GHB / GBL
28. September 2016What is it?
LSD
LSD is a solid, colorless, tasteless and odorless substance.
LSD-Lösungen sind durchsichtig, geruchs- und geschmacklos. Sie werden meist auf verschiedene Materialien aufgetragen, z.B. auf Löschpapier (auch “Pappe” oder “Ticket” genannt) oder Zuckerwürfel. LSD kann auch in sogenannten Mikros enthalten sein (sehr kleine Tabletten mit einem Durchmesser von ein paar Millimetern). Mikros enthalten jedoch oft den Wirkstoff 2C-B und seltener LSD.
In rare cases, LSD is found in powder form.
How is it taken?
LSD is usually consumed orally by melting the substance on the tongue or swallowing it. You can also mix LSD into a drink and then drink it.
Intravenous consumption is possible, but not very common, as the effect is hardly different.
A common, average dose is 1 µg per kg body weight (1 µg = 1 microgram = 1 millionth of a gram). Swallowed, the effect occurs after about 30 – 60 minutes and lasts for about 6 – 12 hours (at high doses up to 24 hours). An intensive effect can only be achieved again after a few days of consumption break.
The active ingredient content of LSD varies strongly – the effect of one cardboard or one drop can range from a minimal effect to a very intense psychedelic experience. This variety makes it almost impossible for you to predict what the effect will be in the end.
How does it feel?
Every substance has a different effect on different people. The effect of LSD depends on personal factors (body mass, habituation, ingested amount, on a full or empty stomach, …). An important role is played by your environment, and by your mental and physical condition.
When illegal substances are consumed, it is usually not known how much active ingredient is in the drug or parts of it. This makes accurate dosing difficult and increases the likelihood of unintended effects.
The effect of LSD depends very much on the dose. Here you find a rough classification:
- 5-20 µg: Dosages for microdosing
You do not experience intoxication, but rather an increased sense of well-being or performance. - 25-50 µg: threshold dose
You feel mild physical and weak psychological effects - 50-100 µg: dosages frequently used at parties
You experience clearly perceptible psychological and physical effects. In this dose range, experienced consumers can usually still orientate themselves sufficiently well, even when exposed to strong stimuli at parties. - 100-200 µg: Dosage used today in clinical trials and in LSD-based psychotherapies.
- 200-500 µg: Intense psychedelic experiences and strong (pseudo)hallucinations.
- 500-850 µg: Very high dosages, especially used earlier in psychedelic therapies, with very strong alterations of consciousness.
LSD primarily affects cognition. At the same time, LSD has a mild euphoric effect and increases mental alertness. Usually you can remember many details of the trip well. The experience of the trip is very much dependent on one’s own inner state and the environment. Music, colors and feelings are perceived differently, the perception of time changes, people and environments take on new meanings. Partial synesthesias occur (e.g., being able to see music, being able to taste colors). One’s own tactile sensation and sexual desire also change. Objects change their shapes or size and/or things are seen that are not real. In most cases, consumers are able to judge what is real and what is not – it is less common that it is no longer possible to distinguish between imagination and reality.
LSD has a much weaker effect if you take it again shortly after the last trip. Only after waiting several days can a comparable effect be achieved again at the same dose.
Side effects and long-term impact
Common side effects of LSD are:
- queasy feeling in the stomach
- nausea
- dizziness
- Tingling sensation on the skin (esp. at onset of action)
- Blood pressure and pulse increase
- Breathing becomes faster
- Increased body temperature
- Reduced ability to react and judge (can lead to accidents).
Durch den Konsum von LSD können verdrängte Gedanken oder Erlebnisse wieder hochkommen. Es können angstvolle Gedanken und Panikattacken auftreten (sog. “Horrortrip”). Hier kann es passieren, dass eine panische oder sehr verwirrte Person sich selbst oder andere Personen verletzt. Nach dem Konsum kann es schwer sein, wieder in die Realität zurückzufinden – die Wahrnehmung bleibt verzerrt (“Hängenbleiben”). Beim Runterkommen kann es zu Gefühlen innerer Unruhe kommen.
Even single use can trigger mental illnesses such as depression, paranoia, and psychosis.
LSD use does not cause long-term physical harm, according to current knowledge. Risks are to be located above all in relation to mental health.
Overdosage
Signs of LSD overdose are:
- nausea
- vomiting
- Foaming at the mouth
- unconsciousness
- Bleedings
- coma
Deaths from LSD overdose have not been reported to date. In the 1960s, a fatal overdose was estimated at 14000 micrograms of LSD, although it can be assumed that this figure does not apply equally to everyone.
If you feel an ongoing state of discomfort, get medical help. If you find an unconscious person, check if the person is breathing, give first aid and call an ambulance (112).
You can find more information about drug emergencies here. You can also contact the following authorities
Drug emergency phone: 01805 313031 (24 hours)
Drug crisis hotline: 030 19237 (24h)
Mixed consumption
Basically, if you take several substances at the same time, you put more strain on your body and your psyche. Individual effects can be intensified, weakened or delayed. The likelihood of overdose or side effects cannot be calculated.
- LSD + alcohol: The alcohol effect is no longer noticeable. Probability of alcohol poisoning increases!
- LSD + cannabis: May increase psychological side effects (e.g., anxiety or development of psychosis).
- LSD + cocaine: The cocaine effect is masked.Overdose with cocaine becomes more likely!
- LSD + MDMA/Ecstasy (“Candyflip”): The substances reinforce each other’s effects. Bei hohen Dosierungen: Extreme serotonin concentration in the brain, possibility of (life-threatening) serotonin syndrome.
- LSD + speed or crystal meth: The effect of speed/crystal is masked. Depending on the order of consumption, the trip may lengthen or shorten (speed/crystal first = shorter trip, vice versa lengthened trip).
Addiction potential and withdrawal
- LSD does not cause physical dependence or withdrawal symptoms. The likelihood of psychological dependence is also low.
- With frequent use, a tolerance builds up.This means you have to take more to feel the same effect. This tolerance formation also relates to related drugs such as mushrooms or mescaline. The habituation effect is usually reversed if you do not consume for three to five days.
Safer Use
- The high begins about 30-60 minutes after ingestion. In some cases, the onset of action may take up to 2 hours, for example, if you have eaten something beforehand. Wait for the effect, do not add more!
- Test a small amount first to avoid overdosing. The active ingredient content of LSD can vary greatly.
- Always measure your own dose. Do not transfer the responsibility for this to others. That way, you’re guaranteed to stay on top of things.
- It is never okay to administer substances to other people without their knowledge and consent! You endanger the life of a person and are liable to prosecution. If you observe such a situation, get help and protect the person concerned.
- A trip on LSD is a drastic experience. The substance enables a deep and emotional exploration of one’s inner spaces. You may be confronted with unpleasant experiences or thoughts. You can try to counteract with positive thoughts or ask another person to calm you down.
- Do not consume LSD on a full stomach and only when you are well-rested and in good mental condition.
- Mixed use makes unexpected and unwanted effects more likely.Avoid using multiple drugs at the same time.
- Prepare to consume. Be sure to choose a quiet environment. Maybe you need some time after the trip to process what you experienced. This will be easier for you if the day after your consumption is free of busy schedules.
- LSD should not be taken alone. Consume together with people you trust and feel comfortable with. Ideally you’re with a person who stays sober and can help, if needed.
- Do not consume, if you are afraid of the effects, with mental illness, cardiovascular problems or epilepsy .
Safer Sex
- LSD can change your view of reality, loosen boundaries, and cause you to view situations differently – making unsafe sex and thus transmission of HIV or other STIs more likely.
- Sex on substances works only with mutual consent and great trust. Especially with LSD, there is always a chance of a bad trip.
- You should only experience sex on LSD together if you know each other and the effect well. Clarify in advance which sex practices you both want and which you don’t want.
- Consume only so much that you can defend yourself or still recognize your partner’s defensive signals.
- Only sleep with people who can communicate boundaries and consent! If a person is so high that he or she is no longer able to converse, he or she is also incapable of giving consent. Under no circumstances may sexual acts be (further) performed on them. This is true even if mutual intentions were previously discussed while conscious. It may be a criminal offense (§ 177 (2) StGB).
- Before getting down to business, get sufficient amounts of sex utensils (gloves, condoms, lubricant) ready.
- Pay attention to your body! If you notice any abnormalities, you should consult a doctor.
- Get tested for sexually transmitted infections at least once a year and check your hepatitis A/B vaccination status.
Interactions with HIV treatment
- Combinations of LSD with the active ingredientEfavirenz (Sustiva®, Atripla®) as well as booster drugs (Norvir®, Tybost®) may lead to increased LSD levels in the blood. In addition, the combination can trigger or intensify hallucinations and psychosis.
- Take drugs and HIV medications at different times. This will reduce interactions, if there are any. Always keep the dose of drugs low when taking medication at the same time.
- Often a night can last a long time, take enough medication with you and keep to the time you take it.
- Talk to your doctor about the interaction of your HIV drugs with intoxicants!
- Information on interactions between substances and HIV medications . can be found here
Counseling
- Would you like to talk about your use, have questions, or are looking for support about substance use?
- Do you want to share and/or reflect on your substance experiences with someone?
- Feeling that you are using too much?
- Are you worried about friends or acquaintances and want advice or tips on how to cope as a friend*?
- Du hast das Gefühl, dass du zu viel konsumierst? Die Drogenberatung in deiner Nähe hilft dir gerne weiter!