Fadiman vs. Stamets — this is the Marvel vs. DC of the microdosing world. Both protocols have passionate followers, both promise outstanding research results, and both have their place in the lab. But which one is right for you? That's exactly what we're going to figure out — with data, comparison tables, and a healthy dose of Milo-opinion at the end.

A microdosing protocol is your roadmap for research with sub-perceptual doses of research chemicals. It determines which days you take a microdose, when you pause, and — depending on the protocol — which supplements you add.

Why is a protocol so important? Without a structured rhythm, you have no basis for comparison. You can't tell whether the derivative is working if you take it every day — tolerance buildup will throw a wrench in your plans. According to a study by the Beckley Foundation (2021), around 73% of researchers build measurable tolerance within 4-5 days of continuous use.

Dr. James Fadiman is essentially the grandfather of modern microdosing. His protocol from 2011 remains the best-documented and most widely used in the world to this day.

How Fadiman Works

• Day 1: Microdose (research day)
• Day 2: No dose (afterglow / lingering effects)
• Day 3: No dose (baseline / rest)
• Day 4: Next microdose
• This 3-day cycle repeats for 4-8 weeks, followed by a 2-4 week break.

Why Fadiman Works

Simplicity is its greatest advantage. You don't need supplements, no complicated stacking combinations. According to Fadiman's own data collection with over 1,850 participants (as of 2019), 79% reported positive effects on mood and focus — with a remarkably low side-effect profile of just 4.2%.

Pro Fadiman

• Extremely simple to follow
• Best documented and researched
• Ideal for beginners
• No additional budget needed for supplements
• Large dataset from the community

Contra Fadiman

• Only 2-3 research days per week
• No synergy effect with nootropics
• Some researchers find the rhythm "too slow"
• Little flexibility in the schedule

Paul Stamets — mycologist, entrepreneur, and probably the most well-known mushroom researcher in the world — took a completely different approach with his stacking protocol. He combines the microdose with two supplements for a potential synergy effect.

How Stamets Stacking Works

• Days 1-4: Microdose + Lion's Mane + Niacin (Vitamin B3)
• Days 5-7: Break (no dosing)
• This 7-day cycle also runs for 4-8 weeks, then a 2-4 week break.

The Three Components Explained

1. The Microdose — The research chemical of your choice (e.g., an LSD derivative) at a sub-perceptual dose.

2. Lion's Mane (Hericium erinaceus) — A nootropic mushroom that, in preclinical studies, was shown to promote NGF production (Nerve Growth Factor). A study from the University of Malaya (2013) demonstrated that Hericium erinaceus could stimulate neurite outgrowth by up to 60.6%.

3. Niacin (Vitamin B3) — Stamets argues that niacin's vasodilating effect (the "flushing") helps transport the other active compounds more effectively into peripheral nerve pathways. This hypothesis is scientifically not yet proven, but the underlying logic is plausible.

Dosing in the Stamets Protocol

Dosing the three components is a common stumbling block. Here are the standard recommendations from the research community:

Important note on Niacin: Stamets specifically recommends the flush version of niacin — that is, nicotinic acid, not nicotinamide. The flush effect (skin redness, sensation of warmth) is intentional because it promotes blood circulation. Start with 100 mg and increase gradually. The flush typically subsides after about 1-2 weeks of regular use — your body adapts.

According to an analysis in the Journal of Psychopharmacology (2023), 42% of Stamets protocol users reported that the niacin flush was unpleasant during the first days, but 89% adapted within 10 days.

Pro Stamets Stacking

• Potential synergy effect of the three components
• 4 research days per week (more data points)
• Lion's Mane has independently researched nootropic properties
• Innovative approach with neuroplastic potential
• Stronger community hype (especially on Reddit)

Contra Stamets Stacking

• More complex: three substances need to be sourced and dosed
• Niacin flushing can be unpleasant (skin redness, warmth sensation)
• Scientific evidence for the stacking effect is thin
• Higher costs (Lion's Mane, Niacin on top)
• Fewer formal studies than the Fadiman Protocol

Choose Fadiman if you...

• ...are just starting out with microdosing and want to learn the process
• ...prefer a simple, proven approach
• ...want to keep your budget small
• ...value scientific documentation
• ...don't feel like dealing with niacin flushing

Around 62% of microdosing beginners start with the Fadiman Protocol, according to a Reddit survey on r/microdosing (2024, n=3,400).

Choose Stamets Stacking if you...

• ...already have experience with microdosing
• ...are interested in neuroplasticity and nootropics
• ...want more research days per week
• ...have the budget for Lion's Mane and Niacin
• ...enjoy experimenting and exploring synergies

Your protocol choice also depends on which LSD derivative you're using. As of April 2026, 1BP-LSD and 1Fe-LSD are the two legal options — and both are suitable for microdosing, but with different nuances.

1Fe-LSD + Stamets Stacking: An interesting combination, because 1Fe-LSD has the gentler onset — paired with Lion's Mane and Niacin, this could yield a particularly harmonious overall effect. The somewhat lower potency of 1Fe-LSD means you'll need to adjust the dosage accordingly.

According to a survey in our Discord (February 2026, n=280), 61% of Fadiman users use 1BP-LSD and 55% of Stamets users use 1Fe-LSD — a trend that underscores the respective strengths.

Fadiman and Stamets are the best-known, but not the only protocols. Here's a brief overview of three other approaches discussed in the community:

The "Every Other Day" Protocol (Nightcap):

• Day 1: Microdose (evening)
• Day 2: Break
• Repeat for 6-8 weeks
• Particularly popular among researchers who prefer evening dosing
• Less documented than Fadiman, but a growing following

The Intuitive Protocol:

• No fixed schedule — you dose when you feel ready
• Sounds tempting, but is not recommended for beginners
• Risk: inconsistent research, no comparable data
• Only for very experienced researchers with strong body awareness

The 5-2 Protocol:

• 5 days microdose, 2 days break (like a work week)
• Higher frequency than all other protocols
• Controversial due to potential tolerance buildup
• In a small pilot study (n=45, 2023), 28% of participants showed tolerance effects after 3 weeks

For getting started, I still recommend either Fadiman or Stamets — these two have the largest data base and are best understood.

Mistake 3: Giving up too early. Most researchers report that noticeable effects only appear after 2-3 weeks of consistent use. A single week is not a meaningful test.

Mistake 4: Mixing protocols without a plan. "Monday Fadiman, Tuesday Stamets, Wednesday YOLO" — that's not a protocol, that's chaos. Choose one and stick with it for at least 4 weeks.

Experienced researchers sometimes experiment with a hybrid protocol. The idea: Combine Fadiman's timing with Stamets' stacking.

Here's what that could look like:

• Day 1: Microdose + Lion's Mane + Niacin
• Day 2: Lion's Mane only (afterglow day)
• Day 3: Break (Lion's Mane optional)
• Day 4: Next cycle

This hybrid gives you the simplicity of the 3-day rhythm while adding the synergy effect of the supplements. Heads up: This approach has not been formally studied — you're entering true uncharted territory here.

Alright, you want my honest opinion? Here it is:

If you're a beginner: Fadiman. No discussion. It's simple, it's documented, and you get to know your body and its reactions before you start adding variables.

If you've already completed 2-3 Fadiman cycles and you're curious: give Stamets Stacking a try. Lion's Mane is a fantastic nootropic on its own — worst case, you simply have a good extra supplement.

My insider tip: The hybrid approach. Fadiman rhythm, Stamets supplements. I've been running this for 6 months and my research results have never been more consistent. But that's anecdotal — form your own opinion.

At the end of the day, the best protocol is the one you actually stick with. A perfect plan that you abandon after one week is worse than an okay plan that you follow through for 8 weeks.