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LSD, or lysergic acid diethylamide, is a long-lasting psychoactive drug that distorts and alters perceptions and sensations. In uncontrolled situations, LSD is one of the most potent mood-altering drugs available.

It causes profound distortions in the person's perception of reality that can last up to 12 hours. Although the use of LSD reached its peak in the s and s, the drug has been around since it was synthesized in It was synthesized from ergot, a fungus that grows on grains, such as rye.

LSD is illegal in the U. This suggests that the drug has a high potential for abuse. Drug Class: LSD is a hallucinogenic drug, which means that it causes subjective changes to consciousness, emotions, and thoughts.

Common Side Effects: Some possible side effects of LSD include distorted perceptions, anxiety, depression, flashbacks, dilated pupils, and elevated blood pressure. LSD is usually sold in tablets or capsules, but sometimes in liquid form. The liquid is sometimes applied to absorbent paper, called "window pane" or "blotter" acid, which is cut up into individual doses.

Scientists believe that LSD works by influencing the receptors involved in the regulation of serotonin, a neurotransmitter in the brain. Serotonin is involved in the control of behavioral, perceptual, and regulatory systems including mood, motor control, sensory perception, hunger, body temperature, and sexual behavior.

When this system is disrupted by taking LSD, it can cause profound distortions in the person's perception of reality, or in other words, hallucinations. People who use LSD see images, hear sounds, and feel sensations that seem real even though they are not. These sensory hallucinations can be accompanied by rapid and intense emotional swings. Consequently, an LSD "trip" can go from being a pleasant experience to a very unpleasant one very quickly, making the effect of the drug extremely unpredictable.

Despite the fact LSD has been around for more than 70 years, there are few, if any, properly controlled research studies about the specific effects LSD has on the brains of those who use it. The research that does exist is comprised of smaller studies and case reports.

There are a number of reasons why people use LSD despite the potential dangers. The hallucinogenic effects can seem pleasant. Because of the distorted perceptions and hallucinations that the drug can create, people often feel a sense of specialness or creativity, as if they are achieving an understanding that they could not normally reach without the drug. The problem for people who use LSD is that all of these effects, pleasant or unpleasant, are so difficult to predict.

The same dose of the same batch of LSD can affect one person in a completely different manner from another person. Moreover, a person can be affected differently from one trip to the next taking the same amount and same kind of LSD. While LSD cannot be legally prescribed, research on the therapeutic potential of LSD is ongoing and some promising findings have emerged.

Studies suggest that the drug may promote neuron growth and may be beneficial in the treatment of drug dependency, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. A study looked at the use of LSD-assisted psychotherapy in a small group of patients with anxiety. Results suggested that when used in such a controlled setting, LSD could be effective at reducing anxiety, although further research is needed.

Click below to listen now. Some of the most dramatic effects of LSD reported by researchers in smaller or case studies include:. These altered perceptions and sensations can cause panic. Some experience terrifying thoughts, feelings of despair, fear of losing control, fear of insanity, and fear of death.

These experiences are what is known as having a "bad trip. National Institute on Drug Abuse U. How much do you really know about LSD? Contact Us. Start Free E-Courses. Take the Quiz. Download Booklets. Law Enforcement. Sign the Drug-Free Pledge. Start an Online Class. Join a Team. Order Bulk Materials.

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