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░ Definition
Lysergic acid diethylamide, better known as LSD, is a chemical that alters a user´s thoughts, mood and perceptions. For this reason, LSD is grouped into a class of drugs known as hallucinogens or psychedelics, which can cause auditory, visual or somatosensory hallucinations, dream-like states and paranoia.
░ Effects of LSD
The behavior:
LSD is odourless, colorless and tasteless, and so powerful that a dose as small as a single grain of salt can produce some effects. Hallucinations are produced at doses of about 0.050-0.100 mg. The effects of LSD depend on a user´s mood and expectations. These effects can include: feeling of strangeness, vivid colors, hallucinations, confusion and panic, psychosis, anxiety, emotional reactions like sadness or happiness, distortion of time and space, flashback reactions, increase in heart rate and blood pressure, chills, muscle weakness.
░ Nervous system
The process by which LSD affects the brain is not known in detail. The exact neural pathways that are affected by LSD are not completely known. LSD has a chemical structure that is very similar to the neurotransmitter called ‘serotonin’. It is thought that the effects of LSD are caused by stimulation of serotonin receptors on neurons, perhaps in the brain area called the ‘Raphe Nuclei’.
Tolerance to the effects of LSD develops quickly and users must increase their intake of LSD to get the same effects.
░ Important: The 'trip' back
The effects of LSD are long and deep, even up to 12 hours. Therefore, this ‘trip’ is an aggressive experience for the brain. Many times desperate and frightful behaviours develop, like in the case of mental diseases such as psychosis or schizophrenia. Besides, if we consider the ignorance about the complete effects of LSD, we can affirm that the trip back is not assured.
More information (University of Washington) >>
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