(d-lysergic acid diethylamide)
LSD-25 or d-lysergic acid diethylamide-25 is a hallucinogenic (psychedelic) drug that was found in 1938 by Dr. Albert Hofmann. As a psychedelic drug, it has been used mainly for recreational purposes but was examined by researchers in the 1960's and 1970's for possible pharmacological uses. It is termed "psychedelic" or "hallucinogenic" because, when taken orally it produces cognitive, mind altering affects that usually lead to hallucinations and feelings of grandure.
When LSD-25 is digested, it is able to cross the blood-brain barrier, unlike many drugs. The chemical then pursues serotonin receptors because it acts like serotonin. Once it gets to serotonin receptors (type 5-HT2A) it acts as an agonist and proceeds to stimulate these receptors. LSD-25 then makes these postsynaptic neurons believe that more serotonin is connecting with its dentrites for longer periods of time, making the effects of what would be serotonin last for the duration of 3-8 hours. Serotonin is linked to the control of sleep, sensation and mood, which could be the cause of the hallucinations, although researchers and scientists are not sure as to what causes these hallucinations.
http://peyote.com/jonstef/lsd.htm
Kalat, James W. (2004). Biological Psychology 8th Edition, 458. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth
