Can You Overdose on LSD?

LSD, also known as acid, is a powerful psychedelic drug that can change how you see and experience the world. While many people use it to explore their minds, any use of this Schedule I drug can be highly dangerous. Taking too much LSD can lead to serious problems, both physically and mentally. 

Overdosing on LSD is rare but possible. This page explores what happens if you take too much acid, highlights the signs of LSD overdose, and shows you how to get compassionate and effective addiction treatment.

What Is LSD?

LSD stands for lysergic acid diethylamide. It’s a powerful illicit hallucinogen that makes people see and feel things that aren’t real. Acid was first made in 1938 by a scientist named Albert Hofmann. He found that it could cause extreme changes in a person’s thoughts and senses.

People usually take LSD by placing small paper squares – acid tabs – on their tongue. These tabs are soaked with the drug. Sometimes, LSD comes as a liquid or tiny pills. After taking LSD, effects can start in 30 to 60 minutes and last for 12 hours or so.

When under the influence of LSD, a person might see bright colors, swirling patterns, or things that aren’t there. Time might feel like it’s moving too slow or too fast. Some people feel joyful and connected when taking the drug, while others might feel scared or nervous. These experiences are called trips.

Can You Overdose on Acid?

An overdose happens when someone takes too much of a drug, leading to harmful effects. Can you overdose on LSD, then? 

While deaths from LSD overdose are extremely rare, consuming too much of the drug can be dangerous. High doses might lead to panic attacks, severe confusion, or risky behaviors. In some cases, people might harm themselves or others because they’re not thinking clearly after taking LSD.

Keep in mind that everyone reacts differently to drugs – what feels manageable for one person might be too much for another. Being aware of the risks may help you to avoid using this controlled substance.

How Much Acid Is Too Much?

A typical dose of LSD ranges from 50 to 150 micrograms, which is a small amount. Taking more than this increases the chance of having a bad experience. 

There’s no exact number that defines too much for everyone. However, doses over 400 micrograms are generally considered high. At such levels, the effects can become overwhelming and hard to manage.

Since LSD is an illegal drug, there’s no control over how potent each tab is. This uncertainty makes it risky because you might unknowingly take a stronger dose than intended.

What Happens if You Take Too Much LSD?

Taking too much LSD can lead to a number of troubling effects. Mentally, the trip can become overwhelming and frightening. You might experience extreme confusion, panic, or intense fear. These feelings can make it hard to tell what’s real and what’s not. Some people might see scary things that aren’t really there or feel like they’re losing control of their mind.

Physically, taking too much LSD can cause your heart to race, make you sweat a lot, and leave you feeling shaky. Your muscles might twitch, and you could feel nauseous or even start vomiting. The effects can be so intense that you might not be able to sleep, even though you feel exhausted.

The mental and physical symptoms combined can be dangerous. You might do things you wouldn’t normally do, like putting yourself in risky situations or even hurting yourself without realizing it. The effects of taking too much LSD can last for hours, making it a prolonged and scary experience.

Risk of Death—Can LSD/Acid Kill You?

Can acid kill you? LSD by itself is unlikely to cause death, but that doesn’t mean it’s safe to use. The real danger comes from what people might do while they’re on a high dose of LSD. When someone is tripping too hard, they might have poor judgment or make dangerous decisions. A person might think they can fly or that they’re invincible, for instance, leading them to jump from a high place or walk into traffic.

Another risk comes from mixing LSD with other drugs or alcohol, which can lead to severe and unpredictable reactions. Some people might accidentally take a substance that looks like LSD but is actually something more dangerous, increasing the risk of serious harm or death.

While it’s extremely uncommon, there have been a handful of cases where people had fatal reactions after taking LSD, especially when combined with other substances or when they were already in a bad physical or mental state. So, while LSD alone might not be deadly, it can still lead to dangerous and life-threatening situations.

Signs of an Acid Overdose

Recognizing the signs of an LSD overdose can help you intervene as soon as possible if you feel that someone you know has taken too much acid. Here are some key signs to watch for:

• Extreme anxiety or panic: The person may feel intense fear or dread without any clear reason. They might have trouble calming down or may be unable to stop thinking about scary or negative thoughts.

• Paranoia: A strong feeling that something bad is about to happen or that others are out to get them. This can make the person act defensively or aggressively.

• Confusion: The person may not know where they are, what they’re doing, or who they are with. They might struggle to understand what’s real and what’s not, leading to disorientation.

• Hallucinations: Seeing, hearing, or feeling things that aren’t really there. Hallucinations can be vivid and frightening, making the person feel like they’re in danger.

• Rapid heartbeat: The person’s heart may start beating very quickly, which can be felt as pounding in their chest. This can be uncomfortable and alarming, especially when combined with other symptoms.

• High blood pressure: Blood pressure may rise significantly, increasing the risk of more serious complications like a heart attack or stroke.

• Sweating and flushed skin: The person may start sweating excessively and might have a flushed or red appearance, especially on their face.

• Tremors or shaking: Uncontrollable shaking or muscle twitching can occur, making it hard for the person to stay still or hold things.

• Nausea and vomiting: Feeling sick to the stomach is common, and the person might start vomiting. This can be particularly dangerous if they are not fully conscious, as it increases the risk of choking.

• Dizziness or fainting: The person may feel lightheaded or dizzy and could faint or lose consciousness, especially if they are standing or walking.

• Seizures: In severe cases, the person might experience seizures, which are sudden and uncontrollable jerking movements. This is a medical emergency and requires immediate attention.

• Difficulty breathing: Breathing might become rapid or shallow, or the person could struggle to catch their breath. This can lead to a dangerous situation if not addressed quickly.

• Loss of coordination: The person may have trouble walking or performing simple tasks. They might stumble, fall, or have difficulty controlling their movements.

• Unconsciousness: In the most severe cases, the person might pass out or become unresponsive. This is a sign that immediate medical help is needed.

If you notice any of these signs in yourself or someone else after taking LSD, seek emergency medical help right away. Stay with the person, keep them calm, and ensure they don’t harm themselves or others until help arrives.

Can Acid Be Laced?

Acid can sometimes be laced with other dangerous substances. Since LSD is an illegal drug, there’s no regulation on how it’s manufactured or sold. This means that the acid you get might not be pure. Sometimes, other drugs are mixed in, either to make it stronger or to mimic the effects of LSD.

Some blotter papers sold as LSD may contain a drug called N-bomb (25I-NBOMe), which is much more dangerous. This drug can cause severe reactions, including death, even in small amounts. The problem with laced acid is that you never really know what you’re taking, which makes it much riskier.

When acid is laced with other substances, it can increase the chances of having a bad trip or an overdose. The effects can be unpredictable, and the added substances might cause harmful reactions that you wouldn’t expect from LSD alone.

Is a Bad Trip the Same as an LSD Overdose?

A bad trip and an LSD overdose are not the same, but they can sometimes feel similar. A bad trip happens when someone has a frightening or overwhelming experience while on LSD. During a bad trip, you might feel intense fear, paranoia, or panic. You could see or hear things that are scary or disturbing. These feelings can last for hours and leave you feeling shaken and upset.

An LSD overdose, on the other hand, occurs when someone takes a very large amount of the drug, leading to physical and mental problems that can be dangerous. While a bad trip mostly involves negative feelings and thoughts, an overdose can cause more serious symptoms like seizures, unconsciousness, or heart problems.

A bad trip can happen even with a small or normal dose of LSD, especially if the person is in a bad mood or a stressful environment. An overdose usually requires a much larger dose of the drug, though. Both situations can be very distressing, but an overdose is more likely to lead to physical harm and might require medical attention.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a bad trip, stay calm, try to reassure them, and get to a safe place. If you think it might be an overdose, get medical help right away.

Negative Effects of LSD on the Body & Brain

LSD can have many effects on both the body and the brain. While some people might take LSD for the mind-altering experiences, these effects can be harmful. The drug can cause immediate problems that last for hours, as well as longer-lasting issues that could affect your life for years.

Short-Term

In the short term, LSD can cause a range of physical and mental symptoms. Some of these include:

• Hallucinations: You might see, hear, or feel things that aren’t really there, which can be scary and disorienting.

• Rapid heartbeat: LSD can make your heart race, which might feel uncomfortable or even painful.

• High blood pressure: Your blood pressure might go up, which can be dangerous, especially if you have heart problems.

• Nausea and vomiting: Some people feel sick to their stomach and might throw up after taking LSD.

• Dizziness: You could feel lightheaded or unsteady on your feet, making it hard to move around safely.

• Anxiety and panic: Even a small amount of LSD can cause intense feelings of fear or worry, which can be hard to manage.

• Trouble sleeping: The effects of LSD can last for hours, making it difficult to relax or sleep, even if you’re exhausted.

Long-Term

The long-term effects of LSD can be more serious and harder to manage. These effects can last long after the drug has worn off, in some cases triggering mental health issues that may persist for some time.

• Flashbacks: Some people experience flashbacks, where they suddenly relive parts of their trip days, weeks, or even years later. This can be disturbing, especially if the original trip was bad.

• Persistent psychosis: In rare cases, LSD can cause long-term changes to how a person thinks and perceives the world, leading to ongoing mental health issues like hallucinations or paranoia.

• HPPD: HPPD (hallucinogen persisting perception disorder) causes people to keep seeing visual disturbances, like halos or light trails, even when they’re not using the drug. HPPD can be distressing and disruptive to daily life.

• Depression and anxiety: Long-term use of LSD can contribute to lasting feelings of sadness, anxiety, or unease. These mental health issues can be challenging to overcome without professional help.

• Cognitive impairment: Repeated use of LSD may affect memory, attention, and decision-making skills, making it harder to function at home, work, or school.

While some people believe LSD can be used safely, it’s clear that the drug carries significant risks, both in the short and long term. This is why it’s a Schedule I drug and its use should be avoided.

Get Science-Based, Compassionate Addiction Treatment at Gratitude Lodge

Even though acid is not addictive like opioids or alcohol, abusing any Schedule I substance can trigger many complications – we can help you fight back at Gratitude Lodge. When you choose inpatient rehab at our Long Beach or Newport Beach treatment facilities, you get immersive care in a setting with no triggers or distractions.

Supervised detox helps you transition from substance abuse to early recovery. After about one week, you’ll move into an ongoing treatment program at one of our luxury beachside rehabs.

Every addiction is unique, so all our treatment programs offer a personalized combination of the following therapies:

• Counseling
• Talk therapy
• Motivational therapy
• Medication-assisted treatment
• Family therapy
• Group therapy
• Holistic treatments
• Aftercare

Begin your recovery from substance abuse by calling 800-994-2184.