LSD

LSD
Chemical Nomenclature
Common names	LSD
Substitutive name	Lysergic acid diethylamide
Systematic name	(6aR,9R)-N,N-diethyl-7-methyl-4,6,6a,7,8,9-hexahydroindolo-[4,3-fg]quinoline-9-carboxamide
Routes of Administration
Oral Dosage Presumes no tolerance Threshold < 20 µg Light 25 - 75 µg Common 50 - 150 µg Strong 150 - 400 µg Heavy > 400 µg Duration Total 10 - 12 hours Onset 30 minutes - 2 hours Peak 3 - 6 hours Offset 3 - 5 hours Afterglow > 2 hours

Lysergic acid diethylamide (abbreviated LSD or LSD-25 and also known as lysergide, acid or Lucy) is a semisynthetic hallucinogenic psychedelic drug of the lysergamide family.

LSD was first synthesized by Albert Hofmann in 1938 from ergotamine, a chemical derived from ergot (a grain fungus that typically grows on rye). The short form "LSD" comes from its early code name LSD-25 which is an abbreviation for the German "Lysergsäure-diethylamid" followed by a sequential number.

LSD is sensitive to oxygen, ultraviolet light, and chlorine (especially in solution) though its potency may last for years if it is stored away from light and moisture at low temperature. An example of this for the average user is simply within a dark airtight container in a drawer or between the pages of a book. This is contrary to the popular belief that LSD will need to be kept in freezing cold conditions to maintain its potency.

Chemistry

LSD, or d-lysergic acid diethylamide, is a semi-synthetic drug of the lysergamide family. Lysergamides are distinct from both tryptamines and phenethylamines, although the chemical structure is more similar to a tryptamine than a phenethylamine. LSD is a chiral compound with absolute configuration (5R, 8R).

Pharmacology

Main article: Serotonergic psychedelic

LSD acts as a 5-HT_1A, 5-HT_2A, 5-HT_2B, 5-HT_2C, 5-HT₅ and 5-HT₆ partial agonist. The psychedelic effects are believed to come from LSD's efficacy at the 5-HT_2A receptors. There is also efficacy at all dopamine receptors and all adrenoreceptors. However, the role of these interactions and how they result in the psychedelic experience continues to remain elusive.

Subjective effects

The effects listed below are based upon the subjective effects index and personal experiences of PsychonautWiki contributors. The listed effects will rarely if ever occur all at once but heavier dosages will increase the chances and are more likely to induce a full range of effects.

Physical effects

The physical effects of LSD can be broken down into several components all of which progressively intensify proportional to dosage. These are described below and generally include:

• Spontaneous tactile sensations - The "body high" of LSD can be described as proportionally very intense in comparison to its accompanying visual and cognitive effects. It behaves as a euphoric, fast moving, sharp and location specific tingling sensation. For some it is manifested spontaneously at different unpredictable points throughout the trip, but for most it maintains a steady presence that rises with the onset and hits its limit once the peak has been reached. At moderate to high doses of LSD, this sensation will usually hit its highest level and become so overwhelming that people find themselves writhing on the floor in complete pleasure.
• Stimulation - In terms of its effects on the physical energy levels of the tripper, LSD is usually considered to be very energetic and stimulating without being forced. For example, when taken in any environment it will usually encourage physical activities such as running, walking, climbing or dancing. In comparison, other more commonly used psychedelics such as psilocin are generally sedating and relaxed.
• Nausea - Mild nausea is occasionally reported when consumed in moderate to high dosages and either passes instantly once the tripper has vomited or gradually fades by itself as the peak sets in.
• Tactile enhancement - Feelings of enhanced tactile sensations are consistently present at moderate levels throughout most LSD trips. Once Level 8A geometry is reached, an intense sensation of suddenly becoming aware of and being able to feel every single nerve ending across a person's entire body all at once is consistently present.
• Bodily control enhancement
• Salivation
• Increased heart rate
• Pupil dilation

Cognitive effects

The cognitive effects of LSD can be broken down into several components all of which progressively intensify proportional to dosage. In comparison to other psychedelics such as Psilocin, LSA and Ayahuasca, LSD is significantly more stimulating and fast paced in terms of the specific style of thought stream produced and contains a large number of potential effects.

The most prominent of these cognitive effects generally include:

• Current mind state enhancement
• Thought acceleration
• Novelty enhancement
• Time distortion
• Analysis enhancement - This effect is consistent in its manifestation and introspection dominant.
• Déjà vu
• Multiple thought streams
• Personal bias suppression
• Conceptual thinking
• Immersion enhancement
• Memory suppression
• Personality regression
• Thought loops
• Feelings of interdependent opposites
• Delusions
• Unity and interconnectedness
• Feelings of self-design
• Spirituality enhancement
• Delineation of thought
• Simultaneous emotions

Visual effects

Enhancements

LSD presents a full and complete array of visual enhancements which generally includes:

• Visual acuity enhancement
• Colour enhancement
• Pattern recognition enhancement
• Magnification

Distortions

LSD presents a full and complete array of visual distortions which generally includes:

• Drifting (melting, breathing, morphing and flowing) - In comparison to other psychedelics, this effect can be described as highly detailed yet cartoon in its appearance. The distortions are slow and smooth in motion and fleeting in their appearance.
• Tracers
• After images
• Depth perception distortions
• Symmetrical texture repetition
• Colour shifting
• Scenery slicing
• Perspective distortions
• Tunnelling

Geometry

The visual geometry that is present throughout this trip can be described as more similar in appearance to that of 2C-B or 2C-I than Psilocin, LSA or DMT. It can be comprehensively described through its variations as primarily intricate in complexity, algorithmic in form, unstructured in organization, brightly lit, colourful in scheme, synthetic in feel, multicoloured in scheme, flat in shading, sharp in edges, large in size, fast in speed, smooth in motion, angular in its corners, non-immersive in depth and consistent in intensity. At higher dosages, it consistently results in states of Level 8A visual geometry over Level 8B.

Hallucinatory states

LSD is capable of producing a full range of low and high level hallucinatory states in a fashion that is significantly less consistent and reproducible than that of many other commonly used psychedelics. These effects include:

• Transformations
• Internal hallucinations (Autonomous entities, Settings, sceneries, and landscapes, Alterations in perspective and Scenarios and plots) - Although LSD is technically capable of producing hallucinatory states in a fashion that is on par with psilocin or DMT in its vividness and intensity, these effects are extremely rare and inconsistent in comparison. While traditional psychedelics such as LSA, Ayahuasca and Mescaline will induce internal hallucinations near consistently at level 5 geometry and above, LSD will for most simply go straight into Level 8A visual geometry. This lack of consistently induced hallucinatory breakthroughs means that for most, LSD is simply not as deep of an experience as certain other psychedelics. On the rare occasion that they are induced however, they can be comprehensively described in terms of their variations as lucid in believability, interactive in style, new experiences in content, autonomous in controllability and geometry-based in appearance.

Auditory effects

The auditory effects of LSD are common in their occurrence and exhibit a full range of effects which commonly includes:

• Enhancements
• Distortions
• Hallucinations

Multi-sensory effects

• Synaesthesia

Forms

LSD can be found in a number of forms:

• Liquid is often found in vials with a pipette. Liquid LSD is often dropped into the mouth or onto the tongue. There should not be a bitter metallic taste which numbs the mouth, as this instead indicates the presence of a 25x-NBOMe compound.
• Tablets and "Microdots" are very small tablets which are swallowed.
• Blotters are sheets of blotting paper that are dipped into an LSD/alcohol solution which are then either swallowed or chewed sublingually. There should not be a bitter metallic taste which numbs the mouth when chewing the blotters as this instead indicates the presence of a 25x-NBOMe compound.
• Powder can be taken orally, sublingually, via injection or by insufflation.
• Gel tabs can be taken orally and are small pieces of gelatin which contain LSD. These have become less common, but are still occasionally present in some areas of the world.

Studied therapeutic uses

Alcoholism

Some studies in the 1960s that used LSD to treat alcoholism resulted in reduced levels of alcohol misuse in almost 60% of those treated, an effect which lasted six months but disappeared after a year. A 1998 review was inconclusive. However, a 2012 meta-analysis of six randomized controlled trials found evidence that a single dose of LSD in conjunction with various alcoholism treatment programs was associated with a decrease in alcohol abuse, lasting for several months.

Pain

LSD was studied in the 1960s by Eric Kast as an analgesic for serious and chronic pain caused by cancer or other major trauma.

Even at low (sub-psychedelic) dosages, it was found to be at least as effective as traditional opiates, while being much longer lasting in pain reduction (lasting as long as a week after peak effects had subsided). Kast attributed this effect to a decrease in anxiety; that is to say that patients were not experiencing less pain, but rather were less distressed by the pain they experienced. This reported effect is being tested, though not using LSD, in an ongoing (as of 2006) study of the effects of psilocin on anxiety in terminal cancer patients.

Cluster headaches

LSD has been used as a treatment for cluster headaches, an uncommon but extremely painful disorder. Researcher Peter Goadsby describes the headaches as "worse than natural childbirth or even amputation without anesthetic."

Although the phenomenon has not been formally investigated, case reports indicate that LSD and psilocin can reduce cluster pain and also interrupt the cluster headache cycle, preventing future headaches from occurring. Currently existing treatments include various ergolines among other chemicals, so LSD's efficacy may not be surprising. A dose-response study testing the effectiveness of both LSD and psilocin was planned at McLean Hospital, although the current status of this project is unclear. A 2006 study by McLean researchers interviewed 53 cluster headache sufferers who treated themselves with either LSD or psilocin, finding that a majority of the users of either drug reported beneficial effects.

Unlike use of LSD or MDMA in psychotherapy, this research involves non-psychological effects and often sub-psychedelic dosages.

End-of-life anxiety

From 2008 to 2011 there was ongoing research in Switzerland into using LSD to alleviate anxiety for terminally ill cancer patients coping with their impending deaths. Preliminary results from the study are promising and no negative effects have been reported.

Toxicity and harm potential

Radar plot showing relative physical harm, social harm, and dependence of LSD

LSD is non-addictive, is not known to cause brain damage, and has an extremely low toxicity relative to dose. Similar to other psychedelic drugs, there are relatively few physical side effects associated with acute LSD exposure. Various studies have shown that in reasonable doses in a careful context, it presents no negative cognitive, psychiatric or toxic physical consequences of any sort.

Lethal dosage

The median lethal dose or dosage at which 50% of participants die (LD50) for human beings has never been reached in any setting and is predicted to be roughly 12,000 micrograms, based on studies involving rats whereas the active dosage is between 100 and 500 micrograms. This means that assuming a person has unusually potent tabs, each of which are 200 micrograms in strength, they would have to consume at least 60 of them to reach a potentially lethal dosage. Keep in mind that the average tab of LSD found on through street dealers is perhaps 100 micrograms or less in strength.

Tolerance and addiction potential

LSD is non-habit-forming and the desire to use it can actually decrease with use. It is most often self-regulating.

An almost immediate tolerance is built to LSD after ingestion, preventing one from experiencing its full effects more often than every 4-7 days, unless they increase their dose significantly.

Legal issues

• International: The UN 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances requires its parties to prohibit LSD. Hence, it is illegal in all parties to the convention, which includes the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and most of Europe. Medical and scientific research with LSD in humans is permitted under the 1971 UN Convention.
• Canada: LSD is a Schedule III drug.
• UK: LSD is a class A drug.
• USA: LSD is a Schedule I drug.

Experience reports

Anecdotal reports which describe this compound within our experience index include:

• Experience:1 hit LSD (unknown dosage) - Choose Asia
• Experience:2 x 150 LSD tabs
• Experience:225ug - Sheer Awe and Joy
• Experience:225ug LSD + 9g cubensis - Galactic Melt and the Meverse
• Experience:300ug - Profound religious experience
• Experience:300ug - the pyramid universe
• Experience:5 tabs with weed and nitrous oxide - A lover's ego death
• Experience:Unknown dosage - My experiences with LSD and anorexia/bulemia

See also

• Psychedelics
• Lysergamides
• LSA
• Lysergic acid diethylamide - Wikipedia
• chemicals/lsd (Erowid)