LSD is a synthetic drug and buying LSD is not legal in the United States. As per NIDA reports, LSD had been lawfully manufactured in pharmaceutical grade quality but at the same time was not approved as medicine.
Most LSD sold on the streets is produced illegally. However, LSD is not an entirely new drug. Albert Hofmann, a Swiss scientist, created and ingested the first sample of LSD in 1938. There are many different types of LSDs; most of them are taken orally and are colorless or brown.
Moreover, the effects can last longer depending on the dose and method of ingestion. Let's learn more about how long the LSD trip lasts and other facts through this blog.
Table Of Contents:
- Why Do People Take LSD?
- How Long Does An LSD Trip Last?
- Why Do LSD Effects Last So Long?
- How To Minimize The Negative Effects Of LSD Duration?
Why Do People Take LSD?
LSD is a hallucinogen (a drug that distorts what you think, feel, and see). The experience of being on LSD can be fun, enlightening, and exciting but also confusing. It can distort your perception of time and reality.
LSD was initially designed to be a research chemical to understand the effects of other drugs (such as mescaline). Still, it soon became popular due to its psychedelic effects, including distortion of time and space. However, other reasons for taking LSD are a creative inspiration, increased social awareness, and spiritual enlightenment.
As per the studies, people in a safety survey were asked about their reasons for using LSD. The most common reasons were to experience a spiritual experience, self-exploration, and psychological insight.
How Long Does An LSD Trip Last?
The effects of LSD are not permanent, but the length of the trip can vary depending on the dose and method of ingestion. The usual speed of onset is 30 to 90 minutes, but it depends on the user's metabolism, body fluids, weight, and even repeated use.
Although, LSD trips can last from 6 to 12 hours. It all depends on the dose, tolerance, and individual reactions. The effects of LSD can last for a little more than 24 hours.
In other words, when the effects of LSD wear off, there is still a residual amount of the drug in your body, and you might experience flashbacks or a flash flood of memories from your trip. However, based on research and experimental studies, depending on the amount of acid they ingest, the average person can expect the following:
- 100-250 microgram dose taken orally: The effect starts within 30 to 90 minutes, reaches the peak at 1 to 3 hours, and ends after 9 to 12 hours.
- 100-250 microgram dose taken via intramuscular injection: The effect starts within 30 to 90 minutes, reaches the peak within 1 hour, and ends after 9 to 10 hours.
- 40-180 microgram dose taken via intravenous injection: The effect starts within 5 to 30 minutes, reaches the peak at 40 to 60 minutes, and ends after 8 to 12 hours.
- 20-60 microgram intraspinal dose: The effects start within 20 to 60 minutes, reach the peak 45 to 110 minutes after injection, and end after 9 to 10 hours.
Moreover, if someone has a positive experience, it is considered a good trip. On the other hand, if the experience is negative, the person has a bad trip. Both have similar effects, but one can vary from the other. Some of the prominent differences between both of them are as follows:
- A good trip is characterized by strong positive effects and a sense of well-being and happiness. On the other hand, a bad trip is characterized by persistent negative effects and anxiety, agitation, or panic.
- A good trip lasts for about 10 to 12 hours. A bad trip lasts for about 24 hours, but it can last for several days or even weeks if the individual has a severe reaction.
- A good trip is associated with a sense of connection, spiritual and emotional awakening, and insight. A bad trip is associated with confusion, depression, fear, anxiety, and panic.
Coming Down From A Trip
Coming down refers to the process when LSD's effects start to wear off when the person begins to go back to normal because they manage to get rid of LSD from their body.
The time it takes for your brain and body to get "drug-free" again also depends on the amount of acid you used, tolerance, metabolism, fluid intake, and weight of the user. Usually, it takes about 12 hours for an individual's system to eliminate LSD from their body.
Additionally, a person can go through several hallucinations, anxiety, and nausea stages.
Why Do LSD Effects Last So Long?
The most common reason LSD effects last so long are that it strongly affects the serotonin receptors. The drug reduces the amount of serotonin in the brain. Therefore, an individual is immune to coming down and has a good trip for several hours or days.
Moreover, it's a synthetic drug that can cause flashbacks for a more extended period. When acid molecules land on the receptor site of serotonin, they bind and activate it to send new messages to the brain.
If there is an intense LSD trip, the brain cannot handle all of these new messages, and then the user can go through a psychological disorder. It is why some people who use LSD may experience flashbacks from 1 to 3 months later.
A flashback is when an individual has recurrent memories from a drug trip. The person may relive the same event repeatedly or have terrifying visions or flashbacks about an event.
Other reasons why LSD effects last so long include:
- Repeated LSD use: The user can have more tolerance with repeated use. The user needs to take a higher dose to achieve the same effect.
- The physical condition: If a person is physically weak, it will take longer for their body to eliminate LSD from their system. Therefore, the drug stays in their body longer and has more potent effects.
- The user's body weight: If a person is overweight, the body has more fat and water. LSD can quickly bond with the fat and get stored in the body for a more extended period. It also takes longer for an individual to eliminate LSD from their system.
When LSD effects last longer than usual, it can cause panic attacks and irrational thinking. If you are experiencing such symptoms, do not hesitate to consult your doctor about it immediately.
How To Minimize The Negative Effects Of LSD Duration?
To minimize the negative effects of LSD, you should be careful when using it, or you should not use it at all. Know about your dose if you have decided to use it for intoxication purposes.
When using LSD, always take it safely and with trustworthy people. If you start experiencing bad trip symptoms, try to relax, slow down your breathing, and focus on calming things around you.
Additionally, relaxing and listening to music can help you get rid of the bad trip symptoms. When you feel like your system is getting under control, you can go to sleep and wake up another day feeling much better.
Once the effects wear off, contact a medical professional immediately. However, you should know that if you use LSD repeatedly over a short period, it can lead to addiction. Also, this drug can cause serious health problems.
Therefore, do not use drugs of any kind, including LSD. Always seek professional help to get rid of your drug dependency.
Summing Up
LSD effects last longer than usual because the drug has a substantial impact on the serotonin receptors in your brain. It takes a more extended period for the person to get rid of LSD from their body, so it lasts longer than usual.
If you are new to LSD or are thinking about using it, please be very careful because it can cause severe visual hallucinations, fears, and paranoia. Therefore, make sure you don't have any history of mental illness and check with your doctor first before using it.
FAQ
Do You Get The Same Effects From Different Types Of LSD?
Yes, the type of LSD can make a difference in the strength of its effects. For example, LSD blotters are the most common type, and they have a higher dose of LSD than other types. Additionally, microdots have smaller amounts and are extremely rare.
"Blotter acid" or "Windowpanes" are the most common kinds you can buy. You can also find them in liquid and powder form, which often looks like salt or sugar. But what you need to remember is that all of these forms still contain high amounts of LSD, so please use them with caution if you don't want to experience a bad trip.
Can mixing LSD with other drugs make its effects last longer than usual?
Yes, mixing LSD with other drugs can make its effects longer than usual. If you take any other drugs with LSD, you need to know that the drug's effects can mix and cause adverse severe psychological problems.
For example, if you mix LSD and marijuana, it will cause your mind to become more altered or "tripped out." LSD can bind with THC and cause mental effects similar to those you experience while intoxicated by marijuana.
Therefore, this leads to bad trips, confusion, and fears. Additionally, if you mix LSD with other drugs such as cocaine, PCP (phencyclidine), ecstasy (MDMA), amphetamines, and heroin, then it's going to make your trip more intense or "bad."
Also, LSD can be mixed with alcohol because the two are both hallucinogens. The effects of alcohol last a lot longer than usual if you combine it with LSD.
Does It Hurt Your Brain If You Use LSD?
Yes, LSD is a potent hallucinogen because it causes distortions to the user's perception of reality and makes them have delusions and hear voices that aren't there. Therefore, this can cause the user to develop brain damage or mental disorders.