LSD: Lysergic acid diethylamide is an hallucinogen. LSD is an abbreviation of the German term Lysergsaure-Diathylamid for lysergic acid diethylamide.
LSD is considered the typical hallucinogen and the characteristics of its action and effects apply to the other hallucinogens, including mescaline, psilocybin, and ibogaine. LSD was discovered in 1938. It is manufactured from lysergic acid, which is found in ergot, a fungus that grows on rye and other grains.
LSD is sold on the street as "acid" in tablets, capsules, and, occasionally, liquid form. It is odorless, colorless, and has a slightly bitter taste. It is usually taken by mouth. LSD is often added to absorbent paper, such as blotter paper, and divided into small decorated squares, with each square representing one dose.
The effects of LSD are unpredictable. The user usually feels the first effects of the drug 30 to 90 minutes after taking it. The physical effects include dilated pupils, higher body temperature, increased heart rate and blood pressure, sweating, loss of appetite, sleeplessness, dry mouth, and tremors. The user may feel several different emotions at once or swing rapidly from one emotion to another. If taken in a large enough dose, the drug produces delusions and visual hallucinations.
