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Hallucinogens and Psychedelics

Hallucinogens and Psychedelics

Hallucinogens are psychoactive substances that profoundly alter perceptual experiences, generating unreal visual and sensory images. Often referred to as psychedelic drugs — a term derived from the Greek words "psyche" (mind) and "delos" (revealing) — these substances include marijuana and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), among others. These drugs vary in intensity and effects.
Marijuana, derived from the dried leaves and flowers of the hemp plant, contains delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)...

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Assessing Changes in Volatile General Anesthetic Sensitivity of Mice after Local or Systemic Pharmacological Intervention

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Assessing the Potential Cardiovascular Risk of Microdosing the Psychedelic LSD in Mice.

Devin P Effinger¹, Serena S Schalk^1,2,3,4, Jillian L King¹

¹Laboratory of Translational Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045, United States.

ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science

|March 6, 2026

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Microdosing lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) did not show adverse cardiovascular effects in mice, unlike known heart toxins. This study suggests low-dose LSD may not cause heart disease despite 5-HT2B receptor interaction.

Keywords:

5-HT2B receptor LSD cardiovascular microdosing psychedelics

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In Vivo Quantitative Assessment of Myocardial Structure, Function, Perfusion and Viability Using Cardiac Micro-computed Tomography

In Vivo Quantitative Assessment of Myocardial Structure, Function, Perfusion and Viability Using Cardiac Micro-computed Tomography

Published on: February 16, 2016

Area of Science:

Cardiovascular Pharmacology
Neuroscience
Drug Safety

Background:

Microdosing psychedelics is popular for perceived benefits.
Psychedelics interact with 5-HT2B receptors, linked to heart disease.
Chronic activation of 5-HT2B receptors can cause cardiac issues.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the cardiovascular effects of microdosed psychedelics.
To assess the impact of prolonged low-dose lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) on heart health in mice.
To compare LSD's 5-HT2B receptor activation profile with known cardiotoxins.

Main Methods:

Mice received chronic administration of serotonin, d-fenfluramine, or LSD at subhallucinogenic doses.
Echocardiography was used to evaluate cardiovascular health.
Binding affinity and potency of LSD, psilocybin, and norfenfluramine at 5-HT2B receptors were determined.

Main Results:

Serotonin induced significant ventricular thickening; d-fenfluramine caused aortic valve regurgitation.
No significant cardiovascular changes were observed in mice treated with LSD or vehicle.
LSD's 5-HT2B receptor activation was substantial but short-lived compared to d-fenfluramine.

Conclusions:

Prolonged administration of low-dose LSD in mice showed no evidence of cardiac remodeling.
The transient nature of 5-HT2B receptor activation by LSD may mitigate cardiotoxic risk.
These findings do not support concerns of LSD microdosing causing heart disease in this model.