Many patients felt better as soon as the next day, and the benefits lasted for the full 12 weeks of the study.
Dr. David Feifel of Kadima Neuropsychiatry Institute, one of the lead researchers, called the results “very promising,” noting that current medications like Prozac or Zoloft don’t help nearly half of people with GAD.
Why It Matters
GAD isn’t just everyday stress. It causes constant worry, difficulty relaxing, and physical symptoms like racing heartbeat and sweating—often paired with depression. For many, existing treatments fall short.
LSD, unlike traditional antidepressants, creates a psychedelic experience that may play a role in its effectiveness. Participants who received enough MM120 to experience a “trip” were much more likely to see improvements in both anxiety and depression.
More Than Just the Drug
Some experts, like Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris of UCSF, say the treatment environment may also matter. Sessions in the study included private, calming rooms, soft lighting, music, and eyeshades—factors that could enhance the effect. Still, the research didn’t fully explore how much these non-drug elements contributed.
The Bigger Picture
This study is part of a growing wave of rigorous psychedelic research. The FDA has already granted MM120 “breakthrough therapy” status, which speeds up review for promising drugs. MindMed is now running large-scale phase 3 trials, expected to wrap up in 2026.
Experts believe FDA-approved psychedelics like LSD, psilocybin (magic mushrooms), and MDMA could soon transform mental health treatment, offering new hope for conditions like depression, PTSD, and addiction.
As Dr. Carhart-Harris puts it, “A whole mindset shift is going to happen around this.”
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