Recreational Drugs Revealed: LSD

ThePharmacyStudent7 years ago

I’m a big believer that there’s a time and a place for everything. I have no idea when there is a time or a place for LSD, but it’s clear that there are a lot of people out there who have found that time and that place. So I’m back again to talk some drug bidness; this time, about LSD.

LSD is a schedule I narcotic according to the DEA, which means it is illegal to possess and currently holds no medical purpose in the eyes of the law. But that wasn’t always the case. In the heat of the Cold War, paranoid government agencies (namely the CIA) believed that Russian intelligence had developed a drug that would render the human brain incapable of telling a lie, which would have left the infrastructure of our nation incomprehensibly vulnerable. Fueled by a combination of fear of the enemy and motivation to match the competition weapon for weapon, the CIA keenly (and very controversially) studied LSD for its psychedelic effects that could prove to be beneficial for clandestine intelligence operations.

Seriously.

Highlights of the controversy surrounding CIA-funded research of LSD include, but are definitely not limited to: experimenting with people in drug rehab programs at high doses for as long as 77 days, experimenting by dropping doses of LSD into the drinks of some unknowing San Francisco prostitutes, having San Francisco prostitutes drop LSD into the drinks of unknowing CIA agents, and causing a CIA agent to go batshit crazy and jump out of a hotel window then covering all of it up (if you’re bored, you can read a lot more about this; Project MKULTRA is a good place to start).

Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, more commonly known as LSD, is one of many in the family “psychedelic drugs.” So how does it work? As the family name suggests, LSD works in the brain to produce a relatively extended distortion of reality associated with hallucinations. It is thought that this is primarily done by the drug’s increased affinity for binding a special serotonin receptor (5HT2A, for you big nerds). Overstimulation of these serotonin receptors leads to an increased sensitivity to sensory inputs, a decreased sense of time, and overall euphoric feeling. Interestingly, a phenomenon called synesthesia (or a blending of senses) can occur while one is under the effects of LSD, which overlaps usually exclusive senses. When synesthesia occurs, LSD users may note that they can see sounds around them or taste colors as their perceptions begin to mesh with reality.

Similar to cocaine, LSD and other hallucinogens also stimulate the sympathetic nervous system to make your eyes dilate, heart beat faster, and body temperature increase. Sympathetic nervous system stimulation is usually more mild with LSD than with cocaine, but shouldn’t be discounted altogether.

LSD is most commonly supplied as a liquid that is dabbed onto perforated paper that can be torn into small pieces or as paper marketed as “tabs.” These tabs of acid generally contain 25 to 80 micrograms of active ingredient, but can contain a much higher amount depending on the batch you get. The effects of LSD generally start within 30 to 90 minutes of ingestion and take 3 to 5 hours to reach peak effect; overall, the experience typically lasts 6 to 12 hours. Because the liquid is dabbed onto paper, there is a possibility that the potency of each tab could vary greatly (depending on the size of drops used, how the drops disperse across the paper, etc.) — so LSD users need to always be wary of what they’re ingesting.

What happens when you overdo it? Generally speaking, LSD is a milder drug in regards to safety and toxicities. Unlike cocaine, acute intoxication leading directly to death is not as common with LSD — but is still a possibility. Doses of greater than 400 micrograms have been shown to produce physiological changes that can result in overdose death generally associated with hyperthermia. Some unduly side effects of acute LSD intoxication include overwhelming fear, paranoia, uneasiness, and/or panic. Most people are aware that their change in perception is drug-induced; if someone can no longer make this distinction, that indicates they may be having a bad trip. Physical dependence of LSD has not been reported, although there are documented cases of psychological dependence after prolonged use.

Because LSD produces a mimicking effect of serotonin, LSD can also produce a serious and life-threatening state called serotonin syndrome. As the name implies, serotonin syndrome is the result of having too much serotonin acting in the body and can lead to a lot of different side effects. Serotonin syndrome can commonly be characterized by muscle spasms, involuntary twitching, increased body temperature, profuse sweating, and flushed skin, among others symptoms. This is much more likely to occur if someone is already taking medications that manipulate serotonin in the body, such as antidepressants like MAOIs or SSRIs and mood stabilizers like lithium (note that this is NOT an extensive list of serotonergic medications). If you believe that someone you are with may be experiencing serotonin syndrome, this is an emergency and requires professional medical attention immediately.

If it wasn’t already obvious that LSD users need a babysitter, having a sober monitor present while tripping is warranted. Severe adverse LSD effects like death are more commonly attributed to the indirect effects of LSD, such as drowning due to impaired mental status — things a sober monitor can help prevent. Having a sober monitor there to help out should you and/or friends choose to partake is a good way to make sure everyone has fun while staying safe.

Be smart, have fun, stay safe..

Did you see any errors? Want to hear about anything else drug-related? Have an anonymous question you want ThePharmacyStudent to answer for you in a mailbag column? Send him an email here.

Check out past editions of Recreational Drugs Revealed:

Cocaine

[via McCoy AW. A Question of Torture: CIA Interrogation, from the Cold War to the War on Terror. Pp. 21-59, UpToDate — Intoxication from LSD and other common hallucinogens, UpToDate — Serotonin syndrome (serotonin toxicity)]

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