LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide)

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LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide)

LSD

(lysergic acid diethylamide)

Synonyms	The most common synonyms are: Acid, Back breaker, Barrels, Blotter acid, Blotters, Boomers, California sunshine, Cap, Cid, Cube, Domes, Dots, Flats, Frogs, Hits, Lids, Mellow yellow, Micropoint, Purple haze, Sid, Tabs, Trips, Wedges, Window pane, Yellow sunshine.
Classification	Hallucinogen: Causes users to see, hear or feel things that do not exist.
Visual description	White, odourless and bitter crystalline powder. It is available in a variety of forms: Blotter: small square of LSD-soaked blotting paper that is placed under the tongue (the LSD in the blotter is absorbed sublingually) Tablet (seldom used since it is highly concentrated) Liquid applied to small sugar cubes or gelatin (Window panes) Concentrated liquid that can be diluted and used through various routes of administration
Mechanism of action	Affects several neurotransmitters in the central nervous system.
Routes of administration	The sublingual route is the most common.

Effects sought out by the user

Euphoria and feeling of dissociation
Feeling of joyfulness

Pseudohallucinations: it does not cause hallucinations per se but creates illusions by altering the senses (all five senses)
Synesthesia (crossing of 2 or more senses) and spiritual journeys

Common toxic effects

Aggression
Impaired judgement
Deep anguish
Concentration problems
Reduced coordination
Reduced appetite
Numbness
Dizziness
Weakness

Chills
Hypertension
Mydriasis (dilation of the pupils)
Nausea
Panic
Paranoia
Unpleasant and terrifying feelings (bad trip)
Tachycardia (rapid heart rate)
Tremor

Overdose effects

Convulsions
Hypertensive crisis
Psychotic break

Abnormal increase in body temperature
Arrhythmias
Coma

Effects associated with chronic use

Delirium
Depression
Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder: users experience a spontaneous and unpredictable recurrence of pseudohallucinations experienced while on LSD

Loss of motivation
Psychosis

Tolerance (need to increase the dose to feel the same effect)

Develops quickly, especially if taken over several consecutive days.

Addiction

Psychological dependence is possible.

Withdrawal

Onset and duration of action
Route of administration	Onset of action	Peak	Duration of action
Sublingual	30 to 40 minutes	2 to 4 hours	10 to 12 hours

Intoxication management

No antidote available.
Treatment is mainly symptomatic.

Many different street drugs are sold under the same name. Furthermore, nothing guarantees the quantity, purity or even the content of a street drug in spite of the fact that it may, in some cases, look like medication.

If you need help or want to learn more:

Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction

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The patient information leaflets are provided by Vigilance Santé Inc. This content is for information purposes only and does not in any manner whatsoever replace the opinion or advice of your health care professional. Always consult a health care professional before making a decision about your medication or treatment.

LSD