Extreme Hyperthermia After LSD Ingestion
JAMA September 13, 1971 DOI: 10.1001/jama.1971.03190110067020 (opens in new tab) via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA patient developed life-threatening hyperthermia (106.4 °F or 41.3 °C axillary) after taking LSD, the first recorded instance of such severity in humans. The hyperthermia was rapidly reversed with alcoholic-ice soaks. Hallucinations ended about 18 hours later, and the patient recovered without obvious mental or physical injury. The episode may have been dose-related.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Case study Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | A human patient who ingested LSD |
| Intervention | alcoholic-ice soaks |
| Topics | LSD |
| Keywords | Hyperthermia Medicine Ingestion Anesthesia |
| Citations | 37 |
| Key finding | Life-threatening hyperthermia following LSD use can be rapidly reversed with alcoholic-ice soaks, and the patient recovered without obvious injury. |
Abstract
Hyperthermia is a known effect of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). This is, to our knowledge, the first recorded instance of life-threatening hyperthermia (106.4 F [41.3 C] axillary) in man, following the use of LSD, and may have been dose-related. The hyperthermia was rapidly reversed by alcoholic-ice soaks, hallucinations ended about 18 hours later, and the patient recovered without obvious mental or physical injury.