ETH-LAD, or ETHLAD, also known as 6-ethyl-6-nor-lysergic acid diethylamide (6-ethyl-6-nor-LSD), is a

psychedelic drug Psychedelics are a subclass of hallucinogenic drugs whose primary effect is to trigger non-ordinary mental states (known as psychedelic experiences or "trips") and a perceived "expansion of consciousness". Also referred to as classic halluc ...

of the

lysergamide Lysergamides, also known as ergoamides or as lysergic acid amides, are amides of lysergic acid (LA). They are ergolines, with some lysergamides being found naturally in ergot as well as other fungi. Lysergamides are notable in containing embedd ...

family related to

lysergic acid diethylamide Lysergic acid diethylamide, commonly known as LSD (from German ; often referred to as acid or lucy), is a Semisynthesis, semisynthetic, Hallucinogen, hallucinogenic compound derived from ergot, known for its powerful psychological effects and ...

(LSD; also known as METH-LAD). It is slightly more potent than LSD and is among the most potent psychedelics known. The drug has been encountered as a novel

designer drug A designer drug is a structural or functional analog of a controlled substance that has been designed to mimic the pharmacological effects of the original drug, while avoiding classification as illegal and/or detection in standard drug tests. ...

Europe Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...

. In addition, a

prodrug A prodrug is a pharmacologically inactive medication or compound that, after intake, is metabolized (i.e., converted within the body) into a pharmacologically active drug. Instead of administering a drug directly, a corresponding prodrug can be ...

of ETH-LAD, 1P-ETH-LAD, has been developed and encountered.

Use and effects

ETH-LAD is slightly more potent than LSD in both animals and humans. It is about 1.6- to 2.3-fold more potent than LSD in rodent drug discrimination tests. The drug's human dose range is 20 to 150μg orally, compared to a range of 50 to 200μg given for LSD, and it is said to be roughly twice as potent as LSD in humans. As such, ETH-LAD is one of the most potent

serotonergic psychedelic Psychedelics are a subclass of hallucinogenic drugs whose primary effect is to trigger non-ordinary mental states (known as psychedelic experiences or "trips") and a perceived "expansion of consciousness". Also referred to as classic halluci ...

s in humans known, if not the most potent known psychedelic. Moreover, it has been said that LSD can no longer be considered the most potent psychedelic. ETH-LAD's duration is 8 to 12hours as with LSD. The qualitative effects of ETH-LAD are similar to those of LSD. In a limited number of anecdotal reports collected and published by

Alexander Shulgin Alexander Theodore "Sasha" Shulgin (June 17, 1925 – June 2, 2014) was an American biochemist, broad researcher of synthetic psychoactive compounds, and author of works regarding these, who independently explored the organic chemistry and ph ...

in ''

TiHKAL ''TiHKAL: The Continuation'' is a 1997 book written by Alexander Shulgin and Ann Shulgin about a family of psychoactive drugs known as tryptamines. A sequel to '' PiHKAL: A Chemical Love Story'', ''TiHKAL'' is an acronym that stands for "Trypt ...

'' however, ETH-LAD was described as more gentle and as less pushy, demanding, and aggressive than LSD, but also as having less of LSD's sparkle. ETH-LAD was said to have a greatly modified degree of visual distortion relative to LSD as well.

Interactions

Pharmacology

ETH-LAD acts as a

serotonin receptor agonist A serotonin receptor agonist is an agonist of one or more serotonin receptors. They activate serotonin receptors in a manner similar to that of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT), a neurotransmitter and hormone and the endogenous ligand of t ...

, including of the

serotonin Serotonin (), also known as 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), is a monoamine neurotransmitter with a wide range of functions in both the central nervous system (CNS) and also peripheral tissues. It is involved in mood, cognition, reward, learning, ...

5-HT_2A receptor. It shows greater

potency Potency may refer to: * Potency (pharmacology), a measure of the activity of a drug in a biological system * Virility * Cell potency, a measure of the differentiation potential of stem cells * In homeopathic dilutions, potency is a measure of ho ...

and

efficacy Efficacy is the ability to perform a task to a satisfactory or expected degree. The word comes from the same roots as '' effectiveness'', and it has often been used synonymously, although in pharmacology a distinction is now often made betwee ...

as a serotonin 5-HT_2A receptor agonist than LSD ''

in vitro ''In vitro'' (meaning ''in glass'', or ''in the glass'') Research, studies are performed with Cell (biology), cells or biological molecules outside their normal biological context. Colloquially called "test-tube experiments", these studies in ...

''. In addition to the serotonin 5-HT_2A receptor, the drug binds with high

affinity Affinity may refer to: Commerce, finance and law * Affinity (law), kinship by marriage * Affinity analysis, a market research and business management technique * Affinity Credit Union, a Saskatchewan-based credit union * Affinity Equity Pa ...

to the serotonin 5-HT_1A and 5-HT_2C receptors. Like LSD, ETH-LAD also binds with lower affinity to the

dopamine Dopamine (DA, a contraction of 3,4-dihydroxyphenethylamine) is a neuromodulatory molecule that plays several important roles in cells. It is an organic chemical of the catecholamine and phenethylamine families. It is an amine synthesized ...

D₁, D₂, D₃, D₄, and D₅ receptors. ETH-LAD shows psychedelic-like effects in animals, specifically rodent drug discrimination tests. Similarly to LSD, ETH-LAD shows moderate

anti-inflammatory Anti-inflammatory is the property of a substance or treatment that reduces inflammation, fever or swelling. Anti-inflammatory drugs, also called anti-inflammatories, make up about half of analgesics. These drugs reduce pain by inhibiting mechan ...

effects in

preclinical research In drug development, preclinical development (also termed preclinical studies or nonclinical studies) is a stage of research that begins before clinical trials (testing in humans) and during which important feasibility, iterative testing and dr ...

, but with slightly higher potency.

Chemistry

According to

, ETH-LAD may be chemically unstable in

solution Solution may refer to: * Solution (chemistry), a mixture where one substance is dissolved in another * Solution (equation), in mathematics ** Numerical solution, in numerical analysis, approximate solutions within specified error bounds * Solu ...

. Analogues of ETH-LAD include

LSD Lysergic acid diethylamide, commonly known as LSD (from German ; often referred to as acid or lucy), is a semisynthetic, hallucinogenic compound derived from ergot, known for its powerful psychological effects and serotonergic activity. I ...

, PRO-LAD, FLUORETH-LAD, and

AL-LAD AL-LAD, also known as 6-allyl-6-nor-LSD, is a psychedelic drug of the substituted lysergamide, lysergamide family related to lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). It was first described by 1976. Subsequently, the drug was described by Alexander Shu ...

among others. In addition,

ALD-52 ALD-52, also known as 1-acetyl-LSD (1A-LSD), is a psychedelic drug of the lysergamide family related to lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). It has been reported to produce similar psychoactive effects as LSD, but its pharmacological effects on hu ...

, LSZ, and

LSM-775 LSM-775, also known as ''N''-morpholinyllysergamide or as lysergic acid morpholide, is a chemical derivative, derivative of ergine (lysergamide). It is less potent than lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) but is reported to have some LSD-like effec ...

are analogues of ETH-LAD. 1P-ETH-LAD, a

of ETH-LAD, has been developed and encountered.

History

ETH-LAD was first described in the

scientific literature Scientific literature encompasses a vast body of academic papers that spans various disciplines within the natural and social sciences. It primarily consists of academic papers that present original empirical research and theoretical ...

by at least 1976. Subsequently, its preclinical

pharmacology Pharmacology is the science of drugs and medications, including a substance's origin, composition, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, therapeutic use, and toxicology. More specifically, it is the study of the interactions that occur betwee ...

was studied and described by Andrew J. Hoffman and David E. Nichols in 1985. ETH-LAD's properties and effects in humans were assessed by

. These were reported via personal communication by Nichols in 1986 and later described by

himself in a 1994

literature review A literature review is an overview of previously published works on a particular topic. The term can refer to a full scholarly paper or a section of a scholarly work such as books or articles. Either way, a literature review provides the rese ...

and in his 1997 book ''

'' (''Tryptamines I Have Known and Loved''). ETH-LAD was encountered as a novel

by 2016.

Society and culture

Legal status

United Kingdom

On June 10, 2014, the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) is a British statutory advisory non-departmental public body, which was established under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Mandate Its terms of reference, according to the Act, are as follows: ...

(ACMD) recommended that ETH-LAD be specifically named in the UK Misuse of Drugs Act as a class A drug despite not identifying it as ever having been sold or any harm associated with its use. The UK Home office accepted this advice and announced a ban of the substance to be enacted on 6 January 2015.

Switzerland

ETH-LAD is illegal in

Switzerland Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located in west-central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland ...

as of December 2015.

References

External links

ETH-LAD - Isomer Design

ETH-LAD - PsychonautWiki

ETH-LAD Experience Reports - Erowid

The Big & Dandy ETH-LAD Thread - Bluelight

ETH-LAD - TiHKAL - Erowid

ETH-LAD - TiHKAL - Isomer Design

ETH-LAD: A Powerful LSD-Alternative - Tripsitter
{{Ergolines 5-HT2A agonists Designer drugs Diethylamino compounds Dopamine receptor modulators Entheogens Ethyl compounds Psychedelic lysergamides Serotonin receptor agonists