The effects of LSD
The effects of LSD, to the perception of the ingestor, are very similar to those of other psychedelics such as magic mushrooms, DMT, ayahuasca, and many others. The mind-altering effects are largely attributable to the stimulation of the 5HT2a receptors in the brain (frontal lobe), which are actually stimulated by all psychedelics. However, LSD has a unique potency because it binds much more strongly to these receptors than other psychedelics. This results in a more intense and prolonged experience, with trips that can last up to 12 hours, unlike the shorter effects of drugs like psilocybin. The binding of LSD to the 5HT2a receptors leads to significant changes in perception, emotion, and consciousness. This can result in visual hallucinations, heightened introspection, and even mystical experiences.
LSD works more powerfully than other psychedelics
LSD binds to the 5HT2a receptors much better than any other known psychedelic. It seems to stick and bolt to the receptor, making an LSD trip often very long. An LSD trip can last between 8 and 12 hours, while other psychedelics like magic mushrooms produce a trip lasting between 3 and 8 hours. Furthermore, the visual hallucinations can be more intense than most LSD users anticipate.
The disadvantages of LSD
LSD's potency is also its biggest drawback. It seems that of all psychedelics, LSD has the highest risk of psychosis. In my opinion, this is mainly because the trip can last so long that eventually the line between real and "fake" begins to blur. What, then, is an illusion, and what illusion is an illusion within an illusion? Someone might realize during a trip that the life we know is probably also a hallucination. Ultimately, the world we see is a representation of what we believe we see.
Other disadvantages may include:
- The trip turns out to be more intense than you anticipated.
- Bad trip (fear, panic, anxiety).
- Psychiatric illnesses (depression, psychosis) may worsen or last longer.
- Injury caused by placing yourself in a dangerous or clumsy situation.
- In people with a psychiatric illness such as depression or psychosis, LSD exacerbates the condition.
- Latent depression and psychosis can surface and cause long-term distress. Medical treatment is then necessary.
- If you have an illness and/or are taking medication, LSD use is not recommended. It can have dangerous or very unpleasant consequences. Some types of antidepressants (tricyclics) can lead to an LSD overdose.
- There are reports of users experiencing long-term visual disturbances (HPPD). They see very disturbing changes in color, shape, movement, contrast, and so on.
IS LSD suitable for microdosing?
Due to LSD's long-lasting effects, microdosing is certainly possible. Precisely measuring the dosage is difficult because LSD is so potent. It's measured in micrograms of LSD, which is 1000 times less than milligrams. If the microdoses are already prepared and correspond to the desired microdose, dosing is no longer a problem.
Another point to consider is sleep. If you have trouble falling asleep, LSD is probably active for too long, and you should either use a lower dose or take a microdose very early in the morning.
Another question is whether you even want to microdose. In the case of depression, burnout, anxiety, etc., microdosing is merely a means of suppressing symptoms. Suppose a poor lifestyle causes depression (which can be caused by diet). If LSD makes you feel less depressed, you'll still be eating/living poorly and essentially destroying your body. So, even if you do microdose, try to identify areas for improvement.
Is LSD suitable for psychedelic therapy?
LSD can be suitable for psychedelic therapy; people with OCD, for example, benefit more from an LSD session than other groups. However, LSD does have some limitations (due to its intensity and long duration) that are not, or are less, affected by psilocybin, for example. Therefore, LSD is often not the best choice as a therapeutic psychedelic tripping agent. I personally believe that microdosing LSD to a small dose combined with a higher dose of magic mushrooms, magic truffles, or psilocybin can positively contribute to the therapeutic effect of trip therapy, as you can, as it were, create a longer, subtle afterglow. Combining LSD with psilocybin is called a wizard flip and produces many colorful and detailed hallucinations while the trip lasts only about six hours.