Drug Analysis: LSD

History of LSD
Lysergic acid diethylamide. LSD, is a chemical that alters a user’s mood, perceptions, and thoughts. Because of this it is grouped onto the class of drugs known as psychedelics or hallucinogens. These types of drugs cause auditory, visual or somatosensory hallucinations, paranoia or dream-like states. Certain fungus that grows on rye and other grains is what forms LSD. Albert Hofmann in 1938 was working in a Swiss pharmaceutical called Sandoz when he produced LSD for the first time. He hoped that the drug could be used to stimulate circulation and respiration, but all his tests failed and he forgot about it for 5 years. In 1943 Albert ingested LSD by accident and experienced the psychedelic effects of the chemical such as: dizziness, visual distortions, and restlessness. This is what helped identify the actual effects LSD can have on a person.

The effects of LSD
Even though LSD is odorless, colorless, tasteless, and water soluble do not let it fool you it is still VERY dangerous. Even the smallest dose, about .010 mg, can give you all the side effects of the drug. Behavioral effects of LSD include: Feelings of “strangeness”, vivid colors, hallucinations, confusion, panic, psychosis, anxiety, different emotional reactions, distortion of the senses and time and space, multiple flashback reactions, increases in heart rate and blood pressure, chills, and finally muscle weakness. Soon after LSD users become addicted they begin to have a tolerance for it and need to double doses to get the same effects. It is thought that the effects of LSD are caused by stimulation of serotonin receptors on neurons, this happens in an area of the brain called the raphe nuclei. Even with this information no one knows what really produces the effects of the LSD
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/lsd.html