Causes
HPPD most often follows use of this psychedelic drug
LSD
Using hallucinogens at this stage of life may increases the risk of developing HPPD.
adolescence or a young adulthood
seeing objects with bright colors with halos or bright outlines is known as seeing these
auras
Doctors may use this type of imaging tests to rule out epilepsy or seizures
EEG
This class of anxiety medications, including clonazepam, is sometimes use to treat HPPD
Benzodiazepines
This common hallucinogenic drug can trigger HPPD
Psilocybin mushrooms
HPPD is more likely to occur after the repeated use rather than after this kind of single exposure
one time use or single trip
People with HPPD sometimes see colors "bleeding" with other colors, also called
colors bleeding
An eye doctor might perform one of these exams to check for retinal problems
eye exam
CBT (Cognitive behavioral therapy)
MDMA, also known as what street name, could also be linked to HPPD
ecstasy
People with these pre-existing mental health condition may be at higher risk for
anxiety or mood disorders
patients often report seeing trails behind moving objects, also called
tracers
HPPD is often confused with this serious mental illness involving hallucinations
schizophrenia
Doctors recommend avoiding category of substances to prevent worsening symptoms
Hallucinogens (recreational drugs)
HPPD is not caused by brain damage,but by changes in these brain pathways
neurotransmitters
Stress and fatigue can act as these, worsening HPPD symptoms
triggers
describe small dots moving across their vision, also called
visual snow
To diagnose HPPD, doctores rely primarily on this type of patient account
symptom history
Some patients find symptoms improve when they reduce
caffeine
Some researchers believe HPPD may result from overstimulation of this system in the brain
visual system
Even people who have never used hallucinogens again can experience HPPD after this long
months or years later
A common symptom of HPPD is distorted perception of these two basic elements of vision
size and shape
HPPD is listed under this broader category of mental health conditions in the DSM-5
hallucinogen related disorders
because treatment is still limited, many patients rely on this supportive type of care
lifestyle management or coping strategies