Microdosing and the Rise of the Psychedelic Pre-Workout

Microdosing has been an area of at-home experimentation for years. People have taken small doses of psychedelics in hopes of easing symptoms of depression and anxiety, lifting their moods, and even increasing their creativity. I too partook in my fair share of microdosing over the pandemic — pulling a little baggy of mushrooms from my freezer and taking a little nibble — as an experiment (yes, I was bored and had left-over party paraphernalia) to see what, if anything, they could do for me.

Now, TikTok users are claiming that microdosing can help them make gains in the gym — by creating a better mind-muscle connection, sharpening their focus, making workouts more enjoyable, and helping them slip into a coveted flow state. But what does microdosing actually do to your body during exercise? Does it make for a better workout, or is this just another wellness trend getting ahead of the science?

We'll take a look at what microdosing is, what the research says, and whether there's any evidence that your pre-workout should include a little something extra.

What Is Microdosing?

The act of microdosing is pretty much exactly what it sounds like: taking a very small amount of a drug, typically a psychedelic substance like psilocybin, the active compound in magic mushrooms. Unlike the altered-reality trips you've seen in movies like Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas or My Old Ass — or perhaps experienced yourself in college, when you ventured into the woods and six hours later realized all you'd done is stare at the bark on a tree — a microdose is intended to produce subtler effects.

Proponents say it can boost mood, creativity, focus, or a sense of well-being without the full-blow hallucinations and altered perception associated with a traditional psychedelic dose. But while researchers are increasingly interested in this drug, the science around it and microdosing — especially before exercise — is much less clear. There isn't a set dosage for what an appropriate microdose of dried mushrooms is, although the research typically uses between 0.2 to 0.5 grams.

Similarly, there's no standardized system governing the strength or recommended dosage of products marketed as mushroom microdoses — and even the type of mushroom used can vary. Products may contain psilocybin mushrooms, Amanita muscaria, or other mushroom-derived ingredients, making the term "microdose" less straightforward than it might sound.

What Are Magic Mushrooms?

Magic mushrooms are mushrooms that contain psilocybin, a naturally occurring psychedelic compound that can alter perception, mood, and cognition. While previously associated with college parties and long-winded conversations about how we fit in the universe, psilocybin has become the subject of serious scientific research in recent years.

In 2018, the Food and Drug Administration granted psilocybin "Breakthrough Therapy" designation for some investigational treatments, but that does not mean it has been approved as a medication. Psilocybin remains a Schedule 1 controlled substance under U.S. federal law, though Oregon and Colorado have created regulated frameworks for its use. 

Why Are People Microdosing Before Workouts?

There's been a growing trend on TikTok of people using magic mushroom microdoses as a pre-workout, with users claiming the practice can enhance everything from mind-muscle connection and endurance to enjoyment, productivity, and focus.

The surge in this type of content may be linked, at least in part, to the growing number of companies selling products marketed as microdoses. 

TikTok user Kaylin Mally documented her own experience, reporting that she felt "overstimulated" during a Solidcore workout and ultimately left the class early.  "That whole class, I don't know what was happening," she said in a video. Mally later revealed that she had accidentally taken three times the product's recommended dose. When she subsequently tried the recommended amount, however, she said she, "barely even felt it," describing the experience as "happy, chill, good vibes."

But Mally's experience also highlights one of the trickier aspects of taking health and wellness advice from TikTok: the platform is, increasingly, a forum where personal recommendations and product marketing intertwine. A creator can share what seems like a genuine experience with a product, build credibility with their audience, and ultimately have a financial incentive to keep recommending it. That doesn't make every testimonial misleading, but it's worth asking whether someone is sharing what they believe works or trying to sell you a product.

What Does the Science Actually Say?

You're curious what the science is saying, but the answer is, we just can't be certain yet. It's still too early to know what microdosing can actually do. And just as plenty of TikTokers touting benefits of pre-workout microdosing are creating content for brands, some psychedelic research comes with potential conflicts of interest, including financial and professional ties between researchers and companies with financial interests in the emerging mushroom industry. 

Take this study published by Scientific Reports, which found that people who microdosed reported lower levels of depression, anxiety, and stress than non-microdosers. Several of the researchers disclosed ties to psychedelic companies: Pamela Krskow, for example, served on the clinical advisory board of Numinus Wellness and received compensation in company stock, while Kim Kuypers was a principal investigator on separate research projects sponsored by companies develo[ped psychedelic medicines.

That doesn't invalidate the study's findings, but it's worth keeping in mind when weighing the evidence. In other words, it's worth taking both the TikToks and these early studies with a healthy dose of skepticism.

Research on Fitness and Mushrooms

When it comes to exercise specifically, the evidence is even thinner. In a 2022 double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in Scientific Reports, researchers gave participants either a low dose of psilocybin mushrooms or a placebo and tracked their physical activity using Fitbit devices. They found no significant differences in physical activity between the two groups. 

There is, however, some early evidence that microdosing could affect how people experience pain. A 2022 study of 250 people with chronic pain found that people who microdosed psychedelics reported less pain than those who did not. But because the study relied on participants' self-reported experiences, it can't establish that microdosing itself was responsible for the relief.

So, while some people may swear that microdosing makes their workouts feel better, we still don't know whether it's actually making them perform better. Until more research is done in this area, the world of psychedelic pre-workouts remains something of a wild west.

Is Microdosing Actually a Good Pre-Workout?

Maybe you've seen people on social media talking about how a little microdose of magic mushrooms before their workout had changed the game. But when it comes to mushrooms and your workout, the research is lacking. A 2025 review examining the potential role of psychedelics in sports found that there isn't enough evidence to determine whether they improve athletic performance, with major gaps in research on strength, endurance, coordination, and more.

That doesn't mean microdosing definitely doesn't work as a workout aid — it means we don't have the evidence to say that it does. For now, the promise of a psychedelic pre-workout is largely based on personal anecdotes rather than solid science. And until researchers have a better understanding of how psilocybin affects the body during exercise, you might want to stick with your regular, science-backed pre-workout.