Severe Neurological Sequelae after a Recreational Dose of LSD

A young man with an unremarkable medical history suffered a seizure with subsequent cardiorespiratory arrest and severe neurological sequelae after ingesting a blotter. Analysis of a similar blotter and a serum sample obtained 3 hours after the event detected lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) at the amount of 300 μg in the blotter and at a concentration of 4.0 ng/mL (12.4 nmoles/L) in serum. No other drugs were present in concentrations which may confer significant effects. In addition, no individual traits which would make the patient particularly susceptible to adverse LSD effects have subsequently been identified. This suggests that LSD may confer toxic effects in previously healthy individuals.