Key Points

  • Acid is one of the many names for LSD.
  • Acid is not addictive, though some may become dependent on using it.
  • It takes approximately 16 to 20 hours for your body to process and eliminate it.
  • The elimination half-life of acid is 4 hours.
  • Taking too much acid can result in an overdose.
  • Individuals who use acid in any form will experience symptoms like depersonalization and hallucinations.
  • Using LSD frequently can lead to long-term complications, including flashbacks and depression.

All drugs, whether illicit or prescribed, remain in your system for some time after your last use. The detection window for acid depends on various factors, including age and kidney function. Although less potent than opioids and amphetamines, acid can cause frightening long-term complications weeks or even months after use, even when it is no longer detectable in the system. In this blog, you’ll discover the complete timeline for how long acid takes to metabolize in your system, as well as the side effects and complications experienced during this process.

What is Acid?

Acid is a street term for lysergic acid diethylamide, commonly known as LSD. It is an illegal drug with no accepted medical applications. Acid is typically sold on absorbent paper, which is marked with small decorative squares.[1] Each square represents one dose.LSD also comes in tablet form or as microdots on small paper pieces. Some individuals use liquid LSD or saturate sugar cubes with the substance. All these forms are taken orally. When someone uses LSD/acid, they can experience the following side effects :
  • Increased body temperature
  • Disordered sense of smell
  • Distorted sense of sight
  • Dry mouth
  • Sleeplessness
  • Loss of appetite
  • Sweating
  • Increased blood pressure
  • Impaired decision making
  • Impaired judgement
As a hallucinogen, people who use acid can have a bad trip, which causes distorted perceptions of depth and time, as well as shapes, sizes, colors, and movement.[2] The size of objects, including one’s own body, will also appear distorted. It is possible, after using acid, to experience acute depression and anxiety following the initial high or “LSD trip.”In medicine, this is called a Hallucinogen-Induced Persisting Perception Disorder, which includes having flashbacks of what they experienced during the high for several days or months after use.[3] This can include seeing patterns, shadows and other anomalies.[4]

How is Acid Eliminated from the Body?

Acid is processed by the liver and metabolized into its inactive metabolites, including: 2-OXO-3-hydroxyl-LSD and ox-HO-LSD.[5] These metabolites are detectable in the bloodstream for some time after last use and may also be present in urine and hair. Over time, they are excreted through urination and defecation.

What is the Elimination Half-Life of LSD/Acid?

LSD is absorbed into the gastrointestinal system within an hour, regardless of whether it is snorted, smoked, injected, or taken orally.[5] Its psychedelic effects typically start within 6 to 12 hours, although its elimination half-life is about 4 hours.[5][6] Because the drug takes four to five half-lives to be fully processed and eliminated, LSD is usually out of the body within roughly 16 to 20 hours.

What is the LSD Detection Window for Urine Tests, Blood Tests, and Hair Follicle Tests?

A drug test can detect LSD use for hours to days beyond the last time it was consumed. The following are the most commonly used drug screenings and mediums, along with their detection times:
  • Urine: When someone ingests acid either in liquid or capsule form, it remains detectable in the urine for 24 hours. Since acid processes so quickly, routine urine tests will not detect it.[6]
  • Blood: No matter the method of administration, acid (tested as LSD) is detectable in the blood for eight hours.[6]
  • Hair: These tests can detect drug use over a longer period of time. Since the liver processes acid very quickly, only a tiny concentration remains in a hair sample. This makes hair testing an unreliable method for detecting acid. Unfortunately, the data on LSD hair detection tests is sparse and unreliable.[6]
How-Long-Does-Acid-Stay-in-Your-System

What Factors Affect How Long LSD Stays in the Body?

The time it takes your body to process acid can vary from person to person, and that is due to several factors, including:[7]
  • Height and weight
  • Administration route
  • Metabolism rate
  • Body fat content
  • Quality of the drug
  • Kidney health
  • Liver health
  • Hydration
  • Genetics
  • Age
These variables make it hard to determine exactly how long an individual’s system takes to fully process LSD, but several small studies suggest this is approximately 16 to 20 hours.

Can You Experience Withdrawal After Quitting Acid?

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, LSD is not considered an addictive drug. Unlike street drugs such as cocaine and heroin, it does not cause users to seek it out or crave it. However, people who use it often can develop a tolerance to its effects, meaning they will need higher doses to experience a trip. Since lysergic acid diethylamide isn’t well researched, there are no known withdrawal symptoms.[8]

Can You Overdose on Acid?

There is no safe dose of LSD, so taking it in any amount can lead to an overdose. Signs of an acid overdose begin immediately and affect every system in the body. These include:
  • Skin: excessive serating
  • Vitals: high temperature, increased (or decreased oxygen)
  • General: altered mental state, appearing disheveled, poor appetite
  • Neurologic: impaired coordination
  • Respiratory: fast breathing
  • Psychiatric: audible and visual hallucinations, anxiety, panic, psychosis, paranoia, blending of senses, distortion of time, aggression, depersonalization, suicidal ideation, depression, religiosity
  • Cardiovascular: fast heart rate and high blood pressure
Anyone experiencing these symptoms needs medical attention immediately. According to the National Library of Medicine, the established protocols for treating patients with an LSD overdose are to place them in a quiet environment before administering a low dose of benzodiazepine.[9] For those who have taken a larger dose, antipsychotic drugs can be helpful.

Finding Addiction Treatment for Substance Abuse

Although acid is not physically addictive, frequent users can develop psychological dependence on it, which may lead to increasingly abusive doses. Sadly, this can result in overdoses and long-term health issues, including depression, paranoia, and mood disturbances. Although there are no known medications to treat LSD dependence, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been shown to be effective. This therapy helps users identify the reasons behind their drug use and develop coping skills to avoid future relapses. To learn more about behavioral therapy for drug abuse and other treatment programs that can support your recovery journey, contact Southeast Addiction Center TN today.