Overview
ALD-52 (1-acetyl-LSD, 1-acetyl-N,N-diethyllysergamide) is a semi-synthetic lysergamide and a close structural analog of LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide). It belongs to the ergoline family and is produced by acetylation of the indole nitrogen on the LSD molecule. The resulting compound is pharmacologically inert at serotonin receptors on its own — it functions as a prodrug that is rapidly hydrolyzed in vivo to release LSD, the actual psychoactive agent .
The compound occupies an unusual place in psychedelic history. For decades, it was entangled in the mythology of "Orange Sunshine," a legendary LSD preparation distributed by the Brotherhood of Eternal Love in the late 1960s. During the trial of clandestine chemists Tim Scully and Nick Sand, the defense argued that the tablets contained ALD-52 rather than LSD — a claim later retracted by Sand himself, who confirmed in 2005 that Orange Sunshine was simply high-quality LSD dosed at approximately 300 micrograms per tab .
ALD-52 resurfaced in the 2010s as a novel psychoactive substance sold on the research chemical market. Modern pharmacokinetic research by Brandt et al. (2019) definitively established its prodrug status, demonstrating that 1-acyl-substituted lysergamides including ALD-52 are converted to LSD with near-complete efficiency after oral administration .
References
- Brandt SD, Kavanagh PV, Westphal F, et al. Return of the lysergamides. Part I: Analytical and behavioural characterization of 1-propionyl-d-lysergic acid diethylamide (1P-LSD). Drug Test Anal. 2016;8(9):891-902.
- Brandt SD, Kavanagh PV, Westphal F, et al. Pharmacological and biotransformation studies of 1-acyl-substituted derivatives of d-lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). Neuropharmacology. 2020;164:107856.
- Scully T. Oral history interview, 2017. Psymposia archives.
Safety at a Glance
High Risk- It is strongly recommended that one uses harm reduction practices when using this substance.
- Although no formal studies have been conducted, it is not unreasonable to assume that like LSD itself, ALD-52not habi...
- Toxicity: The toxicity and long-term health effects of recreational ALD-52 use do not appear to have been studied in any scient...
- Overdose risk: Overdose The LD50 of ALD-52 is unknown. Adverse psychological reactions are common especially at ...
If someone is in crisis, call 911 or Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222
Dosage
oral
Duration
oral
Total: 8 hrs – 14 hrsHow It Feels
They called it Orange Sunshine, and the name suits what it delivers. The onset of ALD-52 is distinguished by a warmth that seems to rise from inside the body and radiate outward, as though someone has turned up an internal thermostat that you did not know you had. It arrives gently, without the stomach-tightening anxiety that can accompany the come-up of LSD. Within thirty to forty-five minutes the world begins to soften at its edges.
The come-up has a quality of slow unfurling. Colors become richer and more saturated without becoming garish. There is a golden quality to light, a honeyed warmth that permeates the visual field. Physically the body feels relaxed yet alert, a state that invites movement, stretching, walking barefoot on grass, the kind of easy embodiment that makes you aware of how much tension you carry through ordinary life. The mental landscape opens with equal gentleness: thoughts become fluid and associative but retain a reassuring coherence. You can follow an idea from beginning to end without getting lost in recursive loops.
At the peak, ALD-52 reveals its signature character: smoothness. Where LSD can have an electric, almost aggressive quality at high intensity, ALD-52 maintains a rounded, organic warmth. Visuals are present and beautiful, flowing patterns on surfaces, enhanced color and light, kaleidoscopic closed-eye imagery, but they feel integrated into the experience rather than dominating it. Music opens up with remarkable clarity, each instrument occupying its own luminous space. Emotionally the territory is predominantly positive, a deep appreciation for beauty, an easy empathy with others, a sense of being held by something benevolent. Difficult material can surface, but it tends to arrive with a gentleness that makes it more approachable.
The decline mirrors the onset in its gradualism. Effects taper smoothly over several hours, leaving an afterglow characterized by clarity, warmth, and a lingering enhancement of sensory pleasure. The body feels clean rather than depleted. There is none of the ragged, overstimulated quality that can characterize the tail end of other psychedelics. Sleep, when it comes, is deep and restorative.
Subjective Effects
The effects listed below are based on the Subjective Effect Index (SEI), an open research literature based on anecdotal reports and personal analyses. They should be viewed with a healthy degree of skepticism. These effects will not necessarily occur in a predictable or reliable manner, although higher doses are more liable to induce the full spectrum of effects.
Physical Effects
Physical(21)
- Appetite suppression— A distinct decrease in hunger and desire to eat, ranging from reduced interest in food to complete d...
- Bodily control enhancement— Bodily control enhancement is the subjective feeling of improved physical precision, coordination, a...
- Changes in felt bodily form— Changes in felt bodily form is the experience of one's body feeling as though it has altered its phy...
- Dehydration— A state of insufficient bodily hydration manifesting as persistent thirst, dry mouth, and physical d...
- Difficulty urinating— Difficulty urinating, also known as urinary retention, is the experience of being unable to easily p...
- Excessive yawning— Involuntary, repeated yawning that occurs far more frequently than normal and often without the usua...
- Increased blood pressure— Increased blood pressure (hypertension) is an elevation of arterial pressure above the normal 120/80...
- Increased heart rate— A noticeable acceleration of heartbeat that can range from a subtle awareness of one's pulse to a fo...
- Increased libido— A marked enhancement of sexual desire, arousal, and sensitivity to erotic stimuli that can range fro...
- Increased salivation— Increased salivation (hypersalivation or sialorrhea) is the excessive production of saliva beyond wh...
- Insomnia— A persistent inability to fall asleep or maintain sleep despite physical tiredness, often characteri...
- Laughter fits— Spontaneous, uncontrollable, and often prolonged episodes of intense laughter that erupt without any...
- Nausea— An uncomfortable sensation of queasiness and stomach discomfort that may or may not lead to vomiting...
- Perception of bodily lightness— Perception of bodily lightness is the subjective feeling that one's body has become dramatically lig...
- Physical euphoria— An intensely pleasurable bodily sensation that can manifest as waves of warmth, tingling electricity...
- Physical fatigue— Physical fatigue is a state of bodily exhaustion characterized by reduced energy, diminished capacit...
- Pupil dilation— A visible enlargement of the pupil diameter (mydriasis) that can range from subtle widening to drama...
- Sedation— A state of deep physical and mental calming that manifests as a progressive desire to remain still, ...
- Seizure— Uncontrolled brain electrical activity causing convulsions and loss of consciousness -- a life-threa...
- Stamina enhancement— Stamina enhancement is an increase in one's ability to sustain physical and mental exertion over ext...
- Stimulation— A state of heightened physical and mental energy characterized by increased wakefulness, elevated mo...
Tactile(1)
- Tactile enhancement— The sense of touch becomes dramatically heightened, making physical contact feel intensely pleasurab...
Cognitive & Perceptual Effects
Visual(15)
- Colour enhancement— An intensification of the brightness, vividness, and saturation of colors in the external environmen...
- Colour shifting— The visual experience of colors on objects and surfaces cycling through continuous, fluid transforma...
- Depth perception distortions— Alterations in how the distance of objects within the visual field is perceived, causing layers of s...
- Drifting— The visual experience of perceiving stationary objects, textures, and surfaces as appearing to flow,...
- External hallucination— A visual hallucination that manifests within the external environment as though it were physically r...
- Geometry— The experience of perceiving complex, ever-shifting geometric patterns superimposed over the visual ...
- Internal hallucination— Vivid, detailed visual experiences perceived within an imagined mental landscape that can only be se...
- Pattern recognition enhancement— An increased ability and tendency to perceive meaningful patterns, faces, and images within ambiguou...
- Perspective distortions— Distortion of perceived depth, distance, and size of real objects, making things appear closer, furt...
- Perspective hallucination— A hallucinatory phenomenon in which the observer's visual perspective shifts from the normal first-p...
- Settings, sceneries, and landscapes— The perceived environment in which hallucinatory experiences take place, ranging from recognizable l...
- Symmetrical texture repetition— Textures appear to mirror and tessellate across surfaces in intricate, self-similar symmetrical patt...
- Tracers— Moving objects leave visible trails of varying length and opacity behind them, similar to long-expos...
- Transformations— Objects and scenery undergo perceived visual metamorphosis, smoothly shapeshifting into other recogn...
- Visual acuity enhancement— Vision becomes sharper and more defined than normal, as though a slightly blurry lens has been broug...
Cognitive(28)
- Analysis enhancement— A perceived improvement in one's ability to logically deconstruct concepts, recognize patterns, and ...
- Anxiety— Intense feelings of apprehension, worry, and dread that can range from a subtle background unease to...
- Cognitive euphoria— A cognitive and emotional state of intense well-being, elation, happiness, and joy that manifests as...
- Conceptual thinking— A shift in the nature of thought from verbal, linear sentence structures to intuitive, non-linguisti...
- Confusion— An impairment of abstract thinking marked by a persistent inability to grasp or comprehend concepts ...
- Creativity enhancement— An increase in the ability to imagine new ideas, overcome creative blocks, think about existing conc...
- Deja vu— Intense, often prolonged sensation of having already experienced the current moment, common with psy...
- Delusion— A delusion is a fixed, false belief that is held with unshakeable certainty and is impervious to con...
- Ego replacement— Ego replacement is the experience of one's usual personality and sense of self being completely over...
- Focus enhancement— An enhanced ability to direct and sustain attention on a single task or stimulus with unusual clarit...
- Immersion enhancement— A heightened capacity to become fully absorbed and engrossed in external media such as music, films,...
- Introspection— An enhanced state of self-reflective awareness in which one feels drawn to examine their own thought...
- Mania— Abnormally elevated mood, energy, and activity with impulsive behavior and grandiosity, associated w...
- Memory suppression— A dose-dependent inhibition of one's ability to access and utilize short-term and long-term memory, ...
- Multiple thought streams— The experience of having more than one internal narrative or stream of consciousness simultaneously ...
- Novelty enhancement— A feeling of increased fascination, awe, and childlike wonder attributed to everyday concepts, objec...
- Panic attack— A panic attack is a discrete episode of acute, overwhelming fear or terror that arises suddenly and ...
- Paranoia— Irrational suspicion and belief that others are watching, plotting against, or intending harm toward...
- Personal bias suppression— A decrease in the personal, cultural, and cognitive biases through which one normally filters their ...
- Personal meaning enhancement— Personal meaning enhancement is a state in which everyday events, coincidences, song lyrics, environ...
- Personality regression— Personality regression is a state in which a person temporarily adopts the cognitive patterns, emoti...
- Psychosis— Psychosis is a serious psychiatric state involving a fundamental break from consensus reality — char...
- Suggestibility enhancement— Heightened receptivity to external suggestions, ideas, and influence, commonly experienced during ps...
- Thought acceleration— The experience of thoughts occurring at a dramatically increased rate, as if the mind has been shift...
- Thought disorganization— Thought disorganization is a cognitive impairment in which the normal capacity for structured, seque...
- Thought loops— Becoming trapped in a repeating cycle of thoughts, actions, and emotions that loops every few second...
- Time distortion— Subjective perception of time becomes dramatically altered — minutes may feel like hours, or hours p...
- Wakefulness— An increased ability to stay awake and alert without the desire to sleep. Distinct from stimulation ...
Multi-sensory(2)
- Scenarios and plots— Scenarios and plots are the narrative structures that emerge within hallucinatory states — coherent ...
- Synaesthesia— Stimulation of one sense triggers involuntary experiences in another — seeing sounds as colors, tast...
Transpersonal(4)
- Ego death— A profound dissolution of the sense of self in which personal identity, memories, and the boundary b...
- Existential self-realization— A sudden, visceral realization of the profound significance and improbability of one's own existence...
- Spirituality enhancement— A profound intensification of spiritual feelings, mystical awareness, and a sense of sacred connecti...
- Unity and interconnectedness— A profound sense that identity extends beyond the self to encompass other people, nature, or all of ...
Pharmacology
Pharmacology
Prodrug Mechanism
ALD-52 acts as a prodrug for LSD. The acetyl group at the N-1 position of the indole ring undergoes hydrolytic cleavage in vivo, releasing free LSD. This was confirmed definitively by Brandt et al. (2019), who administered ALD-52 subcutaneously to rats and detected high plasma levels of LSD shortly thereafter, while ALD-52 itself was rapidly cleared .
Receptor Binding
In its intact (non-hydrolyzed) form, ALD-52 has substantially reduced affinity for monoamine receptors compared to LSD. The 1-acyl substitution lowers binding affinity at the 5-HT2A receptor by one to two orders of magnitude. ALD-52 also shows weak efficacy or outright antagonism in calcium mobilization assays at 5-HT2 receptor subtypes — meaning it cannot directly activate the receptors responsible for psychedelic effects .
This pharmacological profile strongly supports the prodrug hypothesis: the subjective effects of ALD-52 are not produced by the parent compound but by the LSD released through metabolic deacylation.
Pharmacokinetics
Oral administration of 1-acyl LSD analogs produces a biphasic plasma concentration curve. The parent compound shows rapid decline within the first hour (reflecting hydrolysis), while LSD concentrations rise and then follow the characteristic slow elimination pattern of LSD itself. The bioavailability of LSD from oral 1P-LSD (a close structural relative) approaches 100%, and ALD-52 is expected to behave similarly .
References
- Brandt SD, Kavanagh PV, Westphal F, et al. Pharmacological and biotransformation studies of 1-acyl-substituted derivatives of d-lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). Neuropharmacology. 2020;164:107856.
- Brandt SD, Kavanagh PV, Westphal F, et al. Pharmacokinetics and subjective effects of 1P-LSD in humans after oral and intravenous administration. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2020;108(6):1268-1276.
Detection Methods
Urine Detection
ALD-52 and its metabolites are not targeted by standard immunoassay-based urine drug screens. Because lysergamides are active at microgram doses, the absolute quantity of drug and metabolite present in biological samples is extremely low, making detection inherently difficult. Specialized urine assays using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) can identify lysergamide metabolites within approximately 24 to 72 hours after ingestion, though this window is shorter than most other drug classes due to rapid metabolism and renal clearance.
Blood and Serum Detection
Blood detection windows for ALD-52 are narrow. Plasma concentrations peak within 1 to 3 hours of oral administration and fall below detectable thresholds within 6 to 12 hours for most analytical methods. LC-MS/MS can extend this window modestly, but serum testing for lysergamides is rarely performed outside of forensic or research contexts due to the specialized equipment required and the very low concentrations involved.
Standard Drug Panel Inclusion
ALD-52 is NOT included on standard 5-panel, 10-panel, or 12-panel drug screens. These panels test for amphetamines, cannabinoids, cocaine metabolites, opiates, and PCP (with extended panels adding benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and similar classes). Lysergamides do not cross-react with any of these immunoassay targets. Detection requires a specific request for lysergamide testing, which is uncommon in workplace, probationary, or emergency department screening.
Confirmatory Methods
When lysergamide use is specifically suspected, confirmatory testing relies on LC-MS/MS or gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). LC-MS/MS is the preferred method due to its superior sensitivity at picogram-per-milliliter concentrations. Immunoassay-based LSD-specific screens exist but suffer from high false-negative rates with novel lysergamide analogs, as antibody cross-reactivity varies between compounds.
Reagent Testing (Harm Reduction)
For harm reduction identification, the Ehrlich reagent is the primary tool for ALD-52. A small sample placed on the reagent should produce a purple to violet color change, indicating the presence of an indole moiety characteristic of lysergamides. The Hofmann reagent provides a confirmatory blue to purple reaction. Importantly, the Marquis reagent shows no reaction or a faint olive discoloration with lysergamides, which helps distinguish them from other compound classes. A positive Ehrlich result does not confirm the specific lysergamide identity but does rule out NBOMe and NBOH compounds, which show no Ehrlich reaction. Using both Ehrlich and Hofmann reagents together provides greater confidence in lysergamide identification.
Interactions
| Substance | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 3-FMA | Caution | Increases anxiety, cardiovascular stress, and psychological intensity |
| 4-MMC | Caution | Increases anxiety, cardiovascular stress, and psychological intensity |
| 8-Chlorotheophylline | Caution | Increases anxiety, cardiovascular stress, and psychological intensity |
| Adrafinil | Caution | Increases anxiety, cardiovascular stress, and psychological intensity |
| Anandamide | Caution | Cannabis can unpredictably intensify psychedelic effects and increase anxiety |
| Cannabis | Uncertain | — |
| 1,3-Butanediol | Low Risk & Synergy | Cross-tolerance exists; effects compound |
| 25E-NBOH | Low Risk & Synergy | Cross-tolerance exists; effects compound |
| 2C-T | Low Risk & Synergy | Cross-tolerance exists; effects compound |
| 2C-T-2 | Low Risk & Synergy | Cross-tolerance exists; effects compound |
History
History
Synthesis at Sandoz
ALD-52 was first synthesized by Albert Hofmann at the Sandoz pharmaceutical laboratories in Basel, Switzerland, during the 1950s as part of a systematic investigation of LSD analogs. Hofmann explored numerous modifications to the LSD molecule — including acylation, alkylation, and substitution at various positions — to understand the structure-activity relationships of lysergamides. ALD-52 was one of many compounds cataloged during this period, but it attracted little scientific attention at the time .
The Orange Sunshine Affair
ALD-52 became infamous not through pharmacological research but through a courtroom drama. In the late 1960s, underground chemists Nick Sand and Tim Scully — operating under the umbrella of the Brotherhood of Eternal Love — produced millions of doses of "Orange Sunshine," a branded LSD preparation that became iconic among the counterculture generation .
When Sand and Scully were arrested and tried in 1973-1974, the defense mounted an unusual argument: the tablets contained ALD-52, not LSD, and ALD-52 was not a scheduled substance. The strategy failed. Both were convicted — Scully received a 20-year sentence and Sand received 15 years .
For decades, the claim that Orange Sunshine was ALD-52 persisted as psychedelic folklore. It was not until 2005 that Nick Sand publicly clarified the record, stating that Orange Sunshine was always LSD — the ALD-52 defense had been, in Scully's words, an "ill-advised desperate defense strategy that failed miserably" .
Modern Rediscovery
ALD-52 re-entered the spotlight around 2015 as part of the wave of novel lysergamide research chemicals. In 2017-2019, a series of studies led by Simon Brandt at Liverpool John Moores University systematically characterized the 1-acyl LSD analogs. The landmark 2019 paper in Neuropharmacology confirmed that ALD-52, along with 1P-LSD and 1B-LSD, functions as a prodrug — its psychoactive effects arise entirely from metabolic conversion to LSD .
References
- Hofmann A. LSD: My Problem Child. McGraw-Hill, 1980.
- Psymposia. "Nick Sand, Orange Sunshine LSD chemist, dies at 75." 2017.
- Scully T. Personal account of the Orange Sunshine trial. Published interviews, 2005-2017.
- Brandt SD, et al. Pharmacological and biotransformation studies of 1-acyl-substituted derivatives of d-lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). Neuropharmacology. 2020;164:107856.
Harm Reduction
It is strongly recommended that one uses harm reduction practices when using this substance.
Although no formal studies have been conducted, it is not unreasonable to assume that like LSD itself, ALD-52not habit-forming and that the desire to use it can actually decrease with use.
Tolerance to the effects of ALD-52almost immediately after ingestion. After that,5-714 days to be back at baseline (in the absence of further consumption). ALD-52 presents cross-tolerance with Cross-all psychedelics, meaning that after the use of ALD-52 all psychedelics will have a reduced effect.
- Overdose
The LD50 of ALD-52 is unknown. Adverse psychological reactions are common especially at higher doses. Some of these include anxiety, delusions, panic attacks and more rarely seizures. Medical attention is usually only needed if suspected of severe psychotic episodes or “fake acid” (such as 25i-NBOMe or DOB). Administration of benzodiazepines or antipsychotics may help to relieve the negative cognitive effects.
ALD-52 is currently a gray area compound within many parts of the world. This means that it is not known to be specifically illegal within most countries, but people may still be charged for its possession under certain circumstances such as under analog laws and with the intent to sell or consume.
- Austria: ALD-52 is technically not illegal but it may fall in the NPSG (Neue-Psychoaktive-Substanzen-Gesetz Österreich) as an analogue of LSD.
- Denmark: ALD-52 is not listed as an illegal substance in Denmark, and its chemical class 'lysergamide' is not banned under the Analogue Act (Some LSD analogues are, however, prohibited).
- Germany: ALD-52 is controlled under the NpSG (New Psychoactive Substances Act) as of July 18, 2019. Produc
Toxicity & Safety
The toxicity and long-term health effects of recreational ALD-52 use do not appear to have been studied in any scientific context and the exact toxic dose is unknown. This is because ALD-52 is a research chemical with a very limited history of human use.
Anecdotal evidence from people within the community who have tried ALD-52 suggests that there are no negative health effects attributed to simply trying the drug by itself at low to moderate doses and using it very sparingly (although nothing can be completely guaranteed). Independent research should always be conducted to ensure that a combination of two or more substances is safe before consumption.
As with other psychedelic substances, there are relatively few physical side effects that have been reported associated with acute ALD-52 exposure. Although no formal studies have been conducted, it is likely that as with LSD itself, ALD-52 is able to be considered non-addictive, with an extremely low toxicity relative to dose. It is also likely that as with LSD, there are little to no negative physical, cognitive, psychiatric or other toxic consequences associated with acute ALD-52 exposure.
However, as with LSD and psychedelics in general, it is possible that ALD-52 can act as a potential trigger for those with underlying psychiatric conditions. It is advised to be extremely cautious if it is known that a family member has bipolar disorder or schizoaffective disorder as those with a personal or family history of mental illness are generally advised not to use this substance, particularly outside of a supervised medical setting.
It is strongly recommended that one uses harm reduction practices when using this substance.
Tolerance and addiction potential
Although no formal studies have been conducted, it is not unreasonable to assume that like LSD itself, ALD-52 is not habit-forming and that the desire to use it can actually decrease with use.
Tolerance to the effects of ALD-52 is built almost immediately after ingestion. After that, it takes about 5-7 days for the tolerance to be reduced to half and 14 days to be back at baseline (in the absence of further consumption). ALD-52 presents cross-tolerance with all psychedelics, meaning that after the use of ALD-52 all psychedelics will have a reduced effect.
Overdose
The LD50 of ALD-52 is unknown. Adverse psychological reactions are common especially at higher doses. Some of these include anxiety, delusions, panic attacks and more rarely seizures. Medical attention is usually only needed if suspected of severe psychotic episodes or “fake acid” (such as 25i-NBOMe or DOB). Administration of benzodiazepines or antipsychotics may help to relieve the negative cognitive effects.
Dangerous interactions
Warning: Many psychoactive substances that are reasonably safe to use on their own can suddenly become dangerous and even life-threatening when combined with certain other substances. The following list provides some known dangerous interactions (although it is not guaranteed to include all of them).
Always conduct independent research (e.g. Google, DuckDuckGo, PubMed) to ensure that a combination of two or more substances is safe to consume. Some of the listed interactions have been sourced from TripSit.
Lithium - Lithium is commonly prescribed for the treatment of bipolar disorder. There is a large body of anecdotal evidence that suggests taking it with psychedelics significantly increases the risk of psychosis and seizures. As a result, this combination is strictly discouraged.
Cannabis - Cannabis may have an unexpectedly strong and unpredictable synergy with the effects of ALD-52. Caution is advised with this combination as it can significantly increase the risk of adverse psychological reactions like anxiety, paranoia, panic attacks, and psychosis. Users are advised to start off with only a fraction of their normal cannabis dose and take long breaks between hits to avoid unintentional overdose.
Stimulants - Stimulants like amphetamine, cocaine or methylphenidate affect many parts of the brain and alter dopaminergic function. This combination can increase the risk of anxiety, paranoia, panic attacks, and thought loops. This interaction may also result in an elevated risk of mania and psychosis.
Tramadol - Tramadol is well-documented to lower the seizure threshold and psychedelics may act to trigger seizures in susceptible individuals.
Addiction Potential
not habit-forming
Overdose Information
Overdose
The LD50 of ALD-52 is unknown. Adverse psychological reactions are common especially at higher doses. Some of these include anxiety, delusions, panic attacks and more rarely seizures. Medical attention is usually only needed if suspected of severe psychotic episodes or “fake acid” (such as 25i-NBOMe or DOB). Administration of benzodiazepines or antipsychotics may help to relieve the negative cognitive effects.
ALD-52 is currently a gray area compound within many parts of the world. This means that it is not known to be specifically illegal within most countries, but people may still be charged for its possession under certain circumstances such as under analog laws and with the intent to sell or consume.
- Austria: ALD-52 is technically not illegal but it may fall in the NPSG (Neue-Psychoaktive-Substanzen-Gesetz Österreich) as an analogue of LSD.
- Denmark: ALD-52 is not listed as an illegal substance in Denmark, and its chemical class 'lysergamide' is not banned under the Analogue Act (Some LSD analogues are, however, prohibited).
- Germany: ALD-52 is controlled under the NpSG (New Psychoactive Substances Act) as of July 18, 2019. Production and import with the aim to place it on the market, administration to another person and trading is punishable. Possession is illegal but not penalized.
- Latvia: ALD-52 is illegal in Latvia. Although it isn't officially scheduled, it is controlled as an LSD structural analog due to an amendment made on June 1, 2015.
- Poland: ALD-52 is a NPS class drug in Poland, making it illegal to possess or distribute.
- Singapore: ALD-52 is a Class A controlled substance.
- Switzerland: ALD-52 is a controlled substance specifically named under Verzeichnis E.
- United Kingdom: As of January 7, 2015, ALD-52 is specifically named in the U.K. Misuse of Drugs Act as a Class A controlled substance..
- United States: ALD-52 is unscheduled in the United States. It may be considered a
Tolerance
| Full | almost immediately after ingestion |
| Half | 5-7 days |
| Zero | 14 days |
Cross-tolerances
Legal Status
ALD-52 is currently a gray area compound within many parts of the world. This means that it is not known to be specifically illegal within most countries, but people may still be charged for its possession under certain circumstances such as under analog laws and with the intent to sell or consume.
Austria: ALD-52 is technically not illegal but it may fall in the NPSG (Neue-Psychoaktive-Substanzen-Gesetz Österreich) as an analogue of LSD.
Denmark: ALD-52 is not listed as an illegal substance in Denmark, and its chemical class 'lysergamide' is not banned under the Analogue Act (Some LSD analogues are, however, prohibited).
Germany: ALD-52 is controlled under the NpSG (New Psychoactive Substances Act) as of July 18, 2019. Production and import with the aim to place it on the market, administration to another person and trading is punishable. Possession is illegal but not penalized.
Latvia: ALD-52 is illegal in Latvia. Although it isn't officially scheduled, it is controlled as an LSD structural analog due to an amendment made on June 1, 2015.
Poland: ALD-52 is a NPS class drug in Poland, making it illegal to possess or distribute.
Singapore: ALD-52 is a Class A controlled substance.
Switzerland: ALD-52 is a controlled substance specifically named under Verzeichnis E.
United Kingdom: As of January 7, 2015, ALD-52 is specifically named in the U.K. Misuse of Drugs Act as a Class A controlled substance..
United States: ALD-52 is unscheduled in the United States. It may be considered an analogue of LSD, a Schedule I controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act. As such, the sale for human consumption or the use for illicit non-medical or scientific research could be prosecuted as crimes under the Federal Analogue Act.
Responsible use
Research chemical
Psychedelic
Lysergamide
LSD
ALD-52 (Wikipedia)
ALD-52 (Erowid Vault)
ALD-52 (TiHKAL / Isomer Design)
Discussion
The ALD-52 Thread (Bluelight)
Nichols, D. E. (2016). Psychedelics. Pharmacological Reviews, 68(2), 264-355. https://doi.org/10.1124/pr.115.011478
Passie, T., Halpern, J. H., Stichtenoth, D. O., Emrich, H. M., & Hintzen, A. (2008). The Pharmacology of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide: A Review, 14, 295–314. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1755-5949.2008.00059.x
Carhart-Harris, R. L., Muthukumaraswamy, S., Roseman, L., Kaelen, M., Droog, W., Murphy, K., … Nutt, D. J. (2016). Neural correlates of the LSD experience revealed by multimodal neuroimaging. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1518377113
Experience Reports (1)
Tips (8)
Integration is just as important as the experience itself. After using ALD-52, take time to journal, reflect, or discuss the experience. Insights from psychedelic states can be powerful but need conscious effort to apply to daily life.
ALD-52 is a prodrug that converts to LSD in the body. Expect effects virtually identical to LSD with possibly a slightly gentler come-up. If your tabs feel inactive after an hour, be patient. Onset can vary.
ALD-52 is excellent for intentional personal growth work. Having a trip sitter, a comfortable private setting, and a clear intention set beforehand dramatically increases the likelihood of a meaningful experience.
If you feel very little from 100ug of ALD-52 after 90 minutes, do not redose. Some batches have slower onset. Redosing lysergamides after tolerance has begun building just extends duration without increasing intensity.
ALD-52 blotter can lose potency faster than LSD if not stored properly, as the acetyl group may hydrolyze in humid conditions. Keep tabs in foil, sealed from moisture, in a cool dark location.
Psychedelic tolerance builds rapidly. Wait at least 1-2 weeks between uses of ALD-52 for full tolerance reset. Taking the same dose the next day would require roughly double the amount for comparable effects.
Community Discussions (3)
See Also
Same Class
References (5)
- Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety — Griffiths et al. Journal of Psychopharmacology (2016)paper
- Neural correlates of the LSD experience revealed by multimodal neuroimaging — Carhart-Harris et al. PNAS (2016)paper
- PubChem: ALD-52
PubChem compound page for ALD-52 (CID: 201111)
pubchem - ALD-52 - TripSit Factsheet
TripSit factsheet for ALD-52
tripsit - ALD-52 - Wikipedia
Wikipedia article on ALD-52
wikipedia