HPPD: Symptoms, causes, and treatment

Others might have symptoms for months or even years after using psychedelics. While HPPD is a complex, under-researched, and highly Sobriety subjective condition, people consistently report similar kinds of changes. If you have experienced some of these changes – and they began noticeably after taking drugs – then this may be suggestive of HPPD and the need for further clinical consultation.

• This highlights the importance of a careful history in the assessment of patients presenting with positive visual phenomena, focusing on timeline and relationship to substances and medications.
• Due to rapid destruction of tissue, there is little translocation and symptoms primarily occur on tissue directly contacted by the herbicide.
• Episodes of type 1 HPPD don’t come back as often as type 2 episodes typically do.
• These flashbacks are rarely as intense or long lasting as a typical drug-induced trip.
• It takes you through the steps of recognizing symptoms, seeking help, and tips to manage this sometimes overwhelming condition.

Can the Effects Be Reversed?

Needless to say, though, ‘drugs’ encompass a vast range of neurochemical and psychophysical effects that resist homogenous categories. Some individuals report triggering symptoms akin to VSS and HPPD through the use of SSRIs; at least one clinical report has described this possibility as ‘drug-induced VSS’ and explicitly connected HPPD and VSS. The main group of symptoms reported are visual disturbances, which are more common than auditory disturbances. However, any perceptual symptom experienced during intoxication may re-occur following hallucinogen withdrawal. Hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD) is the recurrence of perceptive disturbances that firstly develop during hallucinogenic drug intoxication. The prevalence is low and it is more often diagnosed in those with a history of previous psychological issues or substance misuse, but it can arise in anyone, even after a single exposure to triggering drugs.

• If you are dealing with HPPD, you are not alone—this disorder is recognized in the DSM-V, yet it remains underdiagnosed, with fewer than 1% of psychologists familiar with its symptoms and treatment.
• Another therapeutic approach, known as neurofeedback, may also be beneficial for some individuals.
• If you’re not currently working with a specialist, Dr. Locke can help guide you in finding one, and he offers virtual consultations to make accessing care more convenient.
• Prescription drug prices can feel like a rollercoaster ride—one that only seems to go up!
• Chemically synthesized hallucinogens include ketamine, PCP (phencyclidine or angel dust), dizocilpine, LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide), and MDMA (also known as ecstasy or Molly).
• Not everyone who uses hallucinogens will develop HPPD, which suggests that other unknown factors may be at play.
• If HPPD affects performance at work or school, people with the condition can seek accommodations.

Causes Of Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder

Flashbacks, experienced by approximately 60% of individuals with HPPD, involve sudden, vivid re-experiencing of past hallucinogenic trips. These episodes, often triggered by stress or sensory stimuli, can last from a few seconds to several minutes and may feel disorienting. Flashbacks are believed to result from abnormal neural activity, where pathways affected by hallucinogens become reactivated, causing individuals to feel as though they are “reliving” their drug experience. Hallucinogen-persisting perception disorder (HPPD) causes a person to keep reliving the visual element of an experience caused by hallucinogenic drugs. Most people experience HPPD symptoms as a flashback (a past incidence that recurs vividly in the mind) or a benign re-experiencing of the initial drug-induced experience. There appears to be a correlation with previous mental health diagnoses.

Psychological explanations

• For example, they may use audiobooks or text-to-speech software if reading is difficult.
• Dr. Natale seeks to empower individuals with knowledge, fostering a greater understanding of mental health and encouraging a proactive approach to well-being.
• Because many people are unaware of the existence of HPPD, when they first hear about it, it seems like a story, told to ward people off using psychedelic drugs.
• The disturbing visual symptoms can cause fear and distress, which may lead to panic attacks, avoidance of certain situations or environments, and depression.
• Persistent sadness, loss of interest in activities, and changes in sleep or appetite suggest MDD.

Triggered flashbacks can be especially difficult as the person may already be feeling vulnerable due to the trigger, which can make the out-of-control feeling of the flashback all the more confusing and upsetting. Flashbacks are not usually as intense or long-lasting as an actual drug experience, usually lasting just seconds or minutes, and are easier to control mentally than intoxication or a bad trip. Though it can take time to find the right treatment regimen and begin to feel comfortable again, it is a process that is well worth the effort. The more time that is spent finding out what works and what doesn’t, the easier it will be to create a sustainable life in recovery.

Still, there are some visual symptoms many people with HPPD have in common. In this case, the symptoms may even interfere with your daily activities or quality of life. Adding to the expanding field of HPPD research, a 2022 case report introduced an innovative treatment approach with promising results. In this report, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) was utilized to treat HPPD symptoms. TDCS is a form of non-invasive brain stimulation that uses a small electric current to modulate brain activity. Interestingly, this treatment resulted in a significant reduction, approximately 60%, in visual hallucinations and occipital delta activity.

Having a flashback can be distressing, but calming or self-soothing activities like deep breathing, grounding techniques, and mindfulness can ease the psychological discomfort and help you to stay in the moment. It’s also important to learn your triggers so you can do your best to avoid them and better manage them when they do occur. The only certain cause of HPPD is previous hallucinogen use, and it is most frequently caused by LSD. Flashbacks can come on unpredictably or in response to a trigger, such as tiredness, anxiety, or stress.

It’s important to seek professional help if these symptoms persist or interfere with daily life. It is crucial to seek medical attention if HPPD symptoms significantly disrupt daily life or progressively worsen. Telemedicine offers a convenient way to consult healthcare providers from the comfort of your home. Our telemedicine practice provides comprehensive care, including HPPD treatment options such as medication management and personalized lifestyle recommendations, without the need for in-person visits. Both anxiety disorders and HPPD can involve anxiety, restlessness, and difficulty concentrating. However, anxiety disorders do not typically include visual disturbances, which are a hallmark of HPPD.

• According to studies, the amount of a substance you took doesn’t seem to make a difference in your risk of getting HPPD.
• MDD primarily affects mood and emotional well-being, while HPPD primarily affects visual perception.
• Despite the challenges posed by Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder, there is hope for those affected by this condition.

Getting help and seeking support is a great first step toward overcoming the disturbing and frequent visual disturbances of HPPD. Loved ones of individuals with HPPD are an important source of support. They may feel angry with the individual for using drugs and benefit from individual or family talk therapy with a mental health professional to work through their emotions.

Those who have Type 2 experience continuous changes to their vision that come and go without warning. Learning relaxation techniques like deep breathing or mindfulness exercises can help those with HPPD disorder remain more in control when flashbacks occur. Taking steps to manage stress through exercise, enjoying hobbies, socializing with others, listening to music and engaging in other activities may help reduce the frequency of flare-ups. As a result, it’s important to develop a plan of action to respond when they do.