Severe Neurological Sequelae after a Recreational Dose of LSD

This case report highlights that LSD can be dangerous, leading to seizure and brain damage, but this should be read in the context of millions of dosages (of LSD) being taken each year.

Abstract

“A young man with an unremarkable medical history suffered a seizure with subsequent cardiorespiratory arrest and severe neurological sequelae after ingesting a blotter. Analysis of a similar blotter and a serum sample obtained 3 hours after the event detected lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) at the amount of 300 μg in the blotter and at a concentration of 4.0 ng/mL (12.4 nmoles/L) in serum. No other drugs were present in concentrations which may confer significant effects. In addition, no individual traits which would make the patient particularly susceptible to adverse LSD effects have subsequently been identified. This suggests that LSD may confer toxic effects in previously healthy individuals.”

Authors: Rachel Aakerøy, Wenche Rødseth Brede, Stian Bergseng Stølen, Hege-Merete Krabseth, Lisbeth Solem Michelsen, Trine Naalsund Andreassen, Tiina Ader, Joachim Frost, Grete Slettom, Ole Martin Steihaug & Lars Slørdal

Notes

The other friends who ingested similar blotters (of LSD) didn’t report these negative consequences.

The sampling of other blotters did show that there were other drugs present in it (maybe from being stored in the same place) but all at very small quantities.

Earlier research (Leonard et al, 2018) found a prevalence of 4% of seizures (but not long-term brain damage) in a sample of reports that were reported to the United States poison centers. In the current paper it’s not made clear that this (n=3,544) sample is but a very small subsample of LSD users (over a 16 year period). Or in other words, the chance of seizure is not 4%