LSD: Definition, Uses, & Effects

What Is LSD?

LSD is a synthetic chemical derived from ergot, a fungus that infects the rye grain.² LSD belongs to the hallucinogen drug class. Hallucinogens cause perceptual distortions, which can affect any of the five senses, including sight, sound, smell, taste, and feeling. Many people also notice distortions of thought, specifically related to time and space.³

People of all ages and demographics use LSD. One study found that approximately 20.2 million Americans (and 8% of all high school seniors) had tried LSD at least one time in their lifetime. While LSD is generally not considered an addictive drug, it’s possible to build tolerance and abuse it.⁴

What Does LSD Look Like?

LSD is generally packaged into tiny paper squares known as tabs, dots, blots, or blotters. These squares tend to be decorated with various, colorful patterns. The tabs themselves are small and measure around a quarter inch in size. Sometimes, LSD is sold in sugar cubes, gel tablets, or as a liquid form.²

Other Names for LSD

It’s common for people to use various slang terms when referencing drugs to avoid legal trouble or to keep secrets from friends or family. Slang tends to be regional, so different areas will use different words to describe the same drug. The terms also tend to evolve over the years, so it’s important to stay up-to-date as much as possible.

Other names for LSD include:

• Acid
• Sunshine
• Zen
• Lucy
• Lucy in the sky with diamonds
• Dots
• Purple haze
• White dust

How Is LSD Used?

LSD is typically taken orally through the blotter paper or as a liquid dropped into a gelatin tablet or sugar cube. LSD is illegal in most countries, including the United States. People who use LSD obtain and use it illicitly. However, microdosing (using small doses of LSD) is legal in some circumstances when receiving supervised, medical care.

Medical Use of LSD

In the past, LSD was medically used to treat psychosomatic disorders, addiction, anxiety, and depression. However, it’s important to note these studies were not conducted under modern standards. Current research shows that there may be some medicinal benefits of LSD, particularly with addiction, chronic pain, and psychological symptoms associated with terminal cancer treatment.⁵

Recreation Use of LSD

People recreationally use LSD to experience its potential euphoric, creative, and calming effects. Many have cited that even a single trip of LSD positively improved their lives and inspired deeper creativity and higher self-esteem. That said, LSD can also have negative effects, including anxiety and paranoia. These effects can exacerbate other mental health issues.

Potential Therapeutic Uses of LSD

Discussions about microdosing LSD have become increasingly popular in recent years. Actual research on its effectiveness is mixed, with one recent study showing that the drug did not enhance mood or affect performance.⁶ However, other research shows that LSD is associated with positively expanding creativity, improving emotional well-being, and increasing prosocial behaviors.⁷

How Does LSD Work?

LSD interacts with the brain’s serotonin receptors. Serotonin is responsible for various functions, including perception, emotions, mood, and cognition. LSD specifically acts through a receptor called 5-HT2AR. The serotonin receptor then creates a “lid” around the LSD molecule to prevent it from detaching. This reaction may explain the drug’s long-lasting psychoactive effects.⁸

Effects Of LSD

Like all drugs, the effects of LSD vary from person to person. The specific effects depend on numerous factors, including the LSD dosage, specific environment and setting, individual brain chemistry differences, personal mindset before taking the drug, and the state of someone’s mental and physical health. LSD is most known for intensifying emotions, evoking spiritual reactions, and altering one’s thinking patterns.

LSD can take effect in about 20-90 minutes. This exact number will depend on several variables, including someone’s physical health, metabolism, and whether other drugs are present in the bloodstream. Peak symptoms typically occur within 2-3 hours after ingestion, and the overall effects of LSD can persist for 6-12+ hours.

Effects of LSD include:

• Dilation of pupils
• Magnified mood
• Blending senses (known as synesthesia)
• Ego dissolution (loss of ego)
• Spiritual experiences
• Non-linear thoughts
• Increased body temperature
• Feelings of lightheadedness or dizziness
• Nausea
• Increased heart rate
• Restlessness

Overdose

Although it’s uncommon to overdose on LSD, it’s possible to overdose on any drug. The risk of overdose is heightened when drugs are laced with other substances. The risk is also amplified if LSD is accidentally ingested. It’s far more likely for someone to experience a bad trip (where they might feel like they’re dying) as opposed to actually overdosing.

Bad Trips

A bad trip refers to having a negative experience with LSD or other hallucinogens. Bad trips include unwanted side effects, such as disturbing hallucinations, heightened paranoia, panic attacks, disorientation and confusion, and violence. There’s no way to fully avoid the risk of having a bad trip, and these experiences can affect someone’s emotional well-being long after LSD has left the bloodstream.

Coming Down

Coming down refers to how a drug’s effects gradually decline. Each person’s comedown experience varies, but some people notice emotional shifts and increased sensitivity. They might also notice changes in their energy levels, appetite, or physical sensations. In most cases, the effects of coming down from hallucinogens are relatively mild.

Flashbacks

LSD can result in flashbacks, which refer to re-experiencing parts of the drug trip after it has left the bloodstream. The flashbacks may occur randomly, and they tend to include visual distortions.⁹ It’s relatively rare to experience LSD flashbacks, but if they’re persistent and distressing, you may be experiencing hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPDD).

Factors That Can Determine How LSD Affects Someone

It’s impossible to predict the exact effects of a drug. Every hallucinogen experience is entirely unique, and there’s no way of knowing how a particular LSD trip will impact you. That said, the specific dosage, drug tolerance, environment, and psychological state are some of the main factors that will determine someone’s LSD experience.

Factors that impact how LSD affects a person include:

• The amount taken (dosage)
• Expectations surrounding the drug
• Individual brain chemistry
• Other substances or medications in the bloodstream
• Individual emotional state
• Environment where the drug is taken

LSD & Mental Health

People have been experimenting with hallucinogens for thousands of years. Research shows that generally speaking, LSD use is not an independent risk factor for mental health problems, such as mood or anxiety disorders. In addition, lifetime use of LSD was not correlated with a greater rate of mental health problems.¹⁰ However, it’s important to note that any drug use can impact mental health- for better or worse.

LSD Withdrawal

LSD is not considered to be physically addictive, and it does not generally cause physical withdrawal symptoms. However, it’s possible to encounter various emotional effects after taking LSD (this is generally known as the comedown effect). Such symptoms may include fatigue, appetite changes, mood swings, or feeling emotionally drained. That said, unlike other drugs, LSD withdrawal does not require medical treatment.

Is LSD Addictive?

Although hallucinogens do not coincide with physical dependence or classic withdrawal symptoms, it’s possible to become addicted to LSD. Someone may want to continue using LSD or other hallucinogens to self-medicate mental health symptoms or cope with everyday life. This can lead to emotional cravings, which can result in using LSD more often than intended, taking it in higher amounts, or becoming secretive about use.

LSD & Other Drugs

It can be challenging to predict how LSD specifically interacts with other drugs. However, other mood-altering substances like alcohol, cannabis, or stimulants will likely alter the effects of LSD. It’s generally advised to avoid mixing drugs. If you’re taking prescription medications, you should also be aware of the possibility of adverse drug interactions.

Is LSD Legal?

LSD is currently classified as a Schedule 1 drug in the United States. It is federally illegal to manufacture, distribute, possess, or take LSD. This is also the case in many other countries. However, various states have begun recognizing the therapeutic benefits of LSD, and some states have created decriminalization policies as part of their drug reform initiatives.

When to Seek Professional Help

If you’re struggling with LSD use or any other form of alcohol or drug abuse, you may be experiencing a substance use disorder. Such disorders are common, and they are not a sign of a moral failing. It can be difficult to recover on your own, and many people find that seeking professional support makes a tremendous difference in helping them cope, regulate stress, and establish a new way of living.

The first step is usually finding a therapist specializing in addiction treatment. You can look for a provider who accepts your health insurance, or you can use our online therapist directory or an online therapy platform to get started. A psychiatrist can oversee medication management, and most providers now offer a variety of in-person and online psychiatry options.