A Brief Review of Chemistry and Pharmacology of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide

Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), is a classical hallucinogen, discovered accidentally in the middle century. It is a psychedelic drug used to treat drug abuse as it shows limited efficacy, leaving severe and persistent effects in treated patients. Preliminary studies in animals and clinical trials suggest that lysergic acid diethylamide may have anti-depressive, anxiolytic, hallucinogenic and anti-addictive properties. LSD is used as a popular and notorious substance of abuse in various parts of the world. It has an important use as an adjunct to psychotherapy. But, some severe effects were unclear and seemed to be a psychedelic enigma. In this review article, we have focused on the history, receptor pharmacology, chemistry, mechanism of action, pharmacology, applications and adverse effects of LSD on the normal human body system. We have also described its acid trip effect, addictive potentials and the chances of developing its tolerance. LSD is used in many treatments like antianxiety agent, a creativity enhancer, a performance enhancer. It is also used in drug and alcohol dependence, as a part of psychedelic therapy and recently in the therapy of Alzheimer's disease.