AL-LAD is a psychedelic in the lysergamide class.
It has a short history of human use, though it's been in the scientific literature for
decades.
Many of its effects can be compared to LSD, though it tends to be less mentally intense
at common doses.
Among the positive effects are stimulation, euphoria, closed and open eye visuals, increased
creativity, insightful thinking, music enhancement, and ego dissolution.
The negatives can include anxiety, confusion, increased heart rate, increased blood pressure,
muscle tension, and nausea.
As with any psychedelic, the experience involves a complex interplay between your mind and
your environment.
Your perception can change to include drifting, melting, color alterations, patterns, fractals,
and other distortions.
Your mental state will become less secure, so you're more easily pushed in creative,
anxious, or insightful directions.
The drug makes it harder to control your own mental state, though if you're having a difficult
time, changing the environment or music can be useful.
Although psychedelics like AL-LAD aren't as dissociating as actual dissociatives, you
can feel somewhat separated from your body.
And you may cognitively disconnect from your sense of Self, an effect known as ego dissolution.
Some comparisons to LSD can be made.
It typically has an easier headspace at common doses, so you may encounter anxiety, panic,
and confusion somewhat less often.
This has led to people labelling it a more "recreational" psychedelic.
Thinking is reported to be clearer and people don't as often feel like they could tip over
into a negative mindset at any moment.
Because the headspace may be lighter, communication and social interactions might be less impaired.
These are only generalizations though.
It can definitely produce anxious and confusing experiences.
While the psychological effects tend to be less intense at common doses, AL-LAD can maintain
equal or greater visual effects per-dose.
A range of responses exist with the drug.
Some people find it's basically pointless and boring under 2 to 300 ug, while others
receive sufficient and enjoyable effects at 100 to 150 ug.
Before you try to explore higher doses, you should evaluate your response to common amounts.
People who have a bit of experience with psychedelics sometimes report being dissatisfied with common
doses.
Since it doesn't have the same degree of mental activity, the experience might not feel as
insightful or "complete."
Granted, not everyone is looking to have a mentally intense experience.
For those who do want a quote unquote "complete" experience, 300 ug or more is sometimes used.
That dose is more likely to produce substantial visual effects that can actually impair your
ability to function.
Anxiety, confusion, and ego dissolution are also more likely.
Some people also report a dream-like feel to the experience, especially with higher
doses.
And periods of amnesia sometimes occur in that dose range.
Even if you find 150 ug is too weak, 300 ug can be a pretty big jump in intensity.
So I recommend working your way up more slowly.
When taken orally, buccally, or sublingually, it has a duration of 6 to 9 hours and an onset
of 20 to 60 minutes.
AL-LAD is a member of the lysergamide class.
Instead of a methyl group at the 6 position, like LSD has, an allyl group is present instead.
This is somewhat similar to the substitutions present with ETH-LAD and PRO-LAD.
But it's distinct from ALD-52 and 1P-LSD, which differ from LSD due to substitutions
at the 1 position.
Some formal available data about its pharmacology essentially supports it being a 5-HT2A agonist,
like LSD.
It'd be nice to have more pharmacology studies, but the available data supports binding at
5-HT2A and agonism at serotonin receptors.
Activity at other receptors could exist.
A light dose is 50 to 100 ug, a common dose is 100 to 200 ug, and a strong dose is 200
to 300 ug or more.
As I said earlier, some people find the common dose is better considered 150 to 300 ug.
But because of individual variability, I encourage trying lower doses first.
The synthesis of AL-LAD was first described in 1976.
In 1984, David Nichols and Andrew Hoffman investigated the drug using an alternative
synthesis.
They were looking at a series of LSD analogs.
Hoffman's research found it could substitute for LSD in rats, indicating similar activity.
And it also had a high affinity for 5-HT2A receptors.
The substance was discussed in Alexander Shulgin's 1997 book, TiHKAL.
He indicated the dose range was 80 to 160 ug and he listed the drug as having a 6 to
8 hour duration.
It wasn't until 2013 that the drug really seemed to enter the research chemical market.
AL-LAD and other lysergamides, like ETH-LAD and 1P-LSD, have been sold by a number of
vendors online.
The EMCDDA first reported its presence in the European drug market in 2015.
As of 2017, AL-LAD remains available as a research chemical in many regions.
It's unscheduled at the federal level in the US, though it may be covered by the Analog
Act.
AL-LAD is likely covered by analog laws in Australia, it's unscheduled in Canada, and
it's a Class A drug in the UK.
Very little is known about the substance, so we don't know how safe it is, especially
with chronic use.
For this reason, it's best to use a common dose, infrequently, and without combinations.
It's likely to be relatively safe at common doses when used acutely.
As of 2017, no deaths associated with AL-LAD have been reported.
If you have a preexisting cardiovascular or seizure disorder, it's worth avoiding.
Some of the risky combinations include tramadol and stimulants.
If you have any questions, feel free to put them in the comments.
You can also email me.
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