Fadiman vs. Stamets microdose protocols — honest comparison after 6 months

The Fadiman protocol's main virtue is simplicity and the tolerance-break rhythm. The 2 days off consistently keep tolerance from building. I found my 'on' days noticeably effective for about 10-12 weeks before diminishing returns set in. Taking a full month off and restarting reset this effectively. The Stamets stack adds Lion's Mane and niacin — the niacin flush on higher doses is real; use lower niacin (50-100mg) to avoid it.

My experience with Stamets stack: more consistent baseline compared to Fadiman's on/off pattern. The Lion's Mane addition seems meaningful — subjectively felt clearer cognitively. But I can't rule out placebo. Key difference: I found Stamets protocol worked better for my anxiety specifically, while Fadiman worked better when my goal was creative output days. Neither is universally better — it depends on what you're trying to achieve.

Important point often missed: dose matters more than protocol. 0.05g is very different from 0.2g regardless of schedule. Most protocol debates skip the dose variable entirely. If you're not getting effects, raise dose slightly before switching protocols. If you're getting noticeable altered states, you're macro-dosing, not micro-dosing — lower your dose before adjusting the schedule.