What is 1V-LSD?
How does 1V-LSD work?
1V-LSD is assumed to work pharmacologically the same as good ol’ LSD-25; which is to say that its main method of action is as a partial agonist of multiple 5-HT receptors. These receptors - more commonly known as serotonin receptors - are largely responsible for feelings of happiness, optimism, and connection. The psychedelic effects of 1V-LSD are presumed to come primarily from agonism of the 5-HT2A receptor specifically.
LSD-25 also shows efficacy at the dopamine and norepinephrine receptors. These receptors not only control the brain’s motivation and reward systems but are also key in the process of neuroplasticity (effectively - a persons’ ability to “rewire” their brain), which one could speculate is the reason why 1V-LSD (and other LSD derivatives) often produce changes in the user’s psychological state that last much longer than the acute psychedelic experience itself.
What are the effects of 1V-LSD?
So how does 1V-LSD actually make us feel? It is still early days so the number of trip reports is limited and since there haven’t been any clinical trials on the use of 1V-LSD, we have to rely on the small number of subjective experiences currently available. While trip reports vary (as is always the case with psychedelics), there are some common effects you can often expect from 1V-LSD:
- Stimulation – almost all users report some level of stimulation at both low and high doses. This is felt subjectively as increased energy levels and motivation and can lead to the user feeling the need to run, walk, dance, or generally exert their energy in some way. Bear in mind you likely won’t be able to sleep for the duration of your trip (so if you need a full night's sleep, don’t wait until 8 pm to start your experiment!).
“At this point, the experience is mostly stimulation. My limbs are shaking, a distinct sense of buzzing and high-frequency vibration starts to work its way through my body”
- Visual hallucinations and enhanced visual acuity – While similar in nature to the visuals of other LSD analogues, many users report the hallucinations experienced from 1V-LSD to be stronger and more lucid than (for example) 1P-LSD and 1cP-LSD. As with most lysergamides, the hallucinations are generally distortions of reality (patterns/objects begin to swirl and vibrate, often with a geometric nature), as opposed to being hallucinations that are entirely independent/separate from physical reality. At low and moderate doses (including “microdoses”), visual acuity (the ability of the eye to distinguish details of the world) seems to be improved as well as colours being enhanced.
“Effects feel as though they are cresting and crashing over, glistening tracers follow my every movement, blurring my field of vision with buzzing neon outlines that reverberate into disintegration. The visual intensity has welled up so suddenly that I almost forget my discomforts. Everything shakes and wobbles as beams of light trace their way across every edge and vertex and line in my sight like fluorescent veins or vines pulsing and breathing to intensify their grip on my surroundings, gently and amiably. Patterns start to form on the walls, infinite reliefs reminiscent of Mesoamerican art, twisting and interlocking and fringed by a gentle green and pink glow that ripples through space. I am encased in a heavenly amethyst temple. There is a density to the visuals like the world sags under the weight of their fervor. It is an ocean swirling with life, every cubic centimeter packed with bustling psychedelic plankton swirling and weaving among each other in dense blocks of patterned, all-consuming life force from the violet core of the earth.”
And as Reddit user /u/Pappenmeister describes:
“I noticed changes in almost all objects. The street looked like it was made of small grey stacked coins. My phone in particular looked very different. All the buttons and apps on my screen looked like they were animated. All the letters wiggled back and forth and it looked like someone was repainting the letters with a lighter shade of white.”
- Spontaneous fits of laughter/increased sense of humour – as with most (if not all) lysergamides, users often report experiencing fits of laughter and seeing humour and absurdity in the areas of life we generally see as “normal”.
- Increased sense of connection – some users report feeling more connected to the world around them. And (at higher doses in particular) some no longer sense a distinction between themselves and the external world (also known as ego-death).
- Spontaneous Bodily Sensations/Body load – this term is used to describe 1V-LSD’s effect on the physical body. This can be anything from tingling sensations at the extremities and feelings of warmth/butterflies emanating from the stomach to stiffness in the muscles, tightness in the stomach, and increased heart rate. Some users report a higher than usual body load compared to 1cP-LSD, while others report little or no body load.
- Nausea – this seems to affect a small percentage of people who use 1V-LSD, with most people who experience it reporting nausea between the 1-3 hour mark, sometimes leading to vomiting, which then clears up for the rest of the trip. It should be noted that most people who experience nausea still report an overall positive experience. Reddit user /u/abu0 compiled a list of 17 trip reports, with 3 of the 17 users experiencing nausea or vomiting.
- Increased analytical thinking/self-reflection – many users report that 1V-LSD allows them to view themselves and their life from a different (perhaps more objective or outside) perspective. This can be distressing to some people if they have certain realisations that may be painful to digest. Though most users generally report that these insights are overall positive and valuable life experiences.
“I had been laughing a lot at random internet stuff as well as at my own mental fabrications but the 1V made me aware of some repressed feelings of loneliness and pain which presented themselves like lightning strikes whenever I made associations between memories, alternating between happy, beautiful, heart breaking etc. In short moments of sadness I let my tears flow and allowed myself to be with the feeling of grief intently, without lingering too long. This is why I find LSD and its analogues to be so therapeutic sometimes. There is a ruthless directness to it. Things aren't sugar coated. It is just raw honesty. Maybe at times I felt slightly detached from my feelings and emotions whereas I might otherwise feel too identified with them, so this was useful and much needed.”
- Anxiety/over-thinking/thought-loops – Some users report experiencing mild to intense anxiety and overthinking. This can be affected by set and setting, current mood, underlying brain chemistry, and a myriad of other factors. At higher doses, users have reported becoming stuck in thought-loops, whereby one or more thoughts or beliefs repeatedly run through their minds. Of course, this list is not exhaustive and there are other effects (wanted and unwanted) that one can experience while using 1V-LSD. I’d highly recommend our article on how to navigate difficult psychedelics experiences AKA "bad trips".
Set and Setting
As with all psychedelics, set and setting are absolutely key to having the kind of experience you are looking for. So what is set and setting?
- Location, location, location - are you in a safe, familiar environment? In the midst of a psychedelic trip, some of your cognitive capacities may be diminished (rationality, spatial awareness, sense of direction, etc), which makes you more vulnerable to getting lost (if you’re in a busy festival or walking in the countryside for example) and less able to deal with potentially stressful situations and your mind may misinterpret events, leading to anxiety or paranoia.
- State of mind - have you just gone through a difficult break-up? Do you suffer from severe depression or anxiety? Have you just had an intense argument with a friend or relative? While these aren’t necessarily reasons not to partake in a psychedelic trip (indeed, people often report using psychedelics to help get them through such situations), you should always be aware that your trip very likely will be affected by the state of mind you’re in at the time. As such, you should be clear on what your intentions are going into the trip.
- Trip buddies/companions - this is one of the most important components of having a positive experience on 1V-LSD (or any other psychedelic). Make sure you have at least one person with you that you trust deeply. During a trip, your mind can sometimes play tricks on you, especially if you’re in an environment full of unfamiliar faces; at these times, it is key to have a close friend there to remind you that you’re just tripping and the walls are not in fact trying to eat you. You should also have at least one trip buddy who isn’t partaking in the trip themselves (aka a “trip sitter”). They keep an eye on you; make sure you don’t do anything stupid to hurt yourself or others; and can talk sense into you if you start to feel anxious or paranoid. Read more on how to be a good trip sitter and how to create a healthy trip setting for group sessions here.
Important things to note:
- The effects of 1V-LSD can take quite some time to kick in - significantly longer than other LSD analogues. For some people between 2-3 hours (this is likely due to the higher molecular weight - meaning it takes longer to be metabolized into LSD). I strongly recommend not redosing for at least 2-3 hours.
- The effects of 1V-LSD (or any other LSD analogue) can be altered by other serotonergic drugs, due to its affinity with serotonin receptors (SSRIs/MDMA etc). They could either be enhanced or diminished. So please be aware of this.