The Beginner's Guide to Microdosing Mushrooms: A More Nuanced Way to Live

A man beginning his microdosing journey with a Nuance psilocybin capsule

What it is, how it works, which protocol fits your life, and how to start with confidence

There's a quiet revolution happening — not in labs or boardrooms, but in the everyday lives of curious, thoughtful people just like you.

Artists who couldn't find their voice. Professionals running on fumes and cortisol. People who had tried everything for their anxiety and still felt like they were watching their own life through glass. They didn't make dramatic changes. They made a small one. And slowly, almost imperceptibly, things began to shift.

That small change? Microdosing psilocybin mushrooms.

If you've landed here, you're probably somewhere between genuinely curious and almost convinced but not quite. Maybe you've heard a friend swear by it. Maybe you've seen the clinical research starting to make mainstream headlines. Maybe you just have a feeling that your brain is capable of more than it's currently offering you, and you're looking for a gentle, intelligent way to help it along.

This guide is written for you.

By the time you reach the end, you'll understand exactly what microdosing is, why it works, how to choose the right protocol for your lifestyle, what safety looks like in practice, and how community transforms this from a solo experiment into something much more meaningful. You'll have everything you need to begin — not blindly, but with clarity and intent.

Welcome to a more nuanced way of living.

What Exactly Is Microdosing? Starting From the Very Beginning

Let's clear up the biggest misconception first: microdosing is not about getting high.

Not even a little.

Microdosing is the practice of consuming a sub-perceptual amount of psilocybin — the naturally occurring compound found in certain species of mushrooms — on a structured, intentional schedule. "Sub-perceptual" is the word that matters most here. It means the dose is calibrated specifically to fall beneath the threshold of noticeable psychedelic effect. No visual distortions. No altered sense of time. No losing the thread of a conversation or a thought. You remain completely yourself — just, over time, a slightly clearer, more grounded, more open version of yourself.

Think of it less like a substance and more like a practice. The way meditation, journaling, or breathwork quietly reshapes the inner landscape over weeks and months — that's the register microdosing works in. It is subtle by design. The nuance is the point.

So What Does a Microdose Actually Feel Like?

Most people describe their first few weeks of microdosing not with dramatic language but with the kind of understated vocabulary we use for things that simply feel right. Things like:

"I noticed I wasn't as reactive in that meeting."

"I sat down to write and just... started. The resistance wasn't there."

"I laughed more easily this week. I don't know if that's it, but something's different."

"My anxiety was the same on paper, but it felt smaller. Like I had more room around it."

This is the nature of sub-perceptual dosing. The changes don't announce themselves. They accumulate. And after a few weeks, when you look back at your journal from Day 1, the distance can be surprising.

The Science Behind the Subtle: How Psilocybin Works in the Brain

You don't need a neuroscience degree to understand this — but knowing the basic mechanics makes the whole practice feel grounded rather than mystical. Here's what's actually happening.

Psilocybin Becomes Psilocin

When you ingest psilocybin, your body converts it into a compound called psilocin, which is the molecule that actually crosses into the brain. Psilocin binds primarily to 5-HT2A serotonin receptors — the same family of receptors targeted by many antidepressants, but in a fundamentally different way.

Where SSRIs work by flooding the system with more serotonin, psilocin modulates how the brain responds to serotonin. It's the difference between turning up the volume and retuning the instrument.

The Default Mode Network Gets a Rest

One of the most significant things psilocybin does — even at microdose levels — is quiet a brain system called the Default Mode Network (DMN). The DMN is essentially the brain's "narrator." It's active when you're ruminating on the past, worrying about the future, rehearsing conversations, or running anxious loops on repeat.

For people living with chronic stress, anxiety, or depression, the DMN is often overactive — a relentless inner monologue that crowds out presence, creativity, and peace.

Psilocybin temporarily dials down DMN activity. At full doses, this produces profound experiences of ego dissolution and interconnectedness. At microdose levels, the effect is far more subtle — but many people describe a noticeable reduction in that background noise. Less rumination. More presence. A greater capacity to just be in the room.

Neuroplasticity: The Brain's Capacity to Change

Perhaps the most exciting area of psilocybin research is its effect on neuroplasticity — the brain's ability to form new connections, reorganize old patterns, and essentially rewire itself.

Research from institutions including Johns Hopkins, Imperial College London, and NYU has shown that psilocybin promotes the growth of dendritic spines (the connective branches of neurons) and encourages the formation of new synaptic pathways. In plain language: it gives the brain a genuine opportunity to break out of entrenched patterns and build new ones.

This is why so many microdosers report changes not just in how they feel, but in how they think — greater cognitive flexibility, reduced emotional reactivity, a kind of loosening of habitual mental grooves that had previously felt immovable.

At microdose levels, these neuroplastic benefits accumulate gradually over the course of a protocol. The brain isn't being reorganized overnight. It's being gently, consistently invited to grow.

Why People Microdose: The Real Reasons, Honestly Told

The reasons people come to microdosing are as varied as the people themselves. Here are the most common ones — and the honest nuance behind each.

1. Anxiety and Emotional Overwhelm

This is, quietly, the most common reason people arrive here. The kind of anxiety that doesn't look dramatic from the outside but is exhausting to live inside — the low-grade hum of worry, the overactive stress response, the feeling that your nervous system is perpetually braced for something.

Many microdosers report that consistent psilocybin use softens this baseline. Not by numbing it, but by creating more space between stimulus and response. Less reactivity. More capacity.

2. Depression and Emotional Flatness

Clinical research into psilocybin as a treatment for major depressive disorder has produced some of the most remarkable results in psychiatric history — including a landmark 2021 study in the New England Journal of Medicine showing effects comparable to escitalopram (a common SSRI) in reducing depression scores, with a more rapid onset and longer-lasting remission.

Microdosers with depression frequently report an emotional "thawing" — a return of color, curiosity, and motivation that had gone grey. It's rarely a sudden transformation. It's more like the slow return of spring.

Note: If you are currently taking antidepressants or managing a diagnosed mood disorder, please consult a healthcare professional before beginning any psilocybin protocol. See our Drug Interaction guidance in the FAQ.

3. Creative Blocks and Artistic Stagnation

For writers, designers, musicians, and makers of all kinds, the inner critic is often the biggest obstacle to good work. Psilocybin appears to loosen the grip of that critic — not by silencing judgment entirely, but by creating a more porous boundary between conscious, analytical thinking and the associative, free-flowing creative mind underneath.

Many microdosers describe easier access to flow states, more unexpected ideational connections, and a reduction in the perfectionistic paralysis that keeps creative people staring at blank pages.

4. Cognitive Performance and Professional Focus

The demands on professionals today are genuinely extraordinary — sustained attention in an age of infinite distraction, emotional intelligence under pressure, and the capacity to do deep, meaningful work in a world that rewards busyness over depth.

Microdosing doesn't make you superhuman. But many professionals report that it helps them work more like themselves at their best — clearer, less distracted, more present in conversations, better able to navigate complexity without becoming overwhelmed.

5. Seeking an Alternative to Pharmaceutical Options

More and more people are coming to microdosing after years on conventional medications that worked partially, stopped working, caused side effects they didn't want to live with, or simply never felt like a long-term solution. They're not abandoning their health — they're exploring additional tools with an increasingly robust evidence base behind them.

If this is you, please don't make abrupt changes to any existing prescriptions. This is a conversation to have with a knowledgeable healthcare provider, ideally one familiar with psychedelic medicine.

The Importance of Protocol: Why Structure Is Everything

One of the most common mistakes beginners make is treating microdosing casually — dosing whenever they feel like it, skipping rest days, or assuming more frequent use means faster results. The opposite is true.

Psilocybin builds tolerance rapidly. Take it every day and within a week you'll need significantly more to achieve the same effect. Worse, without rest days, you lose the reflective space that makes microdosing meaningful — the integration period where insights settle and genuine change takes root.

Structured schedules called protocols solve this. They create consistent, sustainable rhythms that respect your neurochemistry and support long-term benefit.

Here are the three most important protocols to know:

The Fadiman Protocol — Best for Beginners

Schedule: 1 Day On · 2 Days Off · Repeat

Developed by Dr. James Fadiman, a pioneering psychedelic researcher and author of The Psychedelic Explorer's Guide, this is the gold standard entry point for anyone new to microdosing. It's simple, forgiving, and gives you clear data about your own response.

Here's how a typical week looks:

• Day 1 (Dose Day): Take your microdose in the morning.

• Day 2 (Afterglow Day): No dose. Many people report this is their most productive and positive day — the effects of Day 1 are gently present without any dose taken.

• Day 3 (Rest Day): No dose. The system fully clears. This day is for observation and journaling.

• Day 4 (Dose Day): Begin again.

The two days off aren't just about preventing tolerance — they're about giving yourself time to notice. Microdosing works in the space between doses as much as on them.

Best for: Anyone beginning their first protocol. Those testing their individual response. People who want a clear, trackable rhythm.

The Stamets Stack — Best for Cognitive Enhancement

Schedule: 4 Days On · 3 Days Off · Repeat

Developed by world-renowned mycologist Paul Stamets, this protocol combines three compounds for a synergistic neuroplasticity effect:

• Psilocybin mushrooms (your standard microdose)

• Lion's Mane mushroom (500–1000mg) — a medicinal mushroom that stimulates Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), supporting the repair and regeneration of neural tissue

• Niacin / Vitamin B3 (100–200mg) — Stamets theorizes that niacin acts as a "flushing" agent, helping drive the other compounds throughout the peripheral nervous system

Together, this combination is thought to amplify the neuroplastic benefits of psilocybin alone. Many people using the Stamets Stack report stronger cognitive clarity, improved memory, and a more pronounced mood lift.

A note on niacin flush: At these doses, niacin commonly causes a temporary redness and warming sensation in the skin — particularly the face and chest. It's completely harmless and typically fades with consistent use. If it feels too intense, reduce the niacin dose.

Best for: Those primarily seeking cognitive support. People interested in longer-term neurological benefits. Those with some prior microdosing experience.

The Intuitive Approach — Best for Experienced Microdosers

Schedule: Flexible, need-based · Never two days in a row

Once you have 1–2 completed cycles under your belt and a clear sense of how psilocybin interacts with your particular neurochemistry, some people gradually move toward a more flexible, intuitive approach — dosing based on what their week demands rather than a fixed calendar.

This might mean dosing before a high-stakes creative project, a difficult conversation, or a week requiring particular emotional resilience — and taking extended breaks between intensive periods.

Important: This approach is not recommended for beginners. Without a baseline of structured experience, intuitive dosing too easily slides into over-reliance, inconsistency, or accidental tolerance buildup. Earn your intuitive approach.

Dosing: Finding Your Number

Dosing is the most personal variable in microdosing, and getting it right takes a little patience. There is no universal correct dose — it depends on your body weight, neurochemistry, the potency of the specific mushrooms you're using, and your sensitivity to psychedelics generally.

Here's a practical framework:

Category	Dose Range	What to Expect
Threshold	0.05–0.1g	Barely perceptible; a good first-day starting point
Classic Microdose	0.1–0.2g	The sweet spot for most people; sub-perceptual with noticeable benefits over time
Upper Microdose	0.2–0.3g	Mild perceptual quality for some; productive for others
Mini-Dose	0.3–0.5g	Crosses into perceptual territory for many; not for daily function

The Cardinal Rule: Start at 0.1g

There is no award for going straight to 0.3g on Day 1. An accidentally perceptual dose at work, in a social situation, or while parenting is uncomfortable, disorienting, and entirely avoidable.

Start at 0.1g. Observe for a full week. Adjust up by 0.05g increments only if you genuinely feel nothing after two weeks.

Why Capsules Are the Beginner's Best Friend

One of the biggest challenges with raw dried mushrooms is that potency varies — not just between different strains, but between different batches of the same strain, and even between individual mushrooms in the same batch. Without precise measurement and lab-tested consistency, you're essentially estimating.

Pre-measured, lab-tested capsules eliminate this variable entirely. You know exactly what you're taking every time. For beginners especially, that consistency is not a luxury — it's a safety feature.

At Nuance, every formulation is third-party tested through Tryptomics and Hyphae Labs to ensure consistent, accurately measured doses in every batch. What's on the label is what's in the capsule.

The Role of Intent: Why "Why" Matters as Much as "How"

Microdosing is a tool, not a magic pill. And like any tool, its effectiveness is shaped by the intention you bring to it.

Before you begin your first protocol, take 10 minutes to sit with these questions — and write your answers down:

What specifically do I want to change or cultivate? Not "I want to feel better" — but what does feeling better actually look like in my life? Is it writing every morning without resistance? Being present with your children instead of half-distracted by your phone? Having the emotional bandwidth to repair a relationship? Finishing the project you've been avoiding for six months?

The more specific your intention, the more clearly you'll be able to recognize when things are shifting — and the more intelligently you can reflect on your experience during integration.

What am I willing to do alongside the microdosing? Psilocybin is not a passive intervention. The research is clear: the greatest outcomes occur when psychedelic experiences (even sub-perceptual ones) are combined with active integration practices. Journaling. Therapy. Movement. Honest conversations. Creative output. Community.

The mushroom opens the door. You still have to walk through it.

The three most common intentions people bring to microdosing — and the ones the Nuance community is specifically designed to support — are:

1. Enhanced Flow States: Deepening concentration, dissolving creative resistance, and accessing the kind of absorbed, effortless work we all know is possible but struggle to reach consistently.

2. Emotional Regulation: Building a more resilient nervous system. Responding rather than reacting. Finding more room between the trigger and the response.

3. Mindful Integration: Using the openness that microdosing creates to actually close the gap between who you want to be and how you're living. The insights are only valuable if they land somewhere real.

Safety & Harm Reduction: The Nuance Standard

The conversation around safety in microdosing is often either too casual ("it's a natural compound, you'll be fine") or too alarmist ("don't touch it, it's illegal"). Neither serves you well.

Here is an honest, grounded harm reduction framework:

Verify Your Source — Always

The single biggest safety variable in microdosing is not the substance itself — it's the sourcing. Unverified, unlabeled, inconsistently potent products are how people accidentally take too much. They're also how trust in this practice gets eroded.

Nuance uses third-party lab testing through Tryptomics and Hyphae Labs on every batch — testing for accurate psilocybin content, absence of contaminants, and batch-to-batch consistency. Before purchasing any microdosing product from any source, ask: Is this lab-tested? Can I see the results? If the answer is vague or defensive, walk away.

Check for Medication Interactions

Psilocybin interacts with several common prescription medications in ways that range from reduced efficacy to potentially dangerous combinations.

The most important categories to be aware of:

• SSRIs and SNRIs (antidepressants): Concurrent use can blunt psilocybin's effects significantly. More importantly, abruptly stopping these medications to "feel" microdosing more strongly is dangerous and should never be done without medical supervision.

• MAOIs: A potentially serious interaction that can amplify psilocybin effects dramatically and unpredictably.

• Lithium: Some evidence suggests combining lithium with psilocybin increases seizure risk. This combination should be avoided.

• Blood pressure medications: Psilocybin can mildly affect heart rate and blood pressure; consult your physician if you're on cardiovascular medications.

You can view our full Drug Interaction Chart in the FAQ section. If you're on any prescription medication, a conversation with a knowledgeable healthcare provider before beginning is not optional — it's part of doing this responsibly.

Who Should Not Microdose

Psilocybin has an exceptional safety profile compared to most substances — it is physiologically non-toxic, non-addictive, and no fatal overdose has ever been recorded. But "safe for most people" is not the same as "safe for everyone."

Please do not begin a microdosing protocol if you:

• Have a personal or family history of psychosis, schizophrenia, or bipolar disorder with psychotic features

• Are currently pregnant or breastfeeding

• Are under 21 years of age

• Are in acute mental health crisis

• Are taking medications listed above without professional guidance

Start Low, Go Slow — Every Time

We've said it before, but it bears repeating. Starting conservatively — at 0.1g or below — costs you nothing except perhaps a mild sense of anticlimax on Day 1. Starting too high when you're inexperienced and in an uncontrolled setting can cost you your trust in the process entirely. Patience here is a form of respect for your own nervous system.

Integration: Where the Real Transformation Happens

If there is one concept that separates people who microdose and feel a little better for a while from people who microdose and experience genuine, lasting change — it's integration.

Integration is the active, intentional process of taking what microdosing opens up — the clarity, the emotional access, the loosened grip of old patterns — and anchoring it into your actual life.

Without integration, microdosing is like reading an insightful book and immediately forgetting it. The insight passes through you without leaving anything behind.

With integration, the same dose becomes a genuine catalyst.

Here's what integration looks like in practice:

Journaling

Keep a simple daily log throughout your protocol. It doesn't need to be elaborate — 5 minutes and 5 sentences is enough. Note your mood on a scale of 1–10, your energy level, anything that felt different about the day, and any thoughts, emotions, or insights that surfaced. This creates a personal data set that reveals patterns invisible in the day-to-day.

Many people are surprised, looking back at 4 weeks of journal entries, how much has shifted — precisely because the shifts happen in such small, undramatic increments.

Therapeutic Support

Microdosing and therapy are not either/or. For many people, the emotional openness that psilocybin creates makes therapy significantly more productive. Old defenses soften.

Previously entrenched beliefs become more available for examination. If you're already in therapy, let your therapist know you're microdosing. If you've been considering starting, this might be a particularly fruitful time.

Community

Perhaps the most underestimated integration tool is also the most human one: talking to people who genuinely understand what you're experiencing.

Microdosing can feel profoundly isolating if you're doing it alone. The changes are subtle, the language for describing them doesn't always exist yet, and most of the people in your life may not understand — or may be judgmental.

That's exactly why we built the Nuance Network.

The Nuance Network: You Shouldn't Have to Do This Alone

The Nuance Network is our community of microdosers, specialists, and guides — a dedicated space for people who are serious about integrating this practice meaningfully into their lives.

Inside the Network, you'll find:

Guided Integration Groups led by experienced facilitators who understand the nuances of microdosing from the inside out. These aren't clinical settings — they're honest, warm, peer-led conversations about what's actually happening for you this week.

Specialist Access — conversations with practitioners trained in psychedelic wellness who can help you navigate protocol questions, medication interactions, dosing decisions, and the emotional content that can surface during a sustained practice.

A Like-Minded Community of people at every stage of their journey — from first-time beginners to experienced practitioners — who share your curiosity, your values, and your commitment to doing this thoughtfully.

Structured Resources including protocol guides, integration worksheets, journaling prompts, and our full Drug Interaction Chart — everything you need to feel informed and supported from Day 1.

Microdosing works best when it's not done in isolation. The Nuance Network exists because we believe that the community you do this with is as important as the quality of what you take.

A Week-by-Week Guide to Your First Protocol

Knowing what to expect makes the experience significantly less uncertain. Here's a realistic picture of a first four-week Fadiman Protocol cycle:

Week 1: Calibration and Curiosity

Your first week is a data-gathering exercise more than anything else. On your first dose day, you may feel very little — or a subtle warmth, a slight sensory brightness, a mild increase in mental clarity. Some people feel mildly overstimulated if they've started slightly high. All of this is useful information.

By the end of the first week, resist the urge to draw conclusions. You're still finding your baseline.

Focus: Observe without judgment. Start your journal.

Week 2: The Subtle Shifts Begin

Most people begin noticing something in Week 2 — not necessarily on dose days, but across the week as a whole. A little more ease in conversations. A reduction in the ambient hum of worry. An idea arriving that felt blocked for months.

These changes often feel almost accidental — and that's the signature of sub-perceptual dosing working as intended.

Focus: Notice patterns across dose days AND rest days. What's different?

Week 3–4: Something Is Different

This is often when microdosers start saying things to their friends that they can't quite explain. The texture of daily life has shifted. The emotional weather is more stable. Creative work feels more available. The things that used to snag them — the anxious loop, the critical voice, the resistance — have less purchase.

Old feelings may also surface during this phase. Psilocybin's neuroplastic effects can bring previously suppressed emotional material into awareness. This is not a problem — it's often where the deepest healing occurs. Your journal and your community are especially valuable here.

Focus: Deepen your integration practice. Lean into community.

After the Cycle: Integration Rest

After 4–8 weeks, take a 2–4 week break before beginning another cycle. This prevents tolerance, allows for neurological consolidation, and gives you the perspective to assess what actually changed.

Many people are surprised to find that the benefits of a completed cycle continue — and even deepen — during the rest period. The mushroom has done its work. Now the brain integrates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I feel high at work? A properly calibrated microdose should be completely sub-perceptual. You should be able to work, drive, parent, and engage in normal social situations without any noticeable alteration. If you do feel overstimulated or distracted, your dose is likely too high — reduce by 0.05g on your next dose day.

How long until I notice results? Most people begin noticing subtle shifts in Week 2. More meaningful changes typically consolidate around Week 3–4. Patience and journaling both significantly improve outcomes.

Can I microdose on weekends differently? It's best to keep your protocol consistent regardless of day of the week during a cycle. Weekend dose days should be treated the same as weekday ones.

What if I feel worse before I feel better? Some people experience a temporary emotional surfacing in the first 1–2 weeks — old feelings becoming temporarily more present before settling. This is generally a sign that something real is moving. Reduce your dose slightly if it feels overwhelming, and use your journal and community for support.

Is microdosing addictive? No. Psilocybin is physiologically non-addictive. Tolerance actually builds so quickly that compulsive use is essentially self-defeating — the body makes it unworkable. Psychological over-reliance is theoretically possible, which is why protocols with built-in rest periods and active integration practices are important.

Glossary of Key Terms

Psilocybin — The naturally occurring compound found in over 200 species of mushrooms. When ingested, the body converts it into psilocin, which produces its effects.

Psilocin — The active metabolite of psilocybin; the compound that binds to brain receptors and drives the neurological effects.

Sub-perceptual — Below the threshold of noticeable perception. A properly calibrated microdose should produce no psychedelic effect — you remain fully present and functional.

Microdose — Typically 0.05–0.3g of dried psilocybin mushroom; approximately 1/10th to 1/20th of a standard psychedelic dose.

Protocol — A structured dosing schedule that includes built-in rest days to prevent tolerance and support integration.

Fadiman Protocol — The most widely recommended beginner protocol: 1 day on, 2 days off, repeat.

Stamets Stack — A protocol combining psilocybin + Lion's Mane + Niacin, taken 4 days on / 3 days off, designed to amplify neuroplasticity benefits.

Default Mode Network (DMN) — A brain network associated with self-referential thinking, rumination, and mind-wandering. Often overactive in anxiety and depression. Psilocybin quiets DMN activity, reducing mental noise.

Neuroplasticity — The brain's capacity to form new connections and reorganize existing patterns. Psilocybin promotes neuroplasticity, which is thought to underpin many of its therapeutic effects.

5-HT2A Receptor — The primary serotonin receptor that psilocin binds to, driving its mood and consciousness-modulating effects.

Integration — The active, intentional process of applying the openness and insight created by microdosing to everyday life — through journaling, therapy, community, and conscious behavioral change.

Afterglow — The mild, residual positive effects experienced on the day after a dose day. Many microdosers report the afterglow day as their most productive.

Niacin Flush — A harmless temporary redness and warmth of the skin caused by higher doses of Vitamin B3 (niacin), as used in the Stamets Stack. Fades with continued use.

Tolerance — A reduction in effect when the same dose is taken repeatedly. Psilocybin builds tolerance rapidly — which is why rest days are non-negotiable in any protocol.

Set and Setting — The mindset (set) and environment (setting) in which a psychedelic substance is taken. Relevant even in microdosing — intention and context meaningfully shape outcomes.

Lion's Mane — A medicinal mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) used in the Stamets Stack for its ability to stimulate Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) and support neural regeneration.

Neurogenesis — The formation of new neurons in the brain. Emerging research suggests psilocybin may support neurogenesis, particularly in regions associated with mood and memory.

Your Next Step

You've done something important by reading this far. You've moved from curiosity to understanding — and that's where every meaningful journey starts.

Microdosing, done thoughtfully, with quality products, a structured protocol, and an honest intention, has the potential to quietly and genuinely improve the quality of your inner life. Not by changing who you are — but by helping you become more fully yourself.

The Nuance Network exists for exactly this moment. Whether you're ready to begin your first protocol or still sitting with questions, this is a community built for curious, thoughtful people who want to do this right — with support, knowledge, and people who understand what you're navigating.

Join the Nuance Network today and get access to guided integration groups, specialist support, community resources, and a protocol framework designed to give your microdosing practice the best possible foundation.

You don't have to figure this out alone. And you shouldn't have to.

Welcome to the community. Welcome to the nuance.

This article is intended for educational purposes. Psilocybin remains a controlled substance in many jurisdictions — please research the laws applicable in your location before purchasing or possessing any psilocybin products. If you are currently taking prescription medication or managing a diagnosed mental health condition, consult a qualified healthcare provider before beginning any microdosing protocol.