Meet Valerie: LSD's Stealthy Sidekick (1V-LSD)
1V-LSD was the “legal acid” that defied convention. With effects mirroring acid, one drug designer managed to ingeniously side-step regulations — at least, for a while.
1V-LSD (1-valeryl-D-lysergic acid diethylamide), also known as Valerie, is a synthetic derivative of LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide).
Following the ban of 1cP-LSD by the German regulators, 1V-LSD enjoyed a brief moment in the spotlight as the go-to legal LSD alternative in places like Germany, Austria, Japan, and Canada.
Previously, the German ban of 1cP-LSD was comically ineffective. Like many countries, German law was highly specific to certain chemical stipulations. Anything outside these narrowly defined parameters is fair game.
"The ban stipulates that at the N1 position, a carbonyl group can be no longer than four carbons," remarked one enthusiast on the popular drug forum Bluelight.org. "The obvious step is just to make one with five carbons!"
The deed was already done. Within mere hours, research chemical (RC) retailers announced the sale of 1V-LSD in July 2021.
For a couple of years, 1V-LSD was fair game until German lawmakers passed legislation in March 2023 — officially banning the new compound.
While most online chatter centers around the German drama, 1V-LSD can still be legally (and illegally) obtained from designer drug distributors around the world.
What is 1V-LSD?
Very little official research exists on 1V-LSD. Much of what we know draws upon data we have from decades of research on LSD and other lysergamide psychedelics.
Innovation and the creation of new lysergamides have become a burgeoning industry. As regulators outlaw specific chemicals, researchers have new ones ready to go, skirting legislation and flooding online markets with new products.
Chemically, 1V-LSD is (nearly) identical to LSD but with the addition of a propionyl functional group at the nitrogen location on a tryptamine ring.
The general thinking is that 1V-LSD is a "prodrug" of LSD. Once consumed, the body converts it into LSD — creating very similar, if not exactly the same, effects of LSD. It’s important to note that this is only a theory, and detailed pharmacokinetics of 1V-LSD don't yet exist.
There are lots of other research chemicals and designer drug analogs of LSD that work the same way.
The most notable LSD prodrugs (aside from 1V-LSD) include:
1P-LSD (1-propionyl-lysergic acid diethylamide)
1cP-LSD (1-(cyclopropylmethanoyl)-lysergic acid diethylamide)
ALD-52 (1-acetyl-N,N-diethyllysergamide)
The newest addition to the LSD prodrug scene is a compound called 1T-LSD (N1-(thiophene-2-carbonyl)-lysergic acid diethylamide) — which was recently detected in Japan.
1V-LSD: Specs & Technical Details
How Potent is 1V-LSD?
1V-LSD is generally sold on blotter paper or as pills with set doses ranging between 120 μg and 225 μg. Like most lysergamides, 1V-LSD is exceptionally potent — active in doses well below 1 mg.
However, compared to LSD, 1V-LSD is slightly less potent and takes about 20–30 minutes longer to kick in. This is likely due to the fact that it first needs to be converted into its active form.
One research paper puts the compound at 30% of the dose of LSD — but this is inconsistent with user reports, which suggest a potency closer to 75%.
Some speculate the higher molecular mass of 1V-LSD than its relative lysergamides is the reason this drug needs a higher dose for comparable effects.
Based on our testing, along with reports we’ve found online, the dosages for 1V-LSD are as follows:
Microdose — 10-20 μg
Regular — 100-150 μg
Strong — 50-250 μg
High — 250 μg+
Heroic — 500 μg+
Note: These dosage ranges are based purely on anecdotal data. There are few studies comparing the potency or ideal dosage range for this chemical. Take any research chemical at your own risk. Start low and go slow.
What Does 1V-LSD Feel Like?
Examing trip reports across the internet reveal a high variability in the effects of 1V-LSD. Generally speaking, one can expect similar effects to LSD, which are highly dependent on the set and setting in which the drugs are used.
Some report slightly more body load than LSD or a clean sense of clarity.
A few early reports suggested feminine energy in the compound. However, skeptics point to the influence of the name "Valerie" on a psychonaut's trip.
Generally speaking, LSD and related analogs give users:
Euphoria, wonder, and awe
Visual and auditory distortions
Stimulating effects
Altered time perception
Shaking and tremors
Confusion
Paranoia
Overwhelm
Anxiety
How Long Does 1V-LSD Last?
Just like the subjective effects, 1V-LSD's duration is a contentious topic. To err on the safe side, we recommend setting aside the same amount of time one would for an LSD trip.
Vice interviewed the alleged creator of 1V-LSD for a German segment. However, his claim that 1V-LSD has a shorter duration, comparable to magic mushrooms or MDMA, doesn’t match our findings or the scattered online reports posted on sites like Reddit and Bluelight Forums.
One detailed Bluelight trip report gives the following timeframe:
Onset — 3 hours
Peak — 3 - 4 hours
Comedown — 5 hours
Other reports suggest the trip could last 14+ hours, as is the case for some people taking LSD.
The truth is that many factors can affect the duration of effect for any drug — but especially for prodrugs that require a secondary step to be active.
Genetic factors control everything from bioavailability through the gut membrane, liver enzyme production, and blood-brain barrier permeability.
Changes in genetic makeup can cause drugs like 1V-LSD to vary significantly in their effects and duration.
Lysergamides Are Some of the Strongest Drugs on Earth
We’ve written extensively on the various analogs and designer drugs modeled around LSD in part 4 of our series on designer drugs.
The lysergamide chemical family, of which 1V-LSD is a member, contains some of the strongest psychedelic drugs in existence — most are profoundly active in doses well below a single milligram.
For reference, popular psychedelics like 5-MeO-DMT or mescaline require oral doses of around 30 mg and 200 mg, respectively. This puts drugs like 1V-LSD and other LSD analogs between 150 and 1000 times stronger than most psychedelic substances available today.
Perhaps the most perplexing part is that despite how powerful these drugs are, they carry very little risk of physical harm. As of 2024, we’ve yet to discover a single case of confirmed fatal LSD overdoses. There are reports of people taking as much as 550 times the normal recreational dose who experienced physical side effects — but to date, none have resulted in fatalities.
That's not to say you can't take too much. These drugs have a powerful impact on the psyche. Taking too much — especially for the unprepared — can result in lasting psychological and emotional trauma.
Guidelines for the Responsible Use of Psychedelics
🐍 I understand why psychedelics should be treated with respect
⚖️ I’m familiar with the laws surrounding psychedelics in my country & state
🍄 I’m familiar with and confident in the dose I’m taking
🧪 I’ve tested a sample of the substance I’m using with a drug-testing kit
💊 I’m not mixing any medications or other substances
🏔️ I’m in a safe & comfortable environment with people I trust
🐺 One of the members of my group is responsible and sober (AKA a trip sitter)
⏳ I have nothing important scheduled for after the trip
🧠 I’m in a sound & healthy state of mind
Further Reading
Help Us Grow 🌱
Tripsitter was built by a community of psychedelic advocates — but it’s people like you that allow us to thrive.