LSD Withdrawal Symptoms and Signs, and Detoxification

LSD is a white powder or clear liquid manufactured from the naturally occurring ergot fungus. Here's what you need to know about withdrawal.


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Lysergic acid diethylamide, or LSD, is a white powder or clear liquid manufactured from the naturally occurring ergot fungus. It is considered to be in the psychedelic, psychotomimetic, and hallucinogenic drug classes.

Addicts do not experience physical LSD withdrawal symptoms. Because it does not cause drug-seeking behavior, LSD is not considered an addictive drug. However, users can create a mental reliance on the effects of the drug, which can cause difficulties if the user wants to stop consuming LSD.

Side Effects of LSD Use

Although LSD does not cause physical LSD withdrawal symptoms or lead to addiction, there are excellent reasons to stop using this hallucinogenic drug. Although the initial effects of LSD only last for approximately eight hours, users can experience LSD flashbacks for years after they have stopped using the drug. Regular users of the drug can develop a tolerance to LSD over time. Tolerance to other hallucinogenic drugs has also been reported by regular LSD users.

The effects of using LSD are also unpredictable. When users consume the drug, there is no assurance that they will not experience despair, anxiety, severe terror, and panic attacks. This is known as a “bad trip.” Regular users may have undesirable reactions to the drug, even if the same dosage is repeated.

Physical effects of the drug include sweating, insomnia, and dry mouth. Speech difficulties, tremors, and piloerection are also common. Renal failure, panic, and difficulty discriminating between colors are also effects of using LSD. Some regular LSD users have also experienced long-term problems, such as severe depression and schizophrenia.

How Long Do LSD Withdrawals Last?

LSD withdrawals aren’t like normal drugs, so the timeline for their duration is unpredictable. The length of time the body needs to physically pass the drug is between 24 and 36 hours. However, some people may experience LSD flashbacks even years after last taking the drug. It takes between 24 and 36 hours for LSD to pass through the body and leave the system. The psychological effects can take much longer to resolve, however, and could require treatment programs. Find the professional treatment options in your area if you want to learn about getting help for yourself or someone else.

LSD Withdrawal Treatment Options

People using LSD can safely stop taking it without experiencing any physical symptoms of withdrawal. For this reason, physical LSD withdrawal treatment is not often required. However, overcoming the mental dependence on LSD requires counseling, therapy, and support, just like any other drug addiction. People who would like to stop using LSD may attend an inpatient rehabilitation center to receive supportive care in the form of a quiet room, prepared meals, and easy access to therapy.

People experiencing panic attacks or other evidence of a bad trip should seek medical help. Professionals can administer a fast-acting benzodiazepine, such as diazepam or triazolam, to calm the patient and lessen the symptoms of an LSD-induced panic attack. In other cases, an antipsychotic tranquilizer, such as Thorazine, can be administered to numb the patient and lessen the intensity of the adverse reaction. Neither tranquilizers nor benzodiazepines will end an LSD trip.


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Are There any Home Remedies for Getting Clean Safely?

Due to the unpredictable nature of LSD symptoms, one of two things can happen when a person stops using the drug. One possibility is since there are no physical withdrawal symptoms; the person will be able to stop using immediately once the LSD trip is over. This means the natural home remedy to relieve LSD symptoms is to wait them out until they ease off.

However, the alternative possibility is “flashbacks”—the symptoms of using acid even while the person is not on the drug. These can occur even years after a person has last taken the drug and can lead to serious emotional effects like anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, insomnia, and mental confusion. Whoever needs help—whether it’s a brother, child, friend, or even you want to stop using LSD before its effects get worse—know that there are professionals who can make sure you’re guided safely through the symptoms. Please, check our listing for a treatment center near you to start addressing the effects of acid and find relief today.

Detoxing, Addiction Treatment Rehab and Recovery

Rehabilitation from LSD use may center on building personal relationships, creating career advancement goals, and becoming more involved in the community. Therapy will also help long-term users who experience persistent psychosis, such as depression or schizophrenia, manage their symptoms. In some cases, medication may be required to address these symptoms.

Due to the prevalence of hallucinogen persisting perception disorder, also known as flashbacks or HPPD, a medical intervention may be recommended. In some cases, the symptoms of HPPD have been misdiagnosed as a brain tumor, stroke, or other neurological disorder. Although HPPD does not have an official treatment, some patients report that antidepressants can lessen the effects of the flashbacks. Psychotherapy will help former users of LSD address the confusion and fear that may be associated with HPPD. After experiencing a flashback, patients also report feeling guilty or fearful that they have brain damage. Therapy can help address these problems.



More information about LSD:

LSD Information at a Glance
Medication Name, Costs Dependence and Addiction Issues
  • Generic Name: LSD
  • Generic Name Variations: Acid, Doses, Microdot, Tabs, Trips, Blotter
  • Chemical Name: lysergic acid
  • Cost/Price: $8/hit
  • Cross Dependence: No
  • Physical Dependence: No
  • Psychological Dependence: No
Form, Intake and Dosage Legal Schedules and Ratings
  • Drug Forms: Usually found on blotter paper
  • Administration Routes: Placed on tongue/dissolved
  • Dosage: 20 micrograms
  • Overdose: 150-400 micrograms
  • Controlled Substances Act Rating: Schedule I
Effects and Adverse Reactions Substance Abuse
  • Short-Term: Depends on user personality, mood, and surroundings. Common effects include dilated pupils, increased heart rate, higher body temperature, sweating, dry mouth, and tremors. Mood swings, delusions, and hallucinations are present with higher doses
  • Long-Term: Flashbacks (experience the drug’s short-term effects without taking the drug)
  • Risk of Substance Abuse: Low
  • Signs of Abuse: mood swings, anxiety, disorientation, rapid mood changes, erratic behavior
Physiological Problem Signs and Symptoms
  • Withdrawal Syndrome Onset: N/A
  • Withdrawal Symptoms: N/A
  • Tolerance: Possible