Erowid References Database
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Friedman SA, Hirsch SE.
“Extreme hyperthermia after LSD ingestion”.
JAMA. 1971;217:1549-1550.
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Abstract
Hyperthermia is a known effect of lysergic acid diethyiamide (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,
LYSERGIC acid diethylamide (LSD) was first synthesized in 1938. Its well known psychotomimetic properties were first noted in 1943 and described in 1947. Its less well-known hyperthermic effects were first suspected in 1951 and definitely confirmed in 1954. In all human studies to date, the temperature elevations have been ternrelatively low-grade and never life threatening. The purpose of this report is to describe a patient in whom extreme hyperthermia occurred following the use of LSD.
Report of a Case An 18-year-old white man was brought to the Philadelphia General Hospital by police who had found him behaving hysterically. No history was available upon admission. On physical examination the patient was noted to be hallucinating and extremely hyperactive, necessitating restraints, Blood pressure was 160/100 mm Hg; pulse rate 160 beats per minute; and respirations, 48 per minute. Because of struggling, axillary temperature, rather than oral or rectal, was taken and noted to be 106.4F (41.3C). This was confirmed with a second thermometer. The skin was quite warm and slightly mosit with perspiration. The pupils were slightly dilated and reacted to light directly and consensually. The patient was unresponsive to verbal stimuli but reacted to painful stimuli with increasing hyperactivity. The remainder of the physical examination was essentially unremarkable.
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