Psychedelics: LSD

LSD is generally safe for the body, with a very high lethal dose.

While LSD primarily impacts the mind, intense hallucinations can trigger panic attacks leading to potential heart problems.

Delusions caused by LSD can lead to reckless actions like attempting to fly or engaging in dangerous stunts.

HPPD is a condition where individuals continue to experience visual distortions and flashbacks after a psychedelic experience.

Flashbacks triggered by specific situations or stimuli like darkness or marijuana use are common symptoms of HPPD.

HPPD affects roughly 4.2% of LSD users and can also occur after using other psychedelics.

Flashbacks and sensory disturbances from HPPD can significantly impact social, work, and overall functioning.

Combining LSD with other substances like stimulants, antipsychotics, or anticholinergics can elevate body temperature dangerously, potentially leading to death.

A category of drugs causing alterations in perception, cognition, and behavior.

A type of psychedelic found in magic mushrooms (genus Psilocybe) that induces hallucinations and altered consciousness.

The active ingredient in the peyote cactus, used by Aztec and Native American cultures in rituals and healing.

A psychedelic found in the bark of a tropical vine, used by tribes in the Western Amazon for healing rites.

A psychedelic found in various plants, insects, and amphibians, known as "Dimitri" on the streets.

A psychoactive compound found in nutmeg, producing effects when ingested in large quantities (toxic in high doses).

A psychedelic found in Salvia divinorum, used traditionally for healing and spiritual rituals.

A psychedelic found in Amanita muscaria mushrooms, causing hallucinations and intense dream-like states.

A potent hallucinogen, synthesized in the late 1930s, causing altered perceptions and distorted reality.

The preferred term for drugs that alter sensory perception and induce altered states of consciousness, replacing inadequate terms like "hallucinogen" and "psychotomimetic."

LSD increases the duration of activity in neurons that release glutamate, leading to heightened overall neural activity.

The raphe nuclei are the primary source of serotonin in the brain, a neurotransmitter crucial for mood regulation, sleep, and other functions.

LSD inhibits the release of serotonin from the raphe nuclei, leading to a decrease in the activity of the locus coeruleus, a brain region involved in attention, arousal, and stress response.

Activation of the 5-HT2A receptor by LSD is responsible for the psychedelic experience, including altered sensory perception, hallucinations, and changes in emotional processing.

LSD enhances neural signaling in the prefrontal cortex (mPFC) by increasing glutaminergic activity, contributing to the intensified subjective experiences of sensory and emotional input.

By inhibiting serotonin output from the raphe nuclei, LSD reduces the filtering of sensory information, leading to perceptual distortions and hallucinatory effects.

LSD's effects are characterized by three distinct phases: initial, sensory, and emotional/cognitive.

The first phase of LSD effects typically involves minor physiological changes like increased blood pressure, dilated pupils, and potential nausea.

During the sensory and perceptual phase of LSD, users experience closed-eye visuals, synesthesia, multilevel reality perception, and exaggerated perceptions.

The third phase of LSD effects involves emotional swings and cognitive changes, with users experiencing shifts in mood and potentially altered thought processes.

A drug that causes a sense of detachment from reality, with users often feeling separated from their body and surroundings.

The perceived experience of objects moving, changing size, or undulating when under the influence of psychedelics.

A condition triggered by psychedelic use, characterized by ongoing visual distortions and flashbacks, known as HPPD (Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder).

The heightened sensitivity to smells experienced when under the influence of psychedelics, despite possible difficulty in identifying specific odors.

LSD is a potent psychedelic drug that acts as a serotonin agonist, primarily targeting 5-HT2A receptors, affecting various brain areas and cognitive functions.

The locus coeruleus, a brain region involved in fear, emotional responses, and novelty detection, is significantly influenced by LSD. LSD suppresses its baseline activity while enhancing its sensitivity to new stimuli, amplifying responses to unexpected sensory input.

The medial prefrontal cortex, a critical region for decision-making and cognitive integration, is also affected by LSD. This brain region plays a crucial role in how we filter information and make choices, and it's thought to be responsible for the altered states of consciousness often experienced under LSD.

LSD is absorbed rapidly into the bloodstream when taken orally, but only a tiny fraction of the dose reaches the brain. Most of it undergoes extensive metabolism in the liver, and the remainder is excreted through feces and bile.

LSD's effects can last for up to 12 hours, with peak effects occurring between 90 minutes and 5 hours after ingestion. This prolonged duration of action allows for an extended period of altered perception and sensory experiences.

LSD is extremely potent, with effective doses as low as 10 micrograms, which is an incredibly small amount. It's a testament to its powerful effects on the brain.

LSD is colorless, odorless, and tasteless, making it difficult to detect without specialized testing. This makes it a challenging drug to identify without specialized techniques.

Blotter paper is a common way to ingest LSD, where small tabs of the drug are soaked into absorbent perforated paper, and the user tears off a tab and places it on their tongue.

LSD can be administered in various forms, including gelatin chips, powdered pellets, and liquid solutions. These different formats are designed to make the drug more convenient to consume and distribute.

LSD has a historical connection to therapeutic practices, with early exploration of its potential for treating various conditions. However, its recreational use became widespread in the 1960s, leading to a complex cultural history and debate.

LSD has a low risk of causing physical harm to the body.

Animal studies show that the lethal dose of LSD is much higher than recreational doses, and there are no known human deaths from LSD overdose.

There's no evidence that LSD causes brain damage, even at high doses.

Scary hallucinations can lead to panic attacks, possibly causing cardiovascular problems like heart attacks.

Delusional thinking induced by LSD can lead to dangerous actions like attempting to fly or engaging in risky behavior.

LSD affects the brain in three distinct phases: the initial phase with minor physiological effects, the sensory phase with perceptual distortions, and the emotional phase with mood swings.

LSD increases the activity in neurons releasing glutamate, a neurotransmitter involved in learning, memory, and overall brain function.

The raphe nuclei are a group of brain structures responsible for producing serotonin, which regulates mood, sleep, and appetite.

LSD inhibits the release of serotonin from the raphe nuclei, impacting its regulation of the locus coeruleus (LC), involved in attention, stress, and arousal.

The 5-HT2A receptor, a type of serotonin receptor, is primarily targeted by LSD, leading to altered sensory perception, hallucinations, and emotional changes.

LSD enhances neural signaling in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) by increasing glutamate activity. This intensifies sensory and emotional experiences.

LSD inhibits the release of serotonin from the raphe nuclei, reducing sensory filtering. This contributes to hallucinatory effects.

The initial phase of LSD effects is characterized by minor physiological changes, including increased blood pressure, dilated pupils, and possible nausea.

During the sensory phase of LSD, users experience vivid closed-eye visuals, synesthesia, where senses blend, multilevel reality perception, and distorted perceptions.

The emotional phase of LSD effects involves mood swings, with users experiencing intense shifts from euphoria to fear.

Ketamine (K) is a dissociative anesthetic producing detachment from body and environment, often used recreationally and in psychological research.

PCP, also known as 'angel dust', is a dissociative anesthetic causing detachment and hallucinations. It was initially developed as an anesthetic but gained notoriety for its recreational use and potentially harmful effects.

The 1960s and 70s saw widespread experimentation with psychedelics like LSD, often in higher doses, with a focus on personal growth and spiritual exploration.

While psychedelics were initially celebrated for their potential to expand consciousness, their recreational use has shifted towards pleasure and entertainment, often in lower doses.

Under the influence of psychedelics like LSD, visual distortions occur, altering perceptions of size, movement, and colors. These can range from objects appearing to undulate or change in size to experiencing morphing shapes and enhanced visual experiences.

LSD targets the locus coeruleus, a brain region involved in fear, emotional responses, and novelty detection. It suppresses the locus coeruleus's normal activity while making it more sensitive to sensory input, leading to amplified responses to the new.

LSD's primary mechanism of action involves activating serotonin 5-HT2A receptors. This activation leads to widespread changes in brain activity and sensory processing.

LSD's effect on the prefrontal cortex (mPFC) enhances the signaling of information through the increased activity of glutamate, leading to intensified subjective experiences of sensory input and emotional responses.

LSD's effects take up to 12 hours, with peak effects between 90 minutes and 5 hours after ingestion.

LSD is extremely potent, with effective doses as low as 10 micrograms. This means that a very small amount can produce significant effects.

LSD is colorless, odorless, and tasteless, making it difficult to identify without specialized testing.

Blotter paper is a common way to consume LSD, where small tabs of the drug are soaked into absorbent paper, and the user tears off a tab and places it on their tongue.

LSD can be administered in various forms, including gelatin chips, powdered pellets, and liquid solutions.

LSD has a historical connection to therapeutic practices, with early exploration of its potential for treating various conditions. However, its recreational use became widespread in the 1960s, leading to a complex cultural history and debate.