Perceptual disturbances

The main disturbance in inhalant intoxication delirium is a reversible decrease in the level of consciousness and awareness of the environment, which includes an inability to focus, sustain, or shift attention. The intoxicated person is confused and easily distracted by irrelevant stimuli and difficult to engage in a meaningful conversation. He or she may also exhibit prominent disorientation, short- and long-term memory deficits, language disturbances, and perceptual disturbances that may include illusions and hallucinations. Other prominent features associated with inhalant intoxication delirium are... 

There are only two reports of the human evaluation of a 6-hydroxylated N,N-dialkyltryptamine. Szara and Hearst (223) studied the effects of 6-hydroxy-N,N-diethyltryptamine (6-OH-DET 56) in a single subject. Doses of 1 and 2 mg were inactive a 5-mg dose produced a short-lasting perceptual disturbance and a 10-mg dose, after 1 hr, produced some psychotomimetic disturbances. Rosenberg et al. (182) compared the activity of DMT with that of 6-OH-DMT (55) in five human subjects. While DMT was active, the 6-hydroxy derivative was found to be inactive at intramuscular doses of approximately 50 to 75 mg. At a dose of 10 mg/kg, 6-OH-DMT (55) increased spontaneous activity in mice more so than a comparable dose of DMT 6-OH-DET (36) was essentially equiactive with DET in this respect (224). In most other animal studies, however, 6-hydroxylation of DMT has been observed to result in a decrease or complete loss of behavioral activity (228,236-238). The behavioral potency of 5-OMeDMT (59) was also reduced by 6-hydroxylation (226). 7-Hydroxy-N,N-dimethyltrypt-amine (7-OH-DMT 57) has not been evaluated in man. At an intraperitoneal dose of 33 jtM/kg, 7-OH-DMT displayed no behavioral effects in rats (228). The pharmacologic effects of all four hydroxylated derivatives of DMT, psilocin (49), bufotenine (53), 6-OH-DMT (55), and 7-OH-DMT (57) have been compared in studies by Taborsky et al. (228) and by Cerletti et al. (29). 

Perceptual disturbances were vivid and at times amusing. Unlike the pseudo-hallucinations of subjects under the influence of LSD, they were ordinary and included everyday scenes and memories. 

Long-term use can result in a withdrawal symptoms such as insomnia, anxiety, tinnitus, tremor, perceptual disturbances and loss of appetite. 

Benzodiazepines have a low abuse potential when they are properly prescribed and their use is supervised (American Psychiatric Association 1990). However, physical dependence often occurs when benzodiazepines are taken at higher-than-usual doses or for prolonged periods. If benzodiazepines are discontinued precipitously, withdrawal effects (including hyperpyrexia, seizures, psychosis, and even death) may occur. Signs and symptoms of withdrawal may include tachycardia, increased blood pressure, muscle cramps, anxiety, insomnia, panic attacks, impairment of memory and concentration, perceptual disturbances, and delirium. In addition, withdrawal-related derealization, hallucinations, and other psychotic symptoms have been reported. These withdrawal symptoms may begin as early as the day after discontinuation of the benzodiazepine, and they may continue for weeks to months. Evidence indicates that withdrawal reactions associated with shorter-half-life benzodiazepines peak more rapidly and more intensely. 

Jation of depth is at least unpleasant and associated with behaviors that lead trained clinical observers to raise the question of schizophrenia. Generalized perceptual disturbances... 

Bhatia SC, Arora M, Bhatia SK. Perceptual disturbances with zaleplon. Psychiatr Serv 2001 52(1) 109-10. 

Perceptual disturbances are generally thought to occur more often with pentazocine than with other opioids. Objective definition of such phenomena is difficult, but in a study of postoperative dreaming after the use of pentazocine and morphine as premedicants there was no statistically significant difference between the two drugs (SED-11,148) (572). 

Hallucinations or illusions—especially visual, olfactory, tactile, or gustatory (such perceptual disturbances are indicative of neurologic disease). 

Even though two family members (ages 12 and 18) consumed only small amounts of the cooked mushrooms, the ensuing s miptoms of intoxication were no different from those observed in family members who had eaten comparatively larger portions. After several hours, the psychic and perceptual disturbances subsided and finally disappeared, without any lingering side effects. Attempts to treat acute S5miptoms included administration of emetics and fortifying tonics. In the end, these potions were heralded as the crucial treatment that "cured" the family. 

There are considerable differences between LSD-induced and schizophrenic S5rmptoms. The characteristic autism and dissociation of schizophrenia are absent with LSD. Perceptual disturbances due to LSD differ from those due to schizophrenia and, as a rule, are not true hallucinations. Finally, disturbances of consciousness following LSD do not resemble those occurring in schizophrenia, Sanford M. Unger (1964). 

Sensory-perceptual disturbance related to hearing loss... 

Sensory-perceptual disturbance related to ototoxicity (loss of hearing and tinnitus [ringing in the ears])... 

Altered thought processes (confusion, dehrium) related to neurotoxic reactions sensory-perceptual disturbances related to optic neuritis (blurred vision, loss of vision, eye pain) and to peripheral neuritis (tingling, numbness, and burning pain of the hands and feet)... 

Psychiatric Perceptual disturbances have been attributed to zaleplon [40" ]. 

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