LSD Toxicity Medication

  • Author: Stephan Brenner, MD, MPH; Chief Editor: Timothy E Corden, MD   more...
 
Updated: Mar 22, 2012
 

Medication Summary

If placing a patient who has used lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) in a quiet environment with minimal stimuli is not effective, a benzodiazepine (lorazepam or diazepam) is the medication of choice, especially in patients with dysphoric reactions. Benzodiazepines decrease both central and peripheral sympathomimetic drug effects.

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Benzodiazepines

Class Summary

These agents may be indicated for extremely agitated patients.

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Diazepam (Valium)

 

Depresses all levels of CNS (eg, limbic and reticular formation), possibly by increasing activity of GABA.

Although seizures may be promptly brought under control, a significant proportion of patients experience a return to seizure activity, presumably because of the short-lived effect of diazepam after IV administration.

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Lorazepam (Ativan)

 

May depress all levels of CNS (eg, limbic and reticular formation) by increasing activity of GABA, which is a major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. Preferred due to longer duration of action.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Stephan Brenner, MD, MPH  Resident Physician, Department of Emergency Medicine, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Bill Dribben, MD  Assistant Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine

Bill Dribben, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Halim Hennes, MD, MS  Division Director, Pediatric Emergency Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Southwestern Medical School; Director of Emergency Services, Children's Medical Center

Halim Hennes, MD, MS is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Mary L Windle, PharmD  Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Jeffrey R Tucker, MD  Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Emergency Medicine, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Connecticut Children's Medical Center

Disclosure: Merck Salary Employment

Paul D Petry, DO, FACOP, FAAP  Consulting Staff, Freeman Pediatric Care, Freeman Health System

Paul D Petry, DO, FACOP, FAAP is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Osteopathy, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Osteopathic Pediatricians, and American Osteopathic Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Timothy E Corden, MD  Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Co-Director, Policy Core, Injury Research Center, Medical College of Wisconsin; Associate Director, PICU, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin

Timothy E Corden, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, Phi Beta Kappa, Society of Critical Care Medicine, and Wisconsin Medical Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

The authors and editors of eMedicine gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous author Amanda Wood, MD, to the original writing and development of this article.

References

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Assorted lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) blotter paper.
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) in assorted pill forms.
 
 
 
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