Side Effects of LSD: Short & Long-Term Health Effects of LSD (Acid)
What Is LSD (Acid)?
D-lysergic acid diethylamide, better known as LSD or “acid,” is a hallucinogenic drug derived from a rye fungus.1 LSD often comes in crystalline form, which is then used to produce tablets, or “microdots”, or thin gelatin squares known as “window panes”.1 It can also be diluted with water or alcohol and sold in liquid form, as well as in LSD-soaked paper squares known as “blotters”.1 LSD is a Schedule I drug, meaning that it possesses high potential for misuse and has no current accepted medical use.2
This highly potent drug alters mood and perception and can cause a variety of effects when used, including those that range from mild to potentially life-threatening.1
Is LSD Bad for You?
As with most illicit substances, LSD (acid) can be bad for you, as it does carry health risks and the potential for dangerous side effects. By interfering with normal serotonin signaling, LSD produces side effects that can include:3
- Increased blood pressure and heart rate.
- Elevated body temperature.
- Insomnia.
- Dizziness.
- Loss of appetite.
- Dry mouth.
- Excessive sweating.
- Tremors.
LSD is generally considered to be less harmful than other substances like alcohol, heroin, and cocaine, and overdoses are rare.3 However, as with many illicit substances, there exists a possibility for LSD to be adulterated with other dangerous substances, increasing the risk of negative outcomes.3
Side Effects of Acid (LSD) Use
The side effects of acid are similar to those of other hallucinogens. The types of effects experienced can vary based on a number of factors, including what other substances are being used at the same time, what a person’s mental health history is, and how much LSD was consumed.
Short-Term Effects of LSD
People generally use acid and other classic hallucinogens such as psilocybin (magic mushrooms) and peyote (mescaline) for recreational and spiritual reasons.4
These drugs are also known as “psychedelics” and produce temporary symptoms similar to psychosis that typically last between 6 and 10 hours.4 These altered perceptions and sense of unreality are commonly called a “trip” and may result in:5
- Visual hallucinations.
- Amplification of sensations like sounds and smells.
- Distorted sense of time.
- Blending of senses, such as “seeing” sounds or “hearing” colors.
- Sensation of the mind leaving the body.
- Impulsive behavior.
- Quickly shifting emotions.
- Mystical or religious sensations.
Long-Term Effects of LSD Use
The distressing effects of a bad trip normally ease when the drug wears off. However, they can persist for weeks, or even months for some users.4 These long-term side effects of LSD are known by the clinical terms “persistent psychosis” and “Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (HPPD).”3 Such complications are rare, but they can happen after using LSD just one time. Individuals who use LSD over a long period or have a history of misusing multiple drugs may be at greater risk of developing these conditions.6,7
People who develop long-term consequences of LSD such as HPPD have repeated experiences with symptoms similar to those of LSD trips even when they have not taken the drug. These symptoms include hallucinations and other visual distortions such as halos or trails on moving objects.5 HPPD symptoms can last from weeks to years before resolving on their own, and there is no widely recognized treatment.7
Individuals suffering from persistent psychosis can have visual disturbances, disorganized thinking, paranoia, and mood disturbances that continue long after the last use of a psychedelic drug. While this condition is not well understood, symptoms are sometimes managed with antidepressants and antipsychotics.5
Psychological Effects & Risks of Taking LSD
In addition to presenting physical risks, LSD has powerful effects on a person’s mental statesand can produce traumatic emotional reactions in some, known as a “bad trip”. Symptoms of a bad trip can feel overwhelming to the user and may include the following:1
- Severe anxiety.
- Panic attacks.
- Paranoia.
- Rapidly changing emotions.
- Feeling of detachment from one’s own mind and body.
- Losing a grip on reality.
- Fear of dying.
- Aggressive or violent behaviors.
- Suicidal thoughts.
Taking acid in an uncontrolled setting or taking a larger dose than expected increases a person’s risk of having a bad trip.4,8 Those who use LSD and have personal or family histories of psychosis or other severe psychiatric disorders are also thought to be at greater risk of having bad trips or developing other psychological problems.5 Those having bad trips can behave in unpredictable ways that present a danger to themselves and others.
Can You Overdose on LSD?
It is possible to overdose on LSD, however it is extremely rare.3 In fact, studies have shown that LSD has a safety ratio of 1,000, which means that a person would need to consume 1,000 times more than the average dose to overdose.3 However, that does not mean LSD is a safe drug to consume. For example, asLSD is made illegally, there are large differences in the amount of drug in different batches, making it very easy to accidentally take a dose larger than intended. Generally speaking though, the greatest danger of taking too much LSD is that it will trigger a bad trip or other psychological trauma.8
Signs of a Possible LSD Overdose
Despite the psychological danger posed by LSD overdose, this drug has low toxicity, and the amount needed to produce a dangerous physical reaction is very large.3 In the rare cases where people have accidentally ingested massive overdoses of LSD, symptoms have included:4
- Dangerously elevated body temperature.
- Vomiting.
- Gastric bleeding (bleeding in the stomach).
- Difficulty breathing.
- Coma.
Can You Become Addicted to LSD?
Scientific evidence indicates that LSD does not produce dependence and is not addictive. However, tolerance to the effects of LSD develops very quickly, meaning that frequent use of the drug will result in diminished effects over time. Essentially, the same dose won’t create the same “high.”
Some users may increase the dose of LSD they take to overcome this tolerance, which can increase their risk of experiencing the negative effects discussed above.
Compulsive LSD users may also develop a pattern of problematic use defined as a hallucinogen use disorder by the American Psychiatric Association. Signs include:
- Trying unsuccessfully to stop using LSD.
- Spending a lot of time obtaining and using LSD.
- Using LSD instead of fulfilling major personal or professional obligations.
- Craving LSD.
- Continuing to use LSD even when doing so is creating interpersonal issues and/or physical/mental health issues.
- Giving up hobbies in favor of using LSD.
- Needing to take more and more LSD to get “high.”
Despite the lack of evidence supporting a classic picture of physiologic dependence and addiction development with LSD misuse, people can still be profoundly and negatively impacted by frequent LSD use and could benefit from some sort of substance misuse treatment intervention.
What Are the Symptoms of LSD Withdrawal?
Even in individuals who have taken LSD chronically for long periods of time, there are usually no withdrawal symptoms when they stop, and there are no FDA-approved medications available to treat LSD withdrawal.5 However, the intense effects that LSD has on perceptions, moods, and thoughts may cause ongoing psychological distress. This may lead to impaired functioning in the user’s life, and drug treatment programs or professional psychological support may be beneficial for those who want to stop.
Little is known about treating hallucinogen use and more research is needed. Currently, there are no specific treatments for LSD use. General strategies such as counseling and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) are used to change problematic behaviors and support sobriety.
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