How LSD works

How LSD works

LSD is a very powerful psychedelic substance that affects your perception, thinking, feelings, and consciousness. LSD can cause a long and intense trip that can last up to 12 hours. This is because LSD binds to certain receptors in your brain associated with serotonin, an important neurotransmitter. LSD can have various effects, depending on the person, the dose, and the environment. Some effects are:

1. Changes in your senses, such as colors, shapes, sounds, and tastes
2. Increased self-reflection, insight, and creativity
3. Mystical or spiritual experiences and a sense of connection with everything
4. Strong emotions, such as joy, love, fear, or sadness

LSD has such a strong effect because the molecule resembles serotonin and therefore fits well into the receptors to which serotonin normally binds. However, LSD is difficult to get out of the body, which is why it has a long-lasting effect. LSD is also slowly broken down by the liver and excreted via the urine. This is different from other psychedelics such as psilocybin (magic mushrooms) or DMT (ayahuasca).

LSD primarily affects the 5-HT2A receptor, which is involved in many processes in your brain. By stimulating this receptor, LSD can influence your perception, cognition, emotion, and consciousness. It can also increase activity in the prefrontal cortex, which can lead to changes in your thinking and your sense of connectedness with your surroundings.

LSD can also stimulate other 5-HT receptors, such as the 5-HT1A receptor, which is involved in regulating anxiety, depression, and mood. It is not entirely clear how LSD affects this receptor, but it may potentially help reduce anxiety and depression.

In addition to the effects you may notice yourself, LSD also alters the chemical messengers in your brain. Through the stimulation of the 5-HT2A receptor, more glutamate and BDNF are released. Glutamate is a neurotransmitter involved in learning and memory. BDNF is a growth factor that helps create new connections between brain cells. These changes may contribute to the long-term therapeutic effects of LSD.

The LSD trip. The experience you have on LSD depends on many factors, such as how your body works, how much you take, and where you are. A very low dose of LSD will have little to no effect, while a dose of 200 micrograms can produce a full trip.

More information: The effects of LSD | LSD session | LSD therapy