How Long Does LSD (Acid) Last & Stay in Your System?

What Is LSD (Acid) & How Does It Work?

Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is a synthetic chemical that’s derived from ergot, a fungus that grows on rye and other grains.² LSD is synthesized into crystal form in illicit laboratories. The drug is then converted into an odorless and colorless liquid that’s sold in tablets, blotted papers, or gelatin squares.

LSD is typically swallowed or dissolved under the tongue. However, people may also sniff, smoke, or inject the substance. LSD works by interacting with the brain’s serotonin receptors. This primarily affects thoughts, cognition, perception, and mood. Larger doses can create significant distortions of space, time, and personality. It can also cause visual hallucinations.³

How Long Do the Effects of Acid Last?

On average, an acid trip can take about 12 hours. As the LSD molecules bind to the serotonin receptors, they become sealed within the receptor. This trapped state persists until the molecules are either removed or loosened.¹

How Long Does it Take to Feel the LSD’s Effects?

LSD generally takes effect within 20 minutes to two hours. People initially may start to feel giddy, excited, and giggly. However, they might also feel disoriented, anxious, or panicked (which can indicate a ‘bad trip’). Certain colors, sounds, or images may also seem distorted and magnified.⁴ These effects can ebb and flow throughout the duration of the trip.

Effects of LSD

LSD can alter any of the five senses. Most people note that the general world around them feels distorted. Things that seem typical (i.e. a couch or a flower) may seem extremely colorful or otherworldly. LSD can also create both delusions and hallucinations. During a bad trip, someone might become highly anxious, overwhelmed, or paranoid.³

Acid leads to a wide range of effects:

• Visual Distortions: Certain colors, shapes, and images may seem dramatically different.
• Mood Changes: Someone might become overly excited and euphoric or extremely agitated or distraught..
• Hallucinations: People may experience hallucinations, such as hearing voices or seeing things that aren’t real.
• Altered sounds: Noises may sound amplified.
• Increased sense of closeness: Some people report an intense love or heightened connection when using LSD together.

Acid’s Comedown & Afterglow

The comedown starts when the peak effects of LSD begin wearing off. It’s normal to still experience a sense of “being off.” Physical symptoms of nausea, sweating, fatigue, and dehydration may also emerge during this time. It’s very important that people try to take it easy and avoid engaging in any important tasks during the comedown.⁵

How Long Does Acid Stay in Your System?

LSD generally lasts up to 12 hours in the body, and it is fully metabolized within about 48 hours. However, compared to most other drugs, it can be challenging to detect LSD. The liver quickly breaks it down, and most people only use trace amounts to achieve their intended effects. Most standard drug tests don’t detect LSD.

Urine Tests

LSD may show up within 1-4 days in a urine test after the last use. However, only small amounts of LSD are excreted, which means the drug may not be detected on a standard drug test. Researchers can use different methods to detect LSD, but these techniques are not widely available or standardized.⁶

Blood Tests

Doctors can use liquid-liquid extraction to detect LSD in concentrated blood samples taken up to 16 hours after the last LSD use. However, the blood tests are more reliable with higher amounts of LSD use. Like urine tests, these detection methods are complex, sensitive, and specialized. They are not a routine part of most blood examinations.⁶

Hair Tests

LSD is taken at such low doses that it can still be challenging to detect its presence in hair follicles. There is limited data on using hair tests to detect LSD, and researchers are uncertain about whether this is an accurate mode of testing.⁶

What Factors Affect How Long Acid Is Detectable?

Like all drugs, several factors influence how long LSD stays in the body and whether it is detectable. Someone’s age, physical health, how they use acid, and the presence of other drugs can all impact the effect. There is truly no concrete or reliable way of knowing how long it may be detectable in your system.

Factors contributing to acid detection time include:

Age

Aging affects how people absorb and react to medication. Metabolism and kidney function slow down with age. In general, older adults are more vulnerable to the effects of drugs, since the drug may not be broken down as quickly.⁷

Body Mass

Body size can affect how drugs are absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted.⁸ In general, someone who is smaller will be more affected by a smaller amount of a drug. However, this is not always the case, and other health factors often come into play.

Method of Use

Most people take psychedelics orally and sublingually, but they can also be sniffed, smoked, or injected intravenously. LSD is a highly potent substance that is easily absorbed, regardless of how it is taken.

Dose

Small doses of acid tend to generate the intended effects for most people. It is hard to detect acid on drug tests because these doses are so small. Higher doses take a longer time to leave the bloodstream. Compared to other drugs, most people do not use LSD on a regular basis, but long-term use can lead to tolerance.⁹

Activity Levels

Metabolism contributes to drug effect and its removal from the body through either bile or urine. People with higher activity levels may have a faster metabolism, which means they may process LSD more quickly.

Can You Flush LSD From Your System?

Many people try to flush drugs from their system, particularly if they know they have a drug test coming up. The best way to truly flush drugs is to detox from them altogether. Some people will try to take detox pills, drink lots of water, or use fake urine to fool drug tests. These methods tend to be inconsistent and often don’t work at all.

Risk of Using LSD

All drugs have risks.One of the main risks of using LSD is a ‘bad trip,’ with disturbing hallucinations and intense distortions of time, self, and surroundings. Some people even describe this as a “trip that doesn’t end.” LSD can also be dangerous when combined with other drugs, which can result in an LSD overdose.

Flashbacks

Some people report experiencing visual flashbacks (that last for just a few seconds or minutes) after using LSD. If these flashbacks are persistent and distressing, they might be part of hallucinogen-persisting perception disorder (HPDD), a rare condition that refers to continuously experiencing distortions for several months or years after substance use.¹⁰

Risk of Becoming Addicted to LSD

LSD is generally not considered an addictive drug, and it’s rare to develop an addiction to hallucinogens. However, all drug use can be potentially habit-forming, especially if someone has a history of polysubstance use or a substance use disorder.

Although dependence and addiction are sometimes used interchangeably, someone with dependence develops a tolerance to a drug, which can lead to addictive behavior. Over time, an addiction can have consequences for one’s physical health, mental health, relationships, and overall quality of life.

When to Seek Help for LSD Use

If you’re concerned about any drug use, including LSD, it may be beneficial to seek professional support. Signs of a drug problem include finding it difficult to stop or control drug use, lying, stealing, or otherwise engaging in sneaky behaviors to maintain their habit. Over time, these behaviors can erode someone’s self-esteem.

Therapy can help you work on the underlying issues causing and reinforcing addictive behaviors. It also provides a non-judgmental environment to talk about your feelings and needs. It’s important to work with a substance abuse specialist, and you can get started using an online therapy directory or online therapy options.

In My Experience

LSD use is not always problematic, and some people use it for mental health benefits. That said, LSD use can be risky, and it may cause serious side effects. With that, any concerning drug habit should be examined. It is possible to abuse any drug, and if you’re struggling, reaching out for help can make a significant difference in helping you feel better and improving your quality of life.