Extreme Hyperthermia After LSD Ingestion
- Steven Arthur Friedman, MD;
- Stuart E. Hirsch, MD
- From the Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Division, Philadelphia General Hospital. Dr. Friedman is now with the Department of Pharmacology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Dr. Hirsch is now with the Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
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.
Footnotes
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Reprint requests to 17 Juniper Rd, Havertown, Pa 19083 (Dr. Friedman).
