An ETH-LAD trip with unfavourable consequences: A case report

Numerous analogues of the psychedelic and internationally controlled hallucinogen LSD have been described; however, only a limited number have been systematically investigated. This report presents the first case with an analytically confirmed ingestion of ETH-LAD (6-ethyl-6-nor-lysergic acid diethylamide), the N-ethyl derivative of LSD. An adolescent patient developed moderate to severe symptoms as acute aggression, agitation, unconsciousness, multiple traumatic injuries, metabolic disturbances and persistent psychosis following ETH-LAD ingestion and required intensive medical therapy with unexpected findings. The concentration of the hallucinogenic new psychoactive substance in serum was determined with 38 ng mL^-1. After 17 days of hospitalization, the patient was transferred to a psychiatric clinic for further treatment. Physicians must be aware that ETH-LAD ingestion may, unlike LSD, lead to severe toxic effects, requiring intensive care.