Clinical Pharmacokinetics
February 14, 2017
Patrick C. Dolder, Yasmin Schmid, Andrea E. Steuer et al.
134 citations
After oral administration, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) reaches peak plasma concentrations of 1.3 ng/mL (100 µg dose) and 3.1 ng/mL (200 µg dose) within about 1.5 hours, with a plasma half-life of 2.6 hours. Subjective effects last 8 to 12 hours depending on dose, and peak effects occur around 2.5 to 2.8 hours after ingestion. A close relationship exists between LSD concentration and subjective response within individuals, but no correlation was found between plasma levels and effects across different people at peak concentration. The effects are related to changing plasma concentrations over time, without evidence of acute tolerance.
Drug Testing and Analysis
July 16, 2016
Andrea E. Steuer, Michael Poetzsch, Lorena Stock et al.
41 citations
A new microflow liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method was developed to quantify LSD and its metabolites in human plasma, enabling detection limits of 0.01 ng/mL and separation within three minutes. In a controlled pharmacokinetic study, elimination half-lives of iso-LSD (median 12 h) and LSD metabolites (median 9, 7.4, 12, and 11 h for oxo-HO-LSD, HO-LSD, HO-LSD-gluc, and nor-LSD, respectively) exceeded that of LSD (median 4.2 h). However, screening for these metabolites to extend detection windows in plasma is not constructive because their concentrations are very low.
Metabolites
July 27, 2020
Andrea E. Steuer, Daria Kaelin, Martina I. Boxler et al.
32 citations
Three psychoactive stimulants—MDMA, amphetamine, and the new psychoactive substance mephedrone—alter blood metabolites in overlapping but distinct ways. Using plasma samples from controlled human administration studies and liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry, researchers identified changes in metabolites linked to energy metabolism, steroid biosynthesis, and amino acid pathways. Linoleic acid and pregnenolone-sulfate shifted similarly after intake of all three drugs. Mephedrone produced a metabolic profile more like amphetamine than MDMA, particularly in energy metabolism. These findings could guide future targeted studies on pharmacological actions and help identify biomarkers of drug use.
Journal of Proteome Research
June 27, 2018
Martina I. Boxler, Gabriel L. Streun, Matthias E. Liechti et al.
23 citations
A single 125 mg dose of MDMA alters dozens of endogenous metabolites in human plasma, including increases in cortisol, pregnenolone sulfate, and several inflammation mediators, alongside a decrease in calcitriol. These changes suggest heightened stress and serotonergic activity, activation of inflammatory pathways, and potential reduction in neuroprotective factors for brain dopamine neurons.
Journal of Proteome Research
July 19, 2017
Martina I. Boxler, Matthias E. Liechti, Yasmin Schmid et al.
17 citations
A single dose of MDMA (ecstasy) alters the plasma metabolome in healthy adults. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial with 15 participants, nine metabolites showed significant concentration changes after MDMA compared with placebo. The main changes involved glycerophospholipids, which may indicate increased energy production, and the ratio of methionine-sulfoxide to methionine, a potential marker of oxidative stress. Baseline samples were essential to avoid overestimating effects due to high interday variability among individuals.