Why Do I Still Experience Unpleasant Symptoms After Ceasing Hallucinogens?

Following cessation of use of a hallucinogen, do you reexperience one or more of the perceptual symptoms that were experienced while intoxicated with the hallucinogen (e.g., geometric hallucinations, false perceptions of movement in the peripheral visual fields, flashes of color, intensified colors, trails of images of moving objects, positive afterimages, halos around objects, macropsia and micropsia)?

Do the symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning?

If you answered ‘no’ to all questions, there may be no reason to worry. People may create a tolerance to hallucinogens, but it’s not permanent: if the person stops taking them for some days, the tolerance will disappear. However, there are some serious long-term effects of hallucinogen use, including persistent psychosis and flashbacks, also known as hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD). The person who uses hallucinogenic drugs will reexperience the effects of the drugs after they used it (days or weeks after). It may be an enjoyable experience, but for some people it can be very disturbing. It may be useful to talk with your doctor for advises.

Based on your answers, you may be displaying a symptom related to reexperiencing the effects of hallucinogen use after (days or weeks) you used it. It may be wise to schedule an appointment with your doctor. While you may not have hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD), you are displaying a sign related to it. HPPD is a rare condition and therefore research and knowledge are limited. Not everyone who uses hallucinogenic drugs will develop the disorder. There may be people who only experience symptoms once, others may experience symptoms more often but not find them disturbing. If your symptoms are bothering you, it may be important to seek medical support.

Unfortunately, you are displaying symptoms typically seen among individuals who have hallucinogen persisting perception disorder. In this case it is of high importance to see your doctor. Hallucinogenic episodes should be taken seriously, especially when you experience them frequently. You need to be honest to your doctor about the use of drugs, his primary goal will be to help you. He may ask you questions about your health history and about the symptoms that you experience. If necessary, your doctor may want to conduct a blood test, to eliminate other possible causes for your symptoms. Treatment is not always necessary for people with HPPD. Sometimes, the symptoms may disappear on their own.