LSD (Lysergic Acid Diethylamide) - Effects on the Body

Effects on the Body

LSD is believed to act on the serotoninA combination of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen; it is found in the brain, blood, and stomach lining and acts as a neurotransmitter and blood vessel regulator. receptors in the brain. Serotonin is an important neurotransmitterA substance that helps spread nerve impulses from one nerve cell to another. that regulates mood, appetite, sensory perception, and other nervous system functions. When LSD attaches to these brain receptors, serotonin cannot. The nerves in the brain become confused without a supply of this neuro-transmitter and send out false signals that result in an LSD trip. A trip is an intense and very visual experience that occurs after taking the drug.

LSD Hawkers

"Pulse Check," a report available on the Office of National Drug Control Policy Web site, indicated that as of January 2004, most LSD was being sold at raves by ecstasy dealers. These dealers are commonly called "hawkers" because they walk through nightclubs announcing that they have drugs such as LSD and ecstasy for sale. The "Pulse Check" report also noted that LSD and ecstasy are frequently taken together. The street term for mixing these two drugs is "candy flipping."

Trippin' on LSD

The authors of the DEA publication "Drugs of Abuse" state that an oral dose of "25 micrograms [of LSD], equal in weight to a couple of grains of salt … is capable of producing rich and vivid hallucinations." The effects of the drug usually begin to appear about a half an hour to an hour after it is taken. They last for about twelve hours.

In pregnant women, LSD use brings on contractions of the uterus that can cause a miscarriage. In all users, LSD raises blood pressure, heart rate, and body temperature. Sweating and dry mouth are other common side effects. But, the authors of "NIDA InfoFacts: LSD" note that "sensations and feelings change much more dramatically than the physical signs." Many users report that the drug expands the mind and helps them discover their inner selves. Furthermore, they claim to be able to bond and empathize with, relate to, or understand others like never before. Some users have described the insights they obtain on LSD as a truly mystical experience.

All sensations are intensified by LSD, but the most bizarre effects are usually visual. Hallucinations are common. Objects become distorted, colors appear to glow, and images seem to melt into each other, forming flowing patterns and kaleidoscopic designs. A peculiar blending of the senses known as synesthesia (pronounced sinn-ess-THEE-zhee-uh) may also occur. Synesthesia is a mixing of sensations, often due to the use of hallucinogens, that makes users believe they can hear colors and see sounds.

Unpredictable Results

In their book From Chocolate to Morphine, Andrew Weil and Winifred Rosen commented: "From the very first … it was apparent that not everyone who takes LSD has a good time. Some people had bad trips: they became anxious and panicky, afraid they were losing their minds and would be unable to return to ordinary reality…. Some of them remained depressed and anxious for days afterward, and a few had lasting psychological problems."

LSD use can prompt a range of disturbing psychological reactions. These include feelings of disconnection; anxiety; confusion; depression (a mood disorder); extreme fear; and even paranoia (abnormal feelings of suspicion and fear). Users may also experience sudden psychedelic symptoms even when they are not high on the drug. The seep is odes are called flash backs and may occur days, months, or even years after someone last used the drug. Flash backs occur when some one re-experiences the effects of LSD after he or she has stopped taking it. The medical term for a flashback is "hallucinogen persisting perception disorder," commonly called HPPD.

The Partnership for a Drug-Free America Web site points out that the effects of LSD "depend on the amount taken, the user's

Users report that LSD use heightens the visual experience, making colors glow or melt into each other. Here, author Ken Kesey stands beside his infamous Acid Bus in 1997. The bus is painted in bright psychedelic colors like those seen by people
Users report that LSD use heightens the visual experience, making colors glow or melt into each other. Here, author Ken Kesey stands beside his infamous "Acid Bus" in 1997. The bus is painted in bright psychedelic colors like those seen by people on LSD or "dropping acid." During the 1960s, Kesey and a group of other LSD users toured the country in the bus and became the subject of Tom Wolfe's book The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test. AP/Wide World Photos.

personality, mood, and expectations, and the surroundings in which the drug is used." Many users report extreme mood swings while under the influence of LSD. They may also feel stuck to a particular spot or even stuck in time. The distorted perceptions and reduced inhibitionsInner thoughts that keep people from engaging in certain activities. caused by the drug greatly increase the likelihood of an accident.

Serious injury and death may occur during an LSD trip because the user's judgment is so severely impaired. Stories have been told of people jumping out of windows, not because they wanted to commit suicide, but because they believed they could fly. Violent behavior is a possibility as well, since individuals on a bad trip may mistakenly believe that other people are a threat to their safety.