WHAT IS THE BENEFITS OF LSD
Everything You Need to Know About LSD
LSD — casually known as acid — is a powerful hallucinogenic drug made from lysergic acid, a fungus that grows on grains like rye. You might also hear it referred to as “dots” or “lucy.”
An LSD high is referred to as a “trip.” Anyone who’s done it will tell you that it takes your mind on a wild ride, though not always a good one.
These trips have been described as everything from a spiritual awakening to a trip to the depths of hell (aka the dreaded “bad trip”).
While it’s been studied for potential therapeutic uses, LSD remains a Schedule I drug in the United States. This means it’s illegal to possess, manufacture, or distribute it.
Howhighcenter does not endorsethe illegal use of any substances,and we recognize abstaining is always the safest approach. However, we believe in providing accessible and accurate information to reduce the harm that can occur when using.
There are a few ways to use LSD. The most common way is in the form of a blotter tab. These are tiny pieces of paper that have been infused with LSD.
You place the tab under your tongue, where it’s absorbed into your bloodstream via mucous membranes.
In its original form, LSD is an odorless crystal. It’s then crushed into a powder and dissolved in liquid. While this liquid can be injected, it’s not a very common way to use it.
LSD can produce a range of short-term psychedelic and physical effects, but guessing which ones you’ll experience is a bit of a crapshoot. The combo of effects varies from person to person, and even from one trip to another.
Physical effects can include:
- dilated pupils
- rapid heartbeat
- palpitations
- elevated blood pressure
- increased body temperature
- flushed skin
- sweating
- tremors
- tingling in the fingers and toes
- dry mouth
- dizziness
- blurred vision
- loss of appetite
- nausea
Mental effects include:
- visual hallucinations, which can involve intense flashes of light and distorted images and reality
- intensified senses, including smells, sounds, and sensations
- feeling detached from your body or like you’re having an out-of-body experience
- blending of sensory perception (synthesis), like hearing colors or seeing sounds
- distorted sense of time and environment
- feelings of euphoria
- paranoia and delusions
- mood swings
- anxiety and panic
- fear
The effects of LSD typically kick in within
There are a few variables that can affect when acid kicks in and how intense the effects are.
These include:
- your age
- your body mass index (BMI)
- your metabolism
- how much you take
It depends on the same factors that influence when the effects will kick in. If you’re taking any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) meds, that can affect how long the effects last, too (more on this later).
A typical acid trip can last from 6 to 15 hours. You can also expect to have some lingering effects after that, aka the “afterglow.”
Depending on whether you had a good or bad trip, the afterglow can involve feeling energized and happy or anxious and unsettled. This phase lasts around 6 hours, but it can last days or even weeks if you took a lot of acid, according to some research.
There can be.
Some people experience an LSD hangover or comedown instead of or after the afterglow. How your trip goes and how much you took can dictate how you’ll feel when you’re coming down.
An LSD hangover can leave you feeling “off” for a few hours or days. For most people, the entire experience from trip to comedown lasts around 24 hours.
While coming down, you might feel nauseated, agitated, and anxious, all of which can make it hard to get some sleep.
How long LSD hangs around in your body, and can be detected by a drug test, depends on a few factors.
These include:
- your body composition
- your liver function
- your age
- how much you take
The time between taking LSD and testing matters, too, as does the type of drug test being used.
The liver quickly metabolizes LSD and transforms it into inactive compounds. After 24 hours, you excrete only about 1 percent of unchanged LSD via your urine. As a result, routine drug tests — often urine tests — can’t detect LSD.
But blood tests can detect LSD for up to 8 hours, and hair follicle tests for up to 90 days. These aren’t as commonly used, though.
Not really.
Unless you take a heavy dose of one or both, the combo isn’t life threatening. But it still carries some risks.
Combining LSD and alcohol reduces the effects of both substances. Not feeling the full effects of either makes you more likely to reach for more, increasing your risk for overdoing it.
Some people may enjoy the effects they get from partaking in both, but your chances of a bad trip and rough comedown with nausea and vomiting are higher when you mix the two.
The effects of any substance get pretty unpredictable when you start mixing, so before taking LSD, it’s important to know how it might interact with anything else you’re taking.
This includes prescription medications and other substances.
Prescription medications
LSD can lessen the effects of certain prescription medications and prevent them from working properly.
Some known LSD and prescription medication interactions include:
Keep in mind that LSD may interact with medications in ways that experts haven’t yet identified.
Other substances
When you mix LSD with other substances, the effects of either or both can be increased.
While not every substance has been studied for potential interactions with LSD, we know that mixing it with any of the following can have unpleasant and potentially harmful effects:
LSD isn’t considered an addictive substance, according to the
When tolerance happens, you need more of the drug to achieve the same effect. This increases the chances of bad trips and long-term effects.
LSD can produce long-term effects in some people.
Your chances of experiencing long-term effects, including persistent psychotic symptoms, is
Long lasting effects are also possible after a bad trip. Some people find it hard to shake off a bad trip and have trouble adjusting to reality, even long after the LSD’s effects have worn off.
Another potential long-term effect of LSD is a condition called hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD). People with HPPD experience recurring hallucinations and other effects of LSD for weeks or even years. These experiences are called flashbacks.
There are also risks related to the intense effect LSD has on your mood and perception of reality.
Hallucinogens like acid can make you do things you wouldn’t normally do. For some folks, it causes extreme mood swings that may lead to aggressive and violent behavior.
There’s no such thing as totally safe substance use, but taking certain precautions can help you avoid a bad time:
- Don’t do it alone. Have at least one sober person around who can intervene if things take a turn.
- Don’t mix. Don’t combine LSD with other substances, including alcohol. It’s hard enough to know how you’ll react to LSD on its own. Things get even trickier when you add other things into the mix.
- Pick a safe place. Make sure you’re in a safe, comfortable place when tripping. No one wants to have a bad trip in uncomfortable surroundings.
- Do it when you’re feeling good. An acid trip can be intense, so doing it when you’re already in a positive frame of mind is key.
- Go slow. Start with a low dose. Be sure to give it plenty of time to kick in before you consider taking more.
- Know when to skip it. Avoid LSD or use extreme caution if you have a preexisting mental health condition or take any medications that might interact with LSD.
A fatal overdose from LSD is unlikely, but adverse effects that require medical intervention are possible, especially when someone takes a large amount.
Emergency signs
If you or someone else experiences any of the following after taking LSD, go to the nearest emergency room, or call 911 or your local emergency services:
- shallow or irregular breathing
- high body temperature
- agitation or aggression
- irregular heartbeat
- chest pain
- hallucinations or delusions
- seizures
- loss of consciousness
If you’re concerned about law enforcement getting involved, you don’t need to mention the substances used over the phone (though it’s best to give them as much information as possible). Just be sure to tell them about specific symptoms so they can send the appropriate response.
If you’re caring for someone else, get them to lay slightly on their side while you wait. Have them bend their top knee inward if they can for added support. This position will keep their airways open in case they begin to vomit.
If you’re concerned about your substance use, you have a few options for support.
You can reach out to your primary healthcare provider if you’re comfortable doing so. Don’t worry about being reported to law enforcement. Patient confidentiality laws prevent your doctor from sharing this information.
Here are some other options:
- Call SAMHSA’s national helpline at 800-662-HELP (4357), or use their online treatment locater.
- Find a support group through the Support Group Project.
![Adrienne Santos-Longhurst](https://i0.wp.com/post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Adrienne_Santos-e1588956776954.jpg?w=315&h=420)
Adrienne Santos-Longhurst is a freelance writer and author who has written extensively on all things health and lifestyle for more than a decade. When she’s not holed up in her writing shed researching an article or off interviewing health professionals, she can be found frolicking around her beach town with husband and dogs in tow or splashing about the lake trying to master the stand-up paddle board.
Last medically reviewed on May 27, 2020
- Baquiran M, et al. (2020). Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD, entactogen) toxicity.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK553216/ - Dolder PC, et al. (2017). Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of lysergic acid diethylamide in healthy subjects. DOI:
10.1007/s40262-017-0513-9 - DrugFacts: Hallucinogens. (2019).
drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/hallucinogens - Fuentes JJ, et al. (2020). Therapeutic use of LSD in psychiatry: A systematic review of randomized-controlled clinical trials. DOI:
- Gasser P, et al. (2014). Safety and efficacy of lysergic acid diethylamide-assisted psychotherapy for anxiety associated with life-threatening diseases. DOI:
- 10.1097/2FNMD.0000000000000113
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cesar.umd.edu/cesar/drugs/lsd.asp - Majić T, et al. (2015). Peak experiences and the afterglow phenomenon: When and how do therapeutic effects of hallucinogens depend on psychedelic experiences? DOI:
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Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), also known as acid, was accidentally discovered in the late 1930s by a pharmaceutical researcher. Not getting the results he wanted initially, Albert Hofmann dismissed the drug.
Later, a chance encounter led him to what was probably the first acid trip. He described it as “a remarkable restlessness, combined with a slight dizziness” in his book “LSD: My Problem Child.“
Acid is made from a fungus that grows on rye and other grains. It’s illegal in the United States, where it’s often produced in laboratories.
Absorbent paper is soaked in the solution. It dries, and the paper is cut into tiny squares called tabs or hits. It can also be taken as a liquid, injected, or inhaled.
A single dose is often enough for hours’ worth of effects. This is known as an acid trip, and has a range of possible experiences.
Each person’s experience with acid will be different. Indeed, each trip may be different. One might be very light, but others can take a frightening and overwhelming turn.
Symptoms may begin to show
Acid is a long-acting drug. It stays in the body
The trip
During this period of “tripping” or active effects, you may begin to experience sensationalized perceptions of what’s happening around you. This can include “seeing” color or “tasting” sounds. Stationary items, like furniture, may begin to “move” or swell or shrink before your eyes.
Coming down
Coming down from the trip will feel like you’re gradually returning to Earth. Signs may begin to lessen in intensity. You may feel tired after getting through the hours-long trip and want to sleep.
Afterglow
An “afterglow” is possible for several hours after the end of the trip, too. This may feel like everything is “lighter” or “brighter” than before the trip. You may also have moments of flashbacks for several hours, even days, after the acid trip is over.
Microdosing
A microdose is a small dose of a psychedelic drug like LSD, often one-tenth of a normal dose. It’s sometimes used to help treat symptoms of anxiety and depression, but it’s not meant to completely encompass your day. However, little is known about the long-term effects of this practice.
Each trip is unpredictable. Some LSD users enjoy not knowing what will happen, but for others, the long period of variable or erratic symptoms may be disconcerting.
Your first trip may depend largely on your mindset going into it. Some LSD users say their attitudes or mood prior to taking a hit of acid greatly affects what they feel during it.
For example, people who have had a lot of stress or anxiety may have a negative experience. Paranoia and fear may creep in amid the sensationalized sights and sounds.
Others may have a very positive experience. This can include experiencing wildly exaggerated surroundings with bright colors, patterns, bursts, and halos. They may have spiritual breakthroughs or feel they’ve gained some greater understanding of life during the trip.
Taking acid can have many effects on your senses and perceptions. Some of these may be positive and joyful. Others might not be.
Physical side effects
LSD is a hallucinogen, but it can cause physical side effects, too. These can include:
- sweating
- dehydration
- increased heart rate
- increased body temperature
- hyperthermia (sustained high body temp) that can lead to kidney damage
Psychological side effects
These psychological side effects may be most commonly associated with an LSD trip:
- synesthesia or sensory distortion
- hallucinations or distortions to the way you see things around you
- paranoia
- euphoria
Overuse side effects
Overuse of LSD may produce the following side effects:
- Tolerance. You may develop a tolerance to LSD quickly. In that case, the same amount of acid won’t generate the same effects. You’ll need to take more to generate a response, which could increase the possibility of negative effects.
- Psychological addiction. Many people easily give up LSD, especially if they have a bad trip. Some individuals, however, may develop an addiction to it and the sensations it produces.
- Flashbacks. People who take acid may experience recurring “trips” for many days, months, or even years after a trip. These brief relapses can be disorienting.
- Hallucinogen persistent perception disorder (HPPD). HPPD is a condition in which flashbacks happen frequently.
- Depression. Bad trips can leave you with negative feelings or thoughts about yourself. This may develop into anxiety or depression.
One person’s acid trip can produce very different results from another person’s trip. Good trips may seem dream-like and euphoric. Bad trips, on the other hand, can be overwhelmingly negative and cause unnecessary fears and anxiety.
You may still experience the same effects of the drug — mixed up senses, hallucinations, and distortions. But bad trips can have an element of paranoia, fear, or even depression.
Some people may experience overwhelming feelings. They may accuse people around them of negative behaviors toward them. Rarely, these feelings may be so unbearable a person may consider or even attempt suicide.
It’s not always possible to know what your acid trip will be like. You can go into an experience with acid with good hopes, but ultimately, it’s unpredictable. For some people, a bad trip is enough to make them swear off the drug for good. But for others, it’s just one aspect of use.
Many people on an acid trip are highly engaged throughout the whole experience. For 6 to 15 hours, you might be busy taking in the new views and sights and trying to process what’s happening. You might feel mental clarity that helps you think about life anew. That can be very exhausting.
As the effects of an acid trip begin to wane, fatigue may set in. Many people will sleep off the last portion of their acid trip because they’re so tired, and the effects have finally subsided enough that they’re able to rest.
Stimulation during the last hours of an acid trip may be overwhelming. Some people may seek a quiet room with little to excite the senses so they can ride out the final hours more easily. Soothing music may also be welcome.
It’s also important that you begin to try to hydrate in the last stages of an acid trip. That’s because increased body temperature is a common side effect of acid use, and you may not think to drink while you’re experiencing an acid trip.
But to keep from getting sick later on, it’s good to drink water — or to encourage someone you’re with to hydrate if they’re coming down from an acid trip.
LSD trips have possible side effects and complications. People who take acid may experience flashbacks for days, weeks, or even months after a trip.
If these become frequent, you may have a condition known as hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD). During an episode, you may experience moments of a trip, such as distorted objects, unusual sounds, or strong odors.
You can also experience flashbacks from a bad trip. These flashbacks may become upsetting and can even begin to interfere with your day-to-day life.
Some
Keep in mind that LSD is also illegal in the United States. If you are caught with tabs, you can be arrested and face legal repercussions, including jail time.
Acid trips are long, wild experiences. Sometimes they’re positive and inspiring, and sometimes they’re negative and overwhelming. Each trip can be different, and it’s difficult to know what you’ll get with each hit.
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