Microdosing Schedules: Fadiman Protocol vs. Stamets Stack

Microdosing – the practice of taking very small, sub-perceptual doses of psychedelics – has surged in popularity among those seeking mental health benefits, cognitive enhancement, or creative boosts. As interest grows, two popular microdosing schedules have emerged from thought leaders in the field: the Fadiman Protocol and the Stamets Stack. Both approaches share the goal of harnessing psychedelics’ benefits while avoiding tolerance buildup, but they differ in dosing rhythm and philosophy. In this post, we’ll explain each protocol, compare their pros and cons, and help you decide which microdosing schedule might suit your lifestyle and goals. We’ll also include credible research findings and practical product tips for whichever path you choose.

Understanding Microdosing and Why Schedules Matter

Microdosing involves regularly consuming tiny doses of a psychedelic substance (such as LSD or psilocybin mushrooms) that are about 5–10% of a standard psychoactive dose – enough for subtle effects but not full intoxication. In practical terms, a microdose of psilocybin is often around 0.1–0.3 grams of dried mushrooms, taken a few times per week. Adopting a structured schedule is important because frequent daily use can lead to rapid tolerance and diminish the benefits. Experts generally advise against dosing every single day, as continuous daily use increases the chance of tolerance and side effects. Instead, microdosers follow schedules with built-in “off” days to allow the body and mind to reset.

Two of the most well-established schedules are the Fadiman protocol (a 1 day on, 2 days off cycle) and the Stamets Stack protocol (typically 4 days on, 3 days off, with added supplements). Both aim to maximize positive effects like improved mood or focus while minimizing tolerance. Let’s look at each approach in detail.

The Fadiman Protocol: One Day On, Two Days Off

Dr. James Fadiman, a psychologist and researcher, popularized a simple microdosing schedule in his 2011 book The Psychedelic Explorer’s Guide. The Fadiman Protocol calls for taking a microdose on Day 1, then no dose on Day 2 and Day 3, before repeating the cycle on Day 4. In other words, you dose roughly every fourth day. For example, if you take a microdose on Monday, you would skip Tuesday and Wednesday, then microdose again on Thursday, and so on. This schedule was originally suggested for LSD but has since been applied to psilocybin mushrooms as well.

Why 2 days off? 

Fadiman chose the 1-on, 2-off rhythm based on anecdotal reports that a microdose’s positive effects last about two days after dosing. By the third day, any residual effects have worn off, so Day 4 is when you dose again. The two rest days help prevent tolerance from building up while also giving you time to reflect and integrate any subtle changes in mood or cognition. Fadiman himself emphasizes a cautious, self-aware approach: he advises microdosers to “go slow” and use the off-days as a “reset day, kind of like clearing the mind/body palate” before the next dose. This method allows you to observe what’s different on microdose days versus off days, which is valuable especially for beginners learning how microdosing affects them.

Benefits and characteristics

The Fadiman protocol is praised for its simplicity and gentle pace, making it very beginner-friendly. You’re only dosing about twice a week, which is easy to fit into a routine and carries a low risk of side effects or tolerance. Many users following Fadiman’s schedule report enhanced productivity, better focus, and improved emotional balance on dosing days, with some likening the effect to a stimulant but without the jitters. The lower frequency also means you spend plenty of days at baseline, which can be useful for integrating insights and ensuring the microdose isn’t becoming a crutch. In a sense, this protocol treats the microdose as a periodic boost with time in between to reset and reflect.

It’s worth noting that formal scientific research on the Fadiman schedule specifically is limited (much of Fadiman’s evidence comes from collected self-reports). However, recent studies on microdosing in general support some of the anecdotal benefits. For instance, a large 2022 observational study found that people who microdosed psilocybin for 30 days showed small-to-moderate improvements in mood and mental health compared to a non-microdosing control group. These improvements were seen in measures of depression, anxiety, and stress. (Notably, the same study found that microdosing protocols with or without additional supplements yielded similar mood benefits—we’ll revisit this when discussing Stamets’ method.) While more controlled research is needed, early evidence and countless personal reports suggest that a regimen like Fadiman’s can positively influence well-being for many individuals.

Getting started with Fadiman’s approach

If you’re new to microdosing, the Fadiman protocol is often recommended as a starting point due to its moderate pace. Keep a journal to track your dose days and how you feel on both dosing and rest days – this mindful tracking was part of Fadiman’s original guidance. Because you only need around 8–10 microdoses per month on this schedule, it’s easy to prepare or purchase a supply accordingly. Good Moods offers convenient microdose products that align well with the Fadiman protocol. For example, you might try their Good Mood Chews gummies (each containing 0.25 g of psilocybin mushroom, with 20 gummies per pack) as a tasty, easy way to dose. One pack of these microdose gummies can last over a month when following a 1-on/2-off routine, since you’ll be taking at most two doses per week. The Good Mood Chews are gentle on the stomach (great if you find raw mushrooms or capsules hard to digest) and come in measured doses, simplifying your microdosing experiment. If you prefer capsules, Good Moods also has microdose capsule packs which you can use to effortlessly follow the Fadiman schedule – just take one capsule on your dose days and skip the next two days. By using a pre-measured product, you can focus on your experience rather than measuring out tiny amounts each time.

The Stamets Stack Protocol: Four Days On, Three Days Off (with Lion’s Mane & Niacin)

The second well-known approach to microdosing was introduced by Paul Stamets, a renowned mycologist famous for his work with medicinal mushrooms. Stamets’ protocol, often called the Stamets Stack, adds a twist to microdosing by combining psilocybin with two additional ingredients: Lion’s Mane mushroom and Niacin (vitamin B3). The regimen typically involves a 7-day cycle where you microdose for 4 consecutive days (“on” days) followed by 3 days off for integration. Stamets originally suggested doing this 4-days-on/3-days-off cycle for about 4 weeks in a row, then taking a break (often 2 weeks off) before starting another round. In practice, many people follow a “4 on, 3 off” weekly routine – for example, dose Monday through Thursday, then take Friday through Sunday off – and repeat for one or more months. This higher frequency means you’re dosing ~16 days out of the month, as opposed to ~8 with Fadiman’s schedule.

What’s in the “stack”? A key feature of Stamets’ approach is stacking the microdose with functional mushrooms and vitamins that could amplify its effects. Stamets recommends each dose include:

• A small amount of psilocybin (e.g. 0.1 g – 0.2 g of mushrooms),
  
• A larger dose of Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus) mushroom extract, and
  
• A bit of Niacin (vitamin B3).
  

Lion’s Mane is a legal medicinal mushroom (non-psychedelic) known for its potential neurotrophic properties. Scientific studies have shown that compounds in Lion’s Mane can stimulate nerve growth factor (NGF) production in the brain, which may promote neurogenesis and support cognitive health. Stamets theorized that combining Lion’s Mane with psilocybin could have a synergistic effect on brain cell growth and neural plasticity, potentially leading to improvements in creativity, memory, and overall brain function. Niacin, on the other hand, is included to act as a flushing agent – Stamets suggests that the vitamin’s property of dilating capillaries might help deliver the mushrooms’ and Lion’s Mane’s beneficial compounds more efficiently throughout the nervous system. (Niacin also causes a temporary “flush” – a reddening and tingling of the skin – which some see as an indicator that it’s improving blood circulation. However, be aware that high doses of niacin can be uncomfortable and aren’t necessary for everyone; more on that in a moment.)

The goals and claims of the Stamets Stack

Stamets designed this protocol as a nootropic stack – meaning a regimen to enhance cognitive performance and brain health. The “4 days on, 3 off” schedule was chosen to saturate your system for several days in a row with the psilocybin and mushroom supplements, possibly fostering cumulative effects, while still taking regular short breaks to prevent long-term tolerance. Advocates of the Stamets Stack report a range of purported benefits, including: improved mood and emotional stability, reduced anxiety and PTSD symptoms, boost in creativity and convergent thinking, greater neuroprotection (some even hope it could help regenerate neurons or guard against age-related cognitive decline), and an overall sense of increased openness and connectivity with others. In short, the Stamets method aims for not just a mood lift on dose days, but potential long-term neural benefits by leveraging Lion’s Mane’s neurotrophic potential alongside psilocybin.

It’s important to emphasize that while these claims are intriguing, the Stamets Stack has not yet been validated by rigorous clinical research. Stamets’ hypotheses about neurogenesis are based on preclinical studies and anecdotal observations. Medical institutions have not formally reviewed or approved this protocol, and no controlled trials have specifically tested the efficacy of the full stack for cognitive enhancement. That said, Stamets did collaborate on large-scale observational studies. One such study in 2022 (mentioned earlier) tracked hundreds of microdosers using psilocybin – some of whom were stacking with Lion’s Mane and B3 – and found overall mood improvements after one month. Interestingly, the data suggested that adding Lion’s Mane and niacin did not significantly change the self-reported mood and mental health improvements compared to psilocybin alone. In other words, the stackers and non-stackers saw similar mood benefits on average. However, there was one notable difference: among older adults in the study, those combining psilocybin with Lion’s Mane and B3 showed better psychomotor performance gains than those who microdosed without the extras. This hints that the stack might have particular benefits (e.g. for motor function or cognition in aging), but we clearly need more research to confirm any added value of the Lion’s Mane + niacin combination.

Pros and cons of Stamets’ approach

Compared to Fadiman’s protocol, the Stamets Stack is a more intensive regimen – you’ll be microdosing on four consecutive days, which some users say leads to a quicker uptake of benefits like improved focus or creativity during the on-days. Many fans of this method enjoy the routine of dosing daily on weekdays, then using the 3-day break on weekends to rest. By the fourth day, you might feel a subtle cumulative effect; then the short break prevents any serious tolerance from forming. If you are aiming for possible nootropic or neurogenerative effects, Stamets’ inclusion of Lion’s Mane is a plus, given this mushroom’s promising research in stimulating nerve growth and possibly supporting memory.

There are a few considerations/cautions as well. First, taking a microdose four days in a row means you are ingesting psychedelics more frequently, which might not be suitable for those who are very sensitive or prone to anxiety – if a microdose makes you slightly stimulated or on edge, four days straight could be taxing. Second, the inclusion of niacin can cause flushing; some people find the niacin flush uncomfortable (it’s harmless but can feel like a hot prickly blush for 20–30 minutes). Stamets has advocated fairly high doses of B3 in his stack (50–100 mg niacin with each dose). Keep in mind that this exceeds the typical daily recommended allowance for niacin, so if you try the stack, you might start with a lower dose of niacin to gauge your tolerance, or even omit it if you get sufficient benefit without it. Always listen to your body – the Lion’s Mane and psilocybin are the core of the stack, and niacin is supplementary. Finally, because the Stamets protocol involves more dosing days per month, you’ll want to be extra mindful of taking longer breaks after several weeks. Stamets suggests a “cycle and pause” approach – for example, do 4 weeks on the 4-on/3-off schedule, then take at least 2 weeks off entirely. This multi-week reset helps ensure you don’t develop long-term tolerance (or neglect the importance of non-altered states). Long breaks also give you a chance to reflect on whether the practice is yielding the desired results.

Product options for the Stamets Stack

If you decide that Stamets’ regimen aligns with your goals – say, you’re interested in the possible cognitive benefits and don’t mind a busier dosing schedule – the good news is you don’t have to source all the ingredients separately. Good Moods offers a dedicated Stamets Stack Microdose Capsule product that conveniently combines everything you need in one capsule. Each capsule contains a precise blend (in the ballpark of 100 mg of psilocybin mushroom, 350 mg of Lion’s Mane, and 50 mg of Niacin per capsule), formulated to match Stamets’ recommended ratio. By taking one capsule, you’re effectively following the “stack” without having to take multiple supplements. Good Moods’ Stamets Stack 30-capsule pack is perfect for a month of the 4-on/3-off cycle – for instance, a bottle of 30 capsules covers roughly 7 weeks of dosing if you’re doing four capsules per week. This can be much simpler than mixing your own lion’s mane powder with mushroom microdoses each time. Plus, these capsules are measured for consistency, ensuring you get the same dose each day. If you’re looking to try the Stamets method, the Stamets Stack Capsules from Good Moods provide an all-in-one solution to start your journey. (They’re formulated to support neurogenesis, in line with Stamets’ vision, while taking the guesswork out of dosing.)

Fadiman vs. Stamets: Which Microdosing Schedule Should You Choose?

Both the Fadiman protocol and the Stamets stack have passionate adherents, and ultimately the “best” schedule depends on your personal goals, lifestyle, and how your body responds. Here’s a side-by-side comparison to help you decide:

• Dosing Frequency: Fadiman’s schedule involves about 2 microdoses per week (around 8 per month), whereas Stamets’ involves 4 microdoses per week (16 per month). If you prefer a lighter touch or have a busy schedule where dosing less often is more convenient, Fadiman might be better. If you’re looking for a more immersive routine and don’t mind taking a pill most mornings, Stamets offers that regular cadence.
  
• Complexity: The Fadiman protocol is extremely simple – you only need to remember to dose, say, every third day. Many beginners find this easy to stick to, and if you skip a dose or mess up the timing, it’s forgiving (you can just resume the next scheduled day). The Stamets protocol, while not complicated, does require planning out a 4-day streak and ensuring you have the supplements on hand each of those days. It’s a bit more involved, especially if you are assembling your own stack. However, using a pre-made Stamets Stack capsule or kit can simplify this greatly.
  
• Tolerance and Side Effects: Both protocols intentionally include off-days to prevent tolerance. Neither recommends microdosing every single day. Fadiman’s generous 2-day breaks virtually ensure you won’t build much tolerance; you might even feel afterglow effects on the day after dosing, as some report. Stamets’ shorter 3-day break means there’s a slightly higher chance of mild tolerance by day 4, but generally a 3-day break is still sufficient for most people to reset tolerance significantly. In terms of side effects, Fadiman’s approach, with fewer doses, tends to have even fewer side effects (some people get slight headaches or tiredness on the second day, but many feel nothing negative at all). Stamets’ approach could cause a bit more physical side effect in the form of niacin flush, as discussed. If you absolutely hate the flush feeling or want to avoid taking extra supplements, you might lean toward Fadiman or a modified Stamets (psilocybin + Lion’s Mane only).
  
• Intent and Benefits: Ask yourself what you’re hoping to get out of microdosing. For general mood improvement, anxiety relief, or productivity, both protocols are reported to help. There isn’t conclusive evidence that one yields better mood outcomes than the other – self-reported surveys show positive results for both, with individual variation. If your aim is creativity, learning, or neuroplasticity, Stamets’ stack is explicitly geared toward that, banking on the potential of Lion’s Mane to build new neural pathways. Some users who have tried both say that the Stamets stack felt more cognitively stimulating and promoted “brain growth” in a way the Fadiman schedule did not – but again, this is anecdotal. On the other hand, if simplicity and habit-building are important (perhaps you want to microdose long-term in a sustainable way), Fadiman’s slower cycle might integrate more seamlessly into your life. It also leaves you with more days completely substance-free, which some prefer for balance.
  

• Community and Anecdotal Consensus: In the psychedelic community, Fadiman’s protocol has been around longer and is often the default recommendation for newcomers. Stamets’ method gained popularity more recently, especially among the biohacking crowd and those interested in mushroom supplements. There is no clear “winner” – in fact, experienced microdosers sometimes experiment with both protocols over time. You might find it useful to try one method for a month or two, then switch and see how they compare for you. Be sure to only change one variable at a time (for example, if you try Stamets’ stack after doing Fadiman, use a similar dose of psilocybin so you can attribute differences to the schedule/stack, not the amount).
  
• Practical availability: Do you have access to Lion’s Mane and niacin, or would you rather not bother? If you already take Lion’s Mane (a popular over-the-counter supplement for cognition) or are excited by the idea of a “whole mushroom” synergy, Stamets’ stack might be appealing. If not, Fadiman’s protocol doesn’t require anything beyond the psychedelic microdose itself. As mentioned, you can simplify Stamets’ approach by using combination products like Good Moods’ Stamets Stack capsules. Similarly, Good Moods offers Microdosing Packs (capsules, gummies, etc.) that are perfect for the Fadiman schedule. For example, a 30-capsule bottle of a microdose strain could last you three months on Fadiman’s plan – a very cost-effective and handy setup for someone just starting out. On the Stamets plan, that same bottle would last about half as long, since you dose twice as often.
  

Safety note: Regardless of which protocol you choose, it’s wise to approach microdosing with a responsible mindset. Both Fadiman and Stamets would agree on fundamentals like testing your substances for purity, measuring doses accurately, and being mindful of your mental health conditions and medications (to avoid any contraindications). Neither microdosing schedule is a magical cure-all, and individual results can vary widely. If you have any underlying health issues or take other medications, consider consulting a healthcare professional who is knowledgeable about psychedelics. Microdosing is generally considered low-risk – psilocybin in small quantities tends to be well-tolerated – but it’s still important to listen to your body and mind. If you experience any persistent negative effects (like increased anxiety, irritability, or headaches), you should stop and reassess. Sometimes adjusting the dose size or the schedule can help, or microdosing might not be suitable for you at this time.

Final Thoughts

Microdosing remains an evolving practice at the intersection of wellness, science, and personal experimentation. The Fadiman protocol offers a straightforward, low-frequency approach that many find effective for mood and focus, while the Stamets stack provides a more intensive regimen that aims to tap into potential cognitive enhancements through mushroom synergy. Currently, there is no definitive scientific verdict that one schedule is superior to the other – in fact, a 2019 review aptly noted that when it comes to microdosing, we have “more questions than answers” in the scientific literature. What we do have is a growing body of positive user experiences and some early research suggesting real benefits (improved mental health, cognitive flexibility, etc.) from microdosing in general.

Choosing your path

If you’re a beginner, you might start with Fadiman’s 1-on/2-off schedule to gently introduce yourself to microdosing. This lets you observe changes without being “under the influence” frequently. Once you have a handle on how microdosing feels, you could try a cycle of Stamets’ 4-on/3-off to see if the addition of Lion’s Mane makes a noticeable difference for you. On the other hand, if you’re specifically interested in potential nootropic effects or you’re already taking Lion’s Mane for brain health, jumping straight into the Stamets stack could be reasonable – just remember to take those periodic breaks for safety. Keep a journal regardless of the protocol; tracking your mood, energy, creativity, and any other metrics (sleep, appetite, etc.) will help you objectively evaluate how the schedule is working for you beyond the placebo effect.

Finally, equip yourself with quality products and information. Good Moods has you covered on products – from Stamets Stack Capsules for the dedicated neurohacker, to microdose gummies and capsules for the casual Fadiman follower – so you can microdose confidently and conveniently. Both Dr. Fadiman and Paul Stamets would likely agree on one thing: microdosing is a personal journey of discovery. Whether you choose one protocol or the other, approach it with respect, clear intention, and an open mind. You just might find that big benefits can come in very small doses.