Microdosing7 min read

Microdosing Schedules Compared: Fadiman, Stamets, Every Other Day and Going Intuitive

Once you've decided to try microdosing, the next question is how often. There's no official answer, and no schedule has been proven better than another in controlled research. But a handful of routines have become popular, each with its own logic. This guide compares them, explains why rest days matter so much, and helps you choose a routine that fits your life.

Why schedules exist at all

Two reasons: tolerance and clarity.

Tolerance to psilocybin builds remarkably quickly. Taking it on consecutive days means each dose tends to feel weaker than the last, and it usually takes about one to two weeks without psilocybin for sensitivity to return fully. Rest days help keep each microdose doing what it's meant to do without creeping the amount upward.

Clarity is the second reason. If you take something every day, it's hard to know what's the microdose and what's just life. Dose days, "day after" days and rest days give you points of comparison, especially if you keep notes. Our journal guide shows you how.

The dose itself

Every schedule assumes a genuine microdose: small enough that you don't feel obviously altered. For dried Psilocybe cubensis, that's commonly around 0.05 to 0.25 g, with many people starting around 0.1 g. Potency varies by strain and batch, which is why many people prefer measured microdose capsules. If you clearly feel it, take less. Read Microdosing 101 for the basics.

The Fadiman protocol: one on, two off

Named after psychologist James Fadiman, who popularized modern microdosing in The Psychedelic Explorer's Guide (2011), this routine is simple:

Day 1: Dose.
Day 2: Rest. Notice any "afterglow".
Day 3: Rest. A true baseline day.
Day 4: Dose again, and repeat.

That works out to roughly two or three doses a week. Fadiman suggested following it for about a month and then taking a break to reflect.

Who it suits: Beginners, people who want a lot of rest built in, and anyone who likes a clear structure for comparing days. The main downside is that dose days drift across the week, so they won't always land on the same weekday.

The Stamets stack: four on, three off

Associated with mycologist Paul Stamets, this routine involves four consecutive dose days followed by three days off, often repeated for about a month before a break. It's usually paired with lion's mane mushroom and niacin (vitamin B3), a combination known as the "Stamets stack".

Days 1 to 4: Dose, often with lion's mane and niacin.
Days 5 to 7: Rest.

Who it suits: People who like a weekly rhythm, for example dosing Monday to Thursday and resting through the weekend. Some people also like the idea of combining psilocybin with functional mushrooms.

Keep in mind: four consecutive days means some tolerance can build within each block. The stack itself hasn't been tested in controlled human trials, so treat its benefits as unproven. Niacin can cause a harmless but uncomfortable flushing of the skin at higher amounts. Learn more about lion's mane in our functional mushrooms guide and browse supplements.

Every other day

As simple as it sounds: dose one day, rest the next. That's three or four doses a week.

Who it suits: People who want something easy to remember. The trade-off is less rest overall than the Fadiman schedule, so tolerance may build a little more, and there's no "true baseline" second rest day to compare against.

Weekdays on, weekends off

Some people dose Monday to Friday and rest on weekends. It fits neatly around a work week, but it's the heaviest of the common schedules, with five consecutive days. Tolerance is likely to build over each week, so many people who try it find it less consistent. If you want a weekday rhythm, the Stamets four-day block or two set weekdays (for example Monday and Thursday) give you more rest.

Two set days a week

A simple alternative many people end up with: pick two non-consecutive days, say Monday and Thursday, and dose only on those. It's predictable, gives plenty of rest and makes journalling easy.

Going intuitive

Some experienced microdosers skip the calendar and dose only when it feels right, for example on creative days, before a long hike or on days when they want to feel more present. This works best once you've followed a structured schedule for a while and know how you respond. The risk is drifting into dosing more often than you intended, so keep notes and set a maximum number of dose days per week.

Quick comparison

Fadiman (1 on, 2 off): about 2 to 3 doses a week. Lots of rest. Great for beginners.
Stamets (4 on, 3 off): 4 doses a week. Weekly rhythm. Some tolerance within each block.
Every other day: 3 to 4 doses a week. Easy to remember. Less rest than Fadiman.
Weekdays only (5 on, 2 off): 5 doses a week. Fits work weeks. Most tolerance build-up.
Two set days: 2 doses a week. Predictable and gentle.
Intuitive: varies. Best for experienced people with good notes.

Capsules vs dried mushrooms on a schedule

Schedules work the same whichever format you use, but there are practical differences. Capsules give you the same amount every time, which makes your journal far more meaningful, because dose isn't one more thing that changes from day to day. Dried mushrooms are more flexible but less consistent: one 0.1 g piece of cap can be stronger than another piece of stem. If you use dried mushrooms, grind a batch into a fine, even powder and weigh each dose from that on a scale that reads to 0.01 g or better. Keep the powder airtight and dry. Our capsule guide covers the capsule route in detail.

How long to keep going

Whatever you choose, plan cycles with breaks. A common approach is four to eight weeks on, followed by two to four weeks off. Breaks help reset tolerance, let you notice what (if anything) changes when you stop, and stop microdosing from becoming an automatic habit.

What the research says about schedules

No study has directly compared schedules head to head. More broadly, placebo-controlled studies like Szigeti and colleagues' 2021 self-blinding trial and Cavanna and colleagues' 2022 study with dried mushrooms found that expectations explain a large share of the benefits people report. Our research post explains the details. The practical takeaway: pick a schedule that's sustainable and easy to track, and don't stress about finding the "perfect" one.

What's normal on any schedule

Normal: a subtle lift in mood or energy on dose days, a mild "afterglow" the next day, or nothing noticeable. Some people feel a little restless, notice slightly lighter sleep on dose days, or have a faint body buzz. Too much: visual changes, giggles, feeling spaced out or anxious. Lower the dose. Stop and talk to a professional: worsening mood, anxiety, insomnia or unusual thoughts.

Adjusting the dose within a schedule

Your schedule and your dose work together. A few principles:

Change one thing at a time. If you adjust the dose, keep the schedule the same for at least a couple of weeks, and vice versa.
Adjust in small steps. With dried mushrooms, think in steps of about 0.025 to 0.05 g. With capsules, consider a lower-strength product rather than splitting capsules, unless the maker says splitting is fine.
Lower the dose if you feel clearly altered, distracted, anxious or tired, or if your sleep suffers.
Don't chase stronger effects. If a microdose feels like nothing, that can be perfectly fine. Feeling more isn't the goal.

Signs your schedule isn't working for you

You feel worse on dose days or the day after: more anxious, irritable, tired or flat.
Your sleep is getting worse.
You're relying on dose days to function, or feel low on rest days.
You find yourself dosing more often than you planned.
After a full cycle, your journal shows no difference at all, and you'd been hoping for one.

Any of these is a good reason to take a break, rethink the plan, or stop. If mood or anxiety is getting worse, talk to a doctor or mental health professional.

Tips for sticking with it

Dose in the morning so it doesn't affect sleep.
Set a phone reminder for dose days.
Keep your capsules in their labelled bottle, stored securely.
Change only one thing at a time, so your notes stay meaningful.
Review your journal every two weeks.

Safety

Microdosing is still taking psilocybin. Skip it if you're pregnant or breastfeeding, have a personal or family history of psychosis or bipolar disorder, a heart condition, or take lithium, MAOIs, tramadol or antidepressants unless a doctor says otherwise. Read our medications guide. Don't drive on dose days until you know how a dose affects you. You must be 19 or older to shop with us, and psilocybin is a controlled substance in Canada.

Ready to start? The Microdose Starter Kit and our microdosing guide are good next steps.

Sources

This guide is general information, not medical or legal advice. If you have health questions, talk to a health professional.