What is the typical duration of LSD effects?

• A. 2-4 hours
• B. 4-6 hours
• C. 8-12 hours
• D. 24 hours

Answer: (C)

LSD produces a prolonged psychedelic experience. After ingestion, effects begin within roughly 20 to 90 minutes, rise to a peak over the next couple of hours, and then gradually fade over about 8 to 12 hours. This duration reflects the drug’s pharmacokinetics and the way it engages serotonin 5-HT2A receptors across brain networks, sustaining perceptual and cognitive changes through the main phase. Some individuals may feel residual effects or fatigue into the next day, but the core psychedelic experience typically ends within 8–12 hours. Shorter durations like 2–4 hours miss much of the tail end, while 24 hours would overstate the main phase.