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Extreme Hyperthermia After LSD Ingestion

Steven A. Friedman

JAMA September 13, 1971 DOI: 10.1001/jama.1971.03190110067020 (opens in new tab)

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
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 Ingestion Anesthesia Restraint-related deaths
Citations 37
Key findings 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.

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