Long-term effects of LSD
The health risks related to frequent LSD use are more mental than physical. The drug can have long-lasting effects on a person's brain and emotional state. Sometimes the effects, such as depression, flashbacks, psychosis and paranoia, continue for years after LSD use.
However, if women use LSD during their pregnancy, there may be an increased risk of:
spontaneous abortion
birth defects in the infant
Flashbacks
A long-term result of LSD use is flashbacks (known as hallucinogen persisting perception disorder). This is the spontaneous and unpredictable re-occurrence of visual distortions or emotional experiences from a previous episode of LSD use. Frequent users of LSD are at greater risk of experiencing flashbacks. However, flashbacks can occur after only a single use.
Not everyone who takes LSD experiences flashbacks. When people do have them, they may occur over and over. While flashbacks usually decrease over time, they can continue for years. There is currently no established treatment for this disorder.