LSD
lysergic acid diethylamide
Comparing r1 → r1.a6+2,249bytes
Edit summaryRestore reagent testing, appearance and the identification guide carried by r1. They were dropped when amendment r1.a2 was created on 2026-09-20: the amendment copier carried only the summary columns (fixed 7d6e6ade8). Values copied unchanged from r1.
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| Lethal dose | Not established in humans; estimated roughly 1,000 times the standard active dose{{flag|safety-citation-needed}} |
| Confirmed deaths | '''None''' from LSD's direct pharmacological effects{{cite|doi=10.1124/pr.115.011478|anchor=9faa2349}} |
| Psychological | [[glossary:hppd|HPPD]] Type II: chronic perceptual disturbances; can occur after a single exposure{{cite|doi=10.1007/7854_2016_457|anchor=c7e71d58}} |
| Character | Alert, outward engagement with the world rather than inward absorption |
| Versus | Runs longer with more physical energy than [[substance:psilocybin-mushrooms|psilocybin mushrooms]]{{cite|doi=10.1038/s41386-023-01607-2|anchor=ce0dd9ca}} |
| Common form | Blotter paper |
| Test | Purple/violet reaction: [[substance_class:chemical/indole|indole]] compound confirmed; no reaction means not LSD |
| Plan for | 8 to 12 hours of effects; clear 12–16 hours with no obligations |
| Seek help if | Seizures (especially if taking [[substance:lithium|lithium]]); dangerous behavior; signs of [[glossary:serotonin-syndrome|serotonin syndrome]] |
| Withdrawal | No [[glossary:physical-dependence|physical dependence]] and no [[glossary:withdrawal|withdrawal]]{{cite|doi=10.1124/pr.115.011478|anchor=cce8159d}} |
| Escalating use | Frequent use can develop, especially when avoiding difficult emotions |
| International | Schedule I, UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances (1971); no jurisdiction has rescheduled |
| Typical national status | Controlled in virtually all named jurisdictions; research exemptions available in some |
| Distinctive | 100 to 1,000 times more potent by weight than psilocybin or [[substance:dmt|DMT]]{{cite|doi=10.1111/bph.17361|anchor=08d965bf}} |
* [[glossary:default-mode-network|Default mode network]] disruption is the neural basis of [[effect:ego-dissolution|ego dissolution]]{{cite|doi=10.1073/pnas.1518377113|anchor=dbe28e79}}
| Distinctive | Protein loop traps LSD inside the receptor; effects outlast blood clearance{{cite|doi=10.1016/j.cell.2016.12.033|anchor=f532192b}} |
| Origin | Albert Hofmann synthesized it in 1938 at Sandoz Laboratories in Basel{{cite|doi=10.1124/pr.115.011478|anchor=c6de8805}} |
| Today | Phase 2 trials now active for [[effect:depression|depression]], [[effect:anxiety|anxiety]], and [[glossary:substance-use-disorder|alcohol use disorder]] |
=== Structural class ===
LSD belongs to the '''ergoline''' family — a class of compounds derived from ergot fungus (''Claviceps purpurea''). Its molecular formula is C₂₀H₂₅N₃O.
The molecule's rigid ring structure holds it in a fixed shape that fits [[glossary:receptor-binding]] sites exceptionally well — which is why LSD is 100 to 1,000 times more potent by weight than simpler [[substance_class:psychoactive/psychedelic|psychedelics]] like psilocybin or [[substance:dmt]]{{cite|doi=10.1111/bph.17361|anchor=fe9fcff1}}.