Long-Term Effects of LSD

LSD is a popular hallucinogen that has a storied history, popularized by the 1960s counterculture. However, there is a mistaken perception that LSD is completely safe for use. We’ll go over the risks of LSD use, the long-term effects of LSD, and how to get help if you or a loved on is struggling with problematic hallucinogen use.

What Is LSD?

LSD is the shortened name for the molecule D-lysergic acid diethylamde, a synthetic hallucinogen associated with counterculture movements in the 1960s. The substance was first synthesized from ergot, a fungus that grows on grains like rye, in 1938.

Originally, Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann thought it was useless since he was searching for a respiratory and circulatory system stimulant. In 1947, however, he consumed some of the drug and discovered that it could cause long-lasting, intense visual and auditory hallucinations with few initial side effects. While it was used in the 1950s and early 1960s to help psychology students understand the experience of schizophrenia, the drug was diverted so widely that it was considered dangerous by the late 1960s, and it was one of the first drugs placed into Schedule I on the Controlled Substances List.

Physical and Psychological Effects from LSD

People who misuse LSD seek specific psychedelic effects, which include visual hallucinations, a heightened sense of taste or smell, changes in the perception of time and space, depersonalization or the feeling that the mind has left the body, synesthesia, or feeling as though one has a religious experience.

Short-term effects from LSD begin within 30-90 minutes after it is ingested, which is often either in liquid form using a dropper or dried onto a piece of blotter paper and placed on the tongue. Initial effects from the hallucinogen are likely to last for 6-12 hours, depending on the size of the dose. These effects can include:

“Bad trips” happen frequently, too, and can include symptoms like:

• Intense panic or anxiety.
• Paranoia.
• Delusions.
• Rapid mood swings.
• Fear that one is losing their identity or body.
• Aggression.
• Frightening hallucinations.
• Seizures.

Some people may attempt suicide due to the psychedelic effects that occur during a bad trip.

LSD Can Cause Long-Term Damage

Although the effects of LSD are intense and may cause acute problems like accidents or attempted self-harm, the drug is not considered addictive. The DEA states that this is because LSD’s effects last for several hours, up to a day, which prevents compulsive behaviors from developing. Since the effects take hours to leave the body, there is no rapid cycling of a high, sudden crash, and further drug-seeking behavior to achieve the original high.

However, LSD dramatically changes brain chemistry, which can lead to long-term changes. These may clear up, but it can take several years. Some of these effects include:

Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (HPPD)

This condition can be caused by several hallucinogens, but it is most closely associated with LSD. HPPD is usually called flashbacks, when the individual suddenly re-experiences feelings or sensations from a previous LSD high.

HPPD flashbacks are usually harmless, and are usually rare, but sometimes they can cause emotional distress. People with pre-existing mental health disorders like bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or psychotic disorders like schizophrenia may suffer a recurrence of effects associated with that condition.

There is no specific medical treatment for HPPD and most people do not feel that they need treatment, but on occasion, flashbacks may be frequent enough to cause anxiety about the condition. Many people who use LSD do not develop HPPD, but for those who do, HPPD may be a chronic condition.

Serotonin Syndrome from LSD

Rarely, LSD can trigger serotonin syndrome because this drug can trigger the release of certain neurotransmitters, mostly dopamine and serotonin. This condition is most likely in people who already take prescription psychiatric medications, particularly antidepressants, which change the balance of neurotransmitters to ease mood problems.

Signs of serotonin syndrome include:

• Agitation or restlessness.
• Diarrhea.
• Rapid and irregular heartbeat.
• Loss of coordination.
• Nausea or vomiting.
• Rapid changes in blood pressure.
• High body temperature or fever.
• Hallucinations.
• Seizures.

While serotonin syndrome is an acute risk, the effects of seizures or high fever can cause brain damage that will last for a long time. Brain damage may heal, with immediate and appropriate medical attention; however, there is a risk that mood conditions, memory trouble, or learning disorders from brain damage may never go away.

Drug-Induced Psychosis

LSD will not cause psychosis, but for people who are predisposed for this type of mental illness, the condition may be triggered by any potent hallucinogen, including LSD. It is important to understand one’s family history as part of the risk associated with abusing drugs, including hallucinogens, which may be promoted anecdotally through popular culture as “safe.” There is no such thing as safe substance abuse.

Psychosis can be treated, but it will not go away. Even bad trips on LSD will end, but a psychotic disorder is a chronic health condition that requires a combination of therapy and medication to prevent or manage severe symptoms.

Can You Overdose on LSD?

Typically, LSD is not considered a drug that causes overdose. There are no recorded instances of a person taking LSD and dying because of physical side effects. However, if one takes a very large dose of this hallucinogen and has a long trip, this may lead to a suicide attempt, other kinds of self-harm, aggression toward others, or experiencing an accident because one cannot tell the difference between reality and hallucination.

LSD Addiction Help

Although LSD may not lead to the same level of compulsive behaviors as much shorter-acting drugs like heroin or cocaine, it is still very dangerous to use and can cause long-term harm. If you feel like your LSD use is affecting your life, it’s time to reach out for help.

At our drug and alcohol rehab in Las Vegas we use evidence-based addiction-focused healthcare to help people find meaningful recovery from drug or alcohol addiction and get back to living the lives they deserve.

To learn more about our different levels of addiction treatment, contact our knowledgeable and compassionate admission navigators at . They are on hand 24/7 to answer any of your questions, including what to expect in rehab, using your insurance coverage for addiction treatment, and other ways to pay for rehab. Call us to today to start the admissions process and begin your journey toward recovery.