Disclaimer: this article is intended as harm reduction advice. We do not condone illegal activities. Always check your local laws.
This article has been medically reviewed by Katrina Oliveros, MSN-ED, BSN
Acid, LSD, Lucy.
Tabs, doses, drops.
Leary, Lennon, MKUltra.
Lysergic acid diethylamide, the psychedelic poster child, has a rich history surrounded by mystery and myth. First synthesized by Swiss scientist Albert Hofmann in the 1930s, LSD quickly spread into the streets and developed a reputation as a substance like no other.
Less than fifty years after its synthesis, acid had already reached and influenced figures that would change the world, including legendary artists, philosophers, educators, scientists, inventors, businessmen, athletes, and doctors.
LSD played a paramount role in ushering the psychedelic revolution of the 1960s and 70s, which influenced millions to revolt against the status quo, and caused waves that are still rippling through our society today. It’s a potent psychedelic, known to shift perspectives, kill egos, and sometimes completely change lives.
Before you take LSD, you should be sure that it’s what you want to do. Educate yourself on the risks, and the best ways to minimize them. Third Wave offers many resources that help you make the safest decisions, like our Ultimate Guide to Sourcing Psychedelic Medicines.
There are different forms of LSD
In your search for psychedelic candy, you might encounter LSD in a number of different forms.
In its most immediate form, LSD exists as the crystalline result of the reaction between diethylamide and lysergic acid. After mixing or dissolving, it turns into an ingestible liquid. Unless you are making it yourself, a vial of liquid LSD is all pure as it will come and as pure as you’ll want it.
However, LSD mostly comes as a “tab”. People make tabs by dropping a set dose amount of liquid acid onto a sheet of perforated blotting paper. Liquid acid can be dropped on just about anything, though, so a “tab” might also look like a small bit of gelatin, a sugar cube, gummy candies, even cookies.
With a mL syringe or dropper and a carefully measured amount of diluent, one drop of LSD can be more accurately divided in micrograms. Liquid dropped onto blotter paper, however, may not be evenly distributed onto a tab which may not lead to the desired dose when divided.
Other than that, issues regarding freshness or potency will depend more on a reliable source than a specific liquid or tab form.
Proper storage of LSD is also important. The rate of its decline in potency will depend on how it’s stored. Heat, humidity and exposure to UV light will cause LSD potency to deteriorate more quickly.
It can be challenging to know where to begin or which sources you can trust. That’s why we compiled our tips and resources into the Ultimate Guide to Sourcing Psychedelic Medicines.
Learn more about LSD and its history in our Essential Guide.
How to Ingest LSD
Oral ingestion is the safest, most direct way to ingest acid. Usually, people recommend taking it sublingually, or under the tongue. Some might find this experience uncomfortable, especially if using a thicker or wider tab. People prescribe different amounts of time to keep the acid under the tongue.
There’s no need to get caught up in the specifics. Holding a tab under your tongue for 15 minutes instead of 45 won’t profoundly alter your trip.
While the effects may not always be discernible, sublingual vs. oral ingestion (via the gastrointestinal tract by swallowing) along with other varying factors (food content, physiological abnormalities, etc.) will surely make a difference in drug metabolism including onset.
One reason you might want to keep it under your tongue though, especially if it’s your first time trying a particular batch, is to taste and test the acid. Or more accurately, you’ll want to not taste the acid.
LSD shouldn’t leave any taste in your mouth, nor any sense of numbness or bitterness. If you taste something metallic, bitter, or numbing, there’s a good chance it’s not LSD. Sometimes people will sell LSD imitations, which are still psychedelic, though they present a risk of toxicity. The best way to be sure that you are taking pure LSD is to purchase a test kit, such as the kits available at Test Kit Plus.
Where Should You Take LSD?
The physical location of where you take your LSD trip is a very important factor in the experience. You should first familiarize yourself with the concept of Set and Setting in psychedelic experiences.
Briefly, the “set” is short for the mindset during a trip. It includes the preparation and expectations of the voyager and guide before embarking on a psychedelic experience.
The setting is the surrounding in which the trip occurs. It includes the physical environment and the space for the session.
There are two recommended options for a physical setting when taking psychedelics:
An uncluttered, comfortable room with a couch or bed
A familiar outdoor setting
It’s also essential that you have a sober guide with you, someone you can trust and depend on if things get uncomfortable for you.
Again, for more on set and setting, see: Set & Setting For Psychedelics.
