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Effects vary widely by individual, dose, and context.
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 which it produces and contains a large number of potential effects.
The visual geometry of LSD can be described as more similar in appearance to that of 2C-B and the 2C-x family than psilocin, LSA, or DMT. They can be comprehensively described as unstructured in organization, algorithmic and digital in geometric style, intricate in complexity, large in size, fast and smooth in motion, multicoloured in scheme, bright and flat in colour, and sharp in their edges with extremely angular corners. At higher dosages they consistently result in states of Level 7A visual geometry.
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.
LSD primarily acts as a partial agonist at the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor, which is believed to be the principal mechanism underlying its psychedelic effects. It displays high affinity for 5-HT2A relative to other psychedelics. Beyond this primary target, LSD is a non-selective serotonin receptor agonist with activity across a broad range of 5-HT subtypes, including 5-HT1A, 5-HT1B, 5-HT1D, 5-HT1E, 5-HT1F, 5-HT2B, 5-HT2C, 5-HT5A, 5-HT6, and 5-HT7 receptors. It also acts as an agonist at all five dopamine receptor subtypes (D1 through D5) and binds to all adrenoreceptor subtypes.
LSD is rapidly absorbed and undergoes hepatic metabolism via CYP450 isoenzymes. It has a plasma half-life of approximately 3 hours. The major metabolite is 2-oxo-3-hydroxy-LSD.
These combinations are considered extremely harmful and should always be avoided. Reactions to these drugs taken in combination are highly unpredictable and have a potential to cause death.
There is considerable risk of physical harm when taking these combinations, they should be avoided where possible.
These combinations are not usually physically harmful, but may produce undesirable effects, such as physical discomfort or overstimulation. Extreme use may cause physical health issues. Synergistic effects may be unpredictable. Care should be taken when choosing to use this combination.
LSD is widely considered non-addictive and the desire to use it can actually decrease with continued use, making it largely self-regulating. Attempts to train laboratory animals to self-administer LSD have been largely unsuccessful. While a small number of individuals have reported developing a problematic relationship with LSD or taking it daily for extended periods, psychological dependence is rare.
LSD does not produce physical dependence. No withdrawal syndrome has been reported following discontinuation of use, even after repeated administration. A DSM-IV review noted that almost no hallucinogens produced dependence unlike other psychoactive drug classes.
LSD has an extremely high safety margin at typical recreational doses (50-250 μg), with no toxicity-related deaths reported at such doses despite millions of exposures. Human lethal dose is estimated at approximately 100 mg based on animal studies and case reports, roughly 1,000 times the common recreational dose. Estimates for LD50 in humans range from 200 μg/kg to more than 1 mg/kg body mass. Critical review of reported fatal overdoses found most cases were attributable to other factors (misidentified substances, positional asphyxia during restraint) rather than LSD toxicity itself, with only two cases associated with massive overdoses possibly exceeding 300 mg.
| Species | Route | Value |
|---|---|---|
| mouse | IV | 46 mg/kg |
| rat | IV | 16.5 mg/kg |
| rabbit | IV | 0.3 mg/kg |
A theoretical risk of cardiac fibrosis and valvulopathy from 5-HT2B receptor agonism has been proposed for long-term or chronic use, but preliminary animal studies found no heart structure changes or valvulopathy from chronic microdosing, and research is mixed on whether LSD is a potent 5-HT2B agonist at all.
Rare cases of dangerous hyperthermia have been reported in the medical literature, typically at higher doses; one documented non-fatal case involved body temperature exceeding 106°F (41°C).
Expert review indicates no evidence that LSD causes damage to any human organ at reasonable doses in careful contexts, with no negative cognitive, psychiatric, or toxic physical consequences documented from acute exposure.
LSD can precipitate psychotic symptoms in individuals predisposed to psychosis or with pre-existing psychiatric conditions, though this appears to be quite rare. A Medline search in 2003 found only three case reports of LSD-induced psychosis in the previous 20 years. LSD does not appear to produce psychiatric illness de novo in otherwise emotionally healthy individuals. Those with a family history of schizophrenia or early-onset mental illness face heightened risk.
Seizures are very rare but can occur in individuals who are predisposed to them, particularly under physically taxing conditions such as dehydration, inadequate nutrition, overheating, or fatigue.
LSD was first synthesized on November 16, 1938, by Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann while working at Sandoz Laboratories in Basel, Switzerland. The compound emerged from a research program investigating potentially useful derivatives of ergot, a fungus that grows on rye and other grains. LSD was the…
UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances 1971 (Schedule I)
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Since 2010, possession of up to 5 tabs has been decriminalized. Individuals possessing less than this threshold may be charged with a misdemeanor or receive a police warning rather than criminal prosecution.
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Classified as a Class A drug. Possession and sale are illegal without a special government license.
Classified as a narcotic under the Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs Control Act (麻薬及び向精神薬取締法).
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Classified as a narcotic substance. Purchase and possession without a special license are illegal.
Decriminalized for personal use since July 2001 under Law 30/2000. Possession of less than 500 µg is not a criminal offense, though the substance may be confiscated and individuals referred to a dissuasion commission or fined. Production and sale remain criminal offenses.
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Controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Possession without a license is punishable by up to 7 years imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine. Trafficking carries penalties up to life imprisonment and unlimited fines.
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Listed as a controlled substance under national drug legislation.
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Controlled under Schedule I of the Betäubungsmittelgesetz (Narcotics Act) since February 25, 1967. Manufacturing, possession, import, export, purchase, sale, procurement, and dispensing are illegal without a license.
Schedule I controlled substance. Possession of less than 0.15 mg of active principle results in administrative sanctions. Higher amounts fall under penal code with imprisonment of 6 to 20 years and fines from €26,000 to €260,000.
Listed as a Schedule I controlled substance under Latvian drug legislation.
Controlled substance, but a 2009 law decriminalized personal possession of up to 15 micrograms. This threshold is notably below the typical active dose.
Classified as a Class A controlled substance, the most restrictive category under New Zealand drug law.
Listed under 'Wykaz środków odurzających i substancji psychotropowych' (List of narcotic substances and psychotropic substances) in category I-P. Ownership, production, and sale are prohibited.
Controlled under List I of Russian drug legislation. Possession, production, and sale are illegal. Research may be conducted under special license.
Specifically listed as a controlled substance under Verzeichnis D of Swiss drug legislation. Legally approved psychiatric use continued until 1993.
Controlled under Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act of 1970. Possession was first made illegal on October 24, 1968. Manufacturing, purchasing, possession, processing, and distribution without a DEA license are prohibited. Classified as having high abuse potential with no accepted medical use.
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