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Study · Measured the body's own peptide · 2023

2 results

Acute effects of MDMA and LSD co-administration in a double-blind placebo-controlled study in healthy participants.

Straumann I, Ley L, Holze F, Becker AM, Klaiber A, Wey K, Duthaler U, Varghese N, Eckert A, Liechti ME

Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology31 May 2023Cited by 32 (Europe PMC)

PMID37258715 (opens in a new tab)PMCIDPMC10584820 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1038/s41386-023-01609-0 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-37258715
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Summary

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.
CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study2

No result from this study comes from a test of the peptide.

Natural levels measured2

These results measure the body's own peptide. Nobody was given the peptide. They are not evidence about taking it. They are left out of key results, evidence counts and charts.

  1. 01HumanEndogenous levelRandomized controlled trialOther

    In healthy participants, MDMA alone increased oxytocin levels more than LSD alone.

    In plain wordsIn healthy adults, MDMA alone raised the body's own oxytocin levels more than LSD alone.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    IncreaseOxytocin levels after MDMA alone
    Study

    n = 24

    Comparator
    LSD alone
    Outcome group
    Endogenous peptide levels · Endocrine and hormones

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Both MDMA alone and the LSD + MDMA combination increased oxytocin levels more than LSD alone.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    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.

    This result measures the body's own Oxytocin. Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.

  2. 02HumanEndogenous levelRandomized controlled trialOther

    In healthy participants, the LSD plus MDMA combination increased oxytocin levels more than LSD alone.

    In plain wordsIn healthy adults, LSD plus MDMA raised the body's own oxytocin levels more than LSD alone.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    IncreaseOxytocin levels after LSD plus MDMA
    Study

    n = 24

    Comparator
    LSD alone
    Outcome group
    Endogenous peptide levels · Endocrine and hormones

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Both MDMA alone and the LSD + MDMA combination increased oxytocin levels more than LSD alone.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    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.

    This result measures the body's own Oxytocin. Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

  1. Version 2Current

    11 Oct 2026, 00:50 UTC

    Study results updated

  2. Version 1

    9 Oct 2026, 02:49 UTC

    First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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