How Long Does Acid Last? The Effects of LSD

LSD, also known as acid, is one of the most potent hallucinogenic drugs, known for its ability to alter perception and create intense experiences. Its effects can last for hours, influencing the body and mind unpredictably.

This page explores the science behind LSD and its impact on the brain and body. You will also learn how long it takes for LSD to hit, how long an acid trip lasts, the long-term dangers associated with LSD abuse, and how to get help for substance misuse.

What Is LSD (Acid)?

LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) is a synthetic drug famous for its intense psychedelic effects. It was first created in 1938 by Albert Hofmann, a chemist who discovered its mind-altering properties a few years later. The drug is derived from ergot, a fungus that grows on rye and other grains.

LSD works by influencing the brain’s serotonin receptors. Serotonin is a natural chemical responsible for regulating mood, emotions, and perceptions. By interacting with these receptors, LSD triggers dramatic changes in how people experience the world. People using the drug may experience vivid colors, altered shapes, and hallucinations that blur the line between reality and imagination.

Acid is remarkably potent, even in tiny amounts. Its effects depend on many variables, including the dose taken, the person’s mental state, and their surroundings. While it’s known for recreational use, LSD has also been studied for its potential therapeutic benefits. That said, acid remains controversial and is illegal in most parts of the world.

How Acid Affects Your Body

The physical effects of LSD can vary from mild to intense and may depend on the dose, the person’s body, and overall health. After ingesting the drug, individuals may feel changes kick in within 20 to 90 minutes. These effects normally last 6 to 12 hours but can sometimes linger longer.

Common physical effects associated with LSD include:

• Dilated pupils
• Increased blood pressure and heart rate
• Sweating
• Chills
• Nausea
• Shakiness
• Dry mouth

Although temporary, these effects can feel overwhelming, especially during a bad trip. Physical effects of acid usually subside as the drug leaves the body, typically within 24 hours.

How Acid Affects Your Brain

LSD’s most dramatic effects happen in the brain, where it alters how individuals perceive reality. By mimicking serotonin, LSD binds to specific receptors in the brain, leading to powerful changes in thoughts, emotions, and sensory experiences.

Here’s what you might experience during an acid trip:

• Hallucinations: People may see things that aren’t there or perceive ordinary objects in strange ways, such as melting walls or kaleidoscopic colors.
• Enhanced emotions: Feelings of joy, wonder, or fear can be magnified.
• Distorted sense of time: Time may feel like it’s speeding up, slowing down, or standing still.
• Altered self-awareness: People often feel a deep connection to their thoughts, surroundings, or the universe.

These effects can feel exhilarating for some but terrifying for others, especially during a bad trip. LSD also impacts memory and decision-making during a trip, making it difficult to focus or think clearly.

While the drug’s effects normally wear off after a day, some people report lingering flashbacks or afterglow feelings. In rare cases, long-term issues like anxiety or HPPD (hallucinogen persisting perception disorder) can occur, provoking ongoing sensory disturbances.

Look, Taste, & Smell of Acid

LSD is a colorless, odorless liquid usually placed on absorbent materials for easier consumption. The most common form is blotter paper—small, colorful squares with drops of LSD soaked into them. These squares are often cut into smaller pieces called tabs, with one tab being enough for a single dose.

Other forms of LSD include:

• Sugar cubes: LSD is dripped onto sugar cubes, making it easier to ingest.
• Gelatin squares: Also known as windowpanes, these are translucent sheets of LSD-infused gelatin.
• Pills or capsules: LSD is less commonly found in pills or capsules—these allow for precise dosing.

LSD itself has no noticeable taste or smell, but the materials used to carry it may add a faint sweetness or chemical flavor.

How Long Does an LSD Trip Last?

LSD trips can be long and unpredictable. Most trips last 6 to 12 hours, but the effects can extend beyond this range depending on the dose, the person, and their mental state. While the journey itself may feel endless to the person under its influence, there is a typical LSD timeline:

• Onset (20 to 90 minutes): After taking LSD, the effects start to appear gradually. Individuals might feel slight changes in mood or perception like heightened colors or a sense of anticipation. Nausea or restlessness may accompany the onset of an acid trip.
• Peak (2 to 4 hours): This is when the trip is at its most intense. Hallucinations, vivid distortions, and profound emotional shifts are common. Some people describe feeling completely detached from reality, while others report euphoria or spiritual insights.
• Plateau (6 to 8 hours): The intensity of the trip begins to fade, but sensory distortions and emotional effects can persist. Many people feel a sense of calm during this phase, although confusion or fatigue might also set in.
• Comedown (10 to 12 hours): By this stage, most of the drug’s effects have worn off. Some people report feeling residual emotional or sensory changes (acid afterglow).

After an acid trip ends, it can take up to 24 hours for the body and mind to return to normal.

How Long Does It Take for LSD to Kick In?

The effects of LSD don’t begin instantly—the drug takes 20 to 90 minutes to kick in, although this may vary depending on the method of ingestion, individual metabolism, and whether the person has eaten recently.

When taken orally—such as on blotter paper or a sugar cube—LSD needs time to dissolve and enter the bloodstream through the digestive system. People often report feeling an initial rush or tingling sensation as the drug begins to take hold.

Some people might feel impatient during the waiting period, leading them to take more and provoking an unexpectedly strong trip.

LSD Duration

The total duration of an LSD trip depends on several factors, including the dose, the person’s tolerance, and whether other substances are used at the same time. On average:

• Mild doses: Effects last 6 to 8 hours.
• Moderate to high doses: Trips may stretch up to 12 hours or more.
• After-effects: Even after the trip ends, lingering feelings like euphoria, anxiety, or fatigue may persist for 6 hours.

The intensity of an LSD experience means the trip may feel longer than it is. This is due to the drug’s ability to distort the sense of time.

Effects of an Acid Trip

During an acid trip, the effects on the mind and body can vary greatly depending on the individual and their surroundings. That said, there are some common effects that many people experience:

The mental and emotional effects of an acid trip include:

• Hallucinations: People may see patterns, shapes, or colors that don’t exist.
• Heightened senses: Sounds, smells, and textures might feel exaggerated.
• Altered sense of time: Time may feel non-existent, or minutes may feel like hours.
• Emotional shifts: Euphoria, anxiety, and introspection are common.

Physical effects of an acid trip include:

• Dilated pupils: The eyes become highly sensitive to light.
• Increased heart rate: People might feel their pulse quicken.
• Nausea: Some people feel queasy, especially during the trip’s onset.
• Tremors or shakiness: Jittery movements can occur as the body reacts to the drug.

The effects of LSD can swing between positive and negative. While some people describe feelings of deep connection and creativity, others report paranoia, fear, or even terrifying hallucinations during a bad trip.

When Does Acid Peak?

The peak of an acid trip occurs between 2 and 4 hours after the drug is ingested. This is when the effects are at their most powerful and can feel overwhelming for some people.

During the peak, people often experience:

• Intense hallucinations
• Emotional or spiritual insights
• Feelings of detachment from reality or their body

The person’s mood and surroundings—set and setting—determine whether the peak of an acid trip feels euphoric or distressing.

LSD Comedown

The comedown from an acid trip begins as the effects start to fade, usually 8 to 10 hours after taking the drug. During this phase, the intense sensory distortions and hallucinations subside, leaving people with a more grounded sense of reality. Here’s what happens during an acid comedown:

• Fatigue: Many people feel physically and emotionally drained.
• Residual visuals: Mild patterns or distortions may still appear.
• Mood changes: Some people feel calm or reflective, while others might feel anxious or irritable.
• Physical symptoms: Headaches, dehydration, or muscle tension are commonly experienced.

Why Does LSD Last So Long?

LSD lasts so long because of how it interacts with the brain’s serotonin receptors. When LSD molecules bind to these receptors, they become trapped, causing prolonged changes in perception, mood, and thought. The binding process prevents the brain from returning to normal until the molecules are released naturally or metabolized.

Beyond this, LSD’s effects are amplified by its potency. Even a tiny dose of LSD can provoke intense experiences that stretch over many hours. Factors like metabolism, mental state, and tolerance also contribute to the duration of the trip, making it unpredictable.

Does LSD Expire?

LSD loses potency over time, but it doesn’t expire like food or medication. When stored improperly—exposed to heat, light, or moisture—it can degrade more quickly. Blotter paper, for example, might become less effective within months if kept in a humid or sunny environment.

Keeping LSD in a dark, cool, and dry place can help preserve its potency for years. Even under ideal conditions, though, the effects of LSD might weaken over time.

LSD Risks & Dangers

While LSD is not physically addictive, it carries significant risks, particularly during and after a trip. The primary dangers include:

• Bad trips: Unpleasant experiences marked by fear, paranoia, or disturbing hallucinations.
• Accidents or injuries: Impaired judgment during a trip can lead to dangerous behaviors.
• Mental health triggers: LSD can worsen anxiety, depression, or other mental health conditions, especially for those predisposed to psychosis.

For some, even a single dose can have lasting consequences, making the risks hard to predict.

Long-Term Effects of Acid

Although LSD doesn’t cause physical harm to the body, long-term psychological effects can occur, including:

• HPPD (hallucinogen persisting perception disorder): This rare condition causes recurring visual disturbances or flashbacks after the drug is taken.
• Chronic anxiety: Persistent worry or fear linked to bad trips or unresolved emotional experiences.
• Psychological dependence: While not addictive, some people may become reliant on LSD for their emotional escape or creativity.

The severity of these effects often depends on how someone uses LSD and their mental health history.

Adverse Effects & Psychosis

LSD can trigger psychosis in individuals with a predisposition to mental illnesses like bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. Symptoms of drug-induced psychosis include paranoia, hallucinations, and delusions that persist after the drug wears off.

Even in those without a history of mental illness, high doses or frequent use can lead to severe anxiety and disconnection from reality, making professional intervention necessary in some cases.

Addiction

LSD is not physically addictive, meaning it doesn’t create physical cravings or withdrawal symptoms. That said, the drug can be psychologically habit-forming. People might chase the euphoric or mind-expanding effects, leading to repeated use despite the risks.

Tolerance is also a concern—this can develop quickly with LSD. After a few consecutive uses, the drug’s effects become less pronounced, prompting people to take higher doses to achieve the initial impact, initiating a potentially dangerous cycle.

Legal Ramifications

LSD is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance in the United States and many other countries, meaning it is illegal to possess, manufacture, or distribute. The penalties for LSD-related offenses can include:

• Fines: Large monetary penalties for possession or distribution.
• Prison time: Lengthy sentences for trafficking or manufacturing LSD.
• Criminal record: A drug conviction can impact employment and other opportunities.

Treatment for Acid Use & Addiction

Although LSD doesn’t cause physical dependence, treatment may be necessary for individuals struggling with frequent use or mental health issues related to the drug. Common approaches include:

• Therapy: CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) can help people identify triggers for LSD use and develop healthier coping strategies.
• Support groups: Groups like NA (Narcotics Anonymous) provide a safe space for people to share experiences and seek encouragement and accountability.
• Mental health care: Addressing underlying conditions like depression or anxiety is central to long-term recovery from substance misuse.

If someone is using LSD to cope with emotional challenges, professional support can help them find healthier, sustainable solutions.

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Sources

1. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6985449
2. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5870365/
3. https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/schedules/schedules.html