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What Causes Change In Perception After Smoking Marijuana?
Question: Hello doc,
i am new to smoking marijuana and i recently smoked quite a lot of weed about to days back with my friends. after i woke up the next day i kind of have this persistent perception problem where lights seem brighter and i can see everything with more clarity. it has been going on for the past 2 days and sometimes i feel that the high feeling keeps coming back, today is the third day and still my vision is not quite ok. I therefore panicked and kind of had an anxiety attack, believing that i will be stuck with this for my entire life. I am listing the basic symptoms which i am having below
perception change
lights seem brighter
headeaches
sometimes i am getting red eyes.
heavy head
loose motion
also i would like to state that i went to a doctor in my locality for checkup and he said that i was having viral fever so some of the symptoms can come from that.
i want to know wether this perception change thing is a temporary thing or for ever. I have also heard of a syndrome called HPPD, and would like to know if that is my condition.
It would be very helpful if you can give me some answers on this.
looking forward to hearing from you soon
Thanks XXXXXXX
22 year old / Male / Weight - 90kgs / Asian
i am new to smoking marijuana and i recently smoked quite a lot of weed about to days back with my friends. after i woke up the next day i kind of have this persistent perception problem where lights seem brighter and i can see everything with more clarity. it has been going on for the past 2 days and sometimes i feel that the high feeling keeps coming back, today is the third day and still my vision is not quite ok. I therefore panicked and kind of had an anxiety attack, believing that i will be stuck with this for my entire life. I am listing the basic symptoms which i am having below
perception change
lights seem brighter
headeaches
sometimes i am getting red eyes.
heavy head
loose motion
also i would like to state that i went to a doctor in my locality for checkup and he said that i was having viral fever so some of the symptoms can come from that.
i want to know wether this perception change thing is a temporary thing or for ever. I have also heard of a syndrome called HPPD, and would like to know if that is my condition.
It would be very helpful if you can give me some answers on this.
looking forward to hearing from you soon
Thanks XXXXXXX
22 year old / Male / Weight - 90kgs / Asian
Brief Answer:
Please see details below.
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
I read your query in detail and can understand your concern regarding your symptoms.
Marijuana is a drug which has a wide range of effects of which change in perception is one of the most common. It can lead to perceptual distortions which either things appear smaller or larger, or distorted shape and in your case, intensity of colours changes. Marijuana is also known to case intense anxiety and feeling that something wrong will happen or one might go crazy. Your other symptoms of heaviness of head, red eyes. etc can also occur as part of the effect of marijuana.
Usually, the effects of marijuana lasts till the time one is intoxicated. However, in some people, it can continue for longer periods of time, even upto one month. The exact duration of symptoms cannot be predicted. But it is temporary and not permanent.
Regarding HPPV, it is Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder. It is a condition where there is a repeat occurrence of perceptual disturbances (even in absence of any drug) which had occurred in past due to a hallucinogen. So, your condition cannot be termed HPPV.
My advise will be to consult a psychiatrist for your condition. Treatment with short term course of benzodiazepines will help in decreasing your symptoms. In addition, wear dark glasses for a few days till your perceptual disturbances go off.
The most important thing would be to remain abstinent from marijuana or any other drug for the rest of your life. If it has happened once, it can happen again and with greater severity.
Hope I was able to answer your query. In case of any follow up query, please feel free to ask.
Wishing you speedy recovery,
Best wishes,
Dr. Sunil Gupta
Please see details below.
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
I read your query in detail and can understand your concern regarding your symptoms.
Marijuana is a drug which has a wide range of effects of which change in perception is one of the most common. It can lead to perceptual distortions which either things appear smaller or larger, or distorted shape and in your case, intensity of colours changes. Marijuana is also known to case intense anxiety and feeling that something wrong will happen or one might go crazy. Your other symptoms of heaviness of head, red eyes. etc can also occur as part of the effect of marijuana.
Usually, the effects of marijuana lasts till the time one is intoxicated. However, in some people, it can continue for longer periods of time, even upto one month. The exact duration of symptoms cannot be predicted. But it is temporary and not permanent.
Regarding HPPV, it is Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder. It is a condition where there is a repeat occurrence of perceptual disturbances (even in absence of any drug) which had occurred in past due to a hallucinogen. So, your condition cannot be termed HPPV.
My advise will be to consult a psychiatrist for your condition. Treatment with short term course of benzodiazepines will help in decreasing your symptoms. In addition, wear dark glasses for a few days till your perceptual disturbances go off.
The most important thing would be to remain abstinent from marijuana or any other drug for the rest of your life. If it has happened once, it can happen again and with greater severity.
Hope I was able to answer your query. In case of any follow up query, please feel free to ask.
Wishing you speedy recovery,
Best wishes,
Dr. Sunil Gupta
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hello Doctor XXXXXXX
Thanks for clearing up my confusion, I was too scared to think about anything else, and i was really in thinking that i have developed HPPD, but now i can relax thanks to you,
However i would like to mention that today is the fourth day and still the distorted visions are persisting, along with sleepy eyes and severe headache.
I understand that this may be the cause of the residual psychoactive THC chemical that is left within my system from smoking marijuana, and therefore i would be grateful if you can provide an approximate time as to when i can again start to fell a bit normal.
I would also like to clarify that i am not a heavy cannabis user and i have only smoked 3 - 4 times in my entire life, and that also in the last month.
But as you said, I'm aware now, and i am never going to touch that ever again.
So my question to you is that how long will it take to get this marijuana out of my body, as the headaches are unbeareble right now and if u can prescribe some medicines on this then it would be ver helpful.
thanks again for reassuring me. XXXXXXX
Thanks for clearing up my confusion, I was too scared to think about anything else, and i was really in thinking that i have developed HPPD, but now i can relax thanks to you,
However i would like to mention that today is the fourth day and still the distorted visions are persisting, along with sleepy eyes and severe headache.
I understand that this may be the cause of the residual psychoactive THC chemical that is left within my system from smoking marijuana, and therefore i would be grateful if you can provide an approximate time as to when i can again start to fell a bit normal.
I would also like to clarify that i am not a heavy cannabis user and i have only smoked 3 - 4 times in my entire life, and that also in the last month.
But as you said, I'm aware now, and i am never going to touch that ever again.
So my question to you is that how long will it take to get this marijuana out of my body, as the headaches are unbeareble right now and if u can prescribe some medicines on this then it would be ver helpful.
thanks again for reassuring me. XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Please see details below.
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
Thanks for following up. It was nice to know that you felt reassured with my reply.
You are right in mentioning at the effect is due to psychoactive THC. The presence of Marijuana can be detected in body even upto a month in some tissues like hair in single time users (can be more in chronic users). However, the effects of marijuana can be completely independent of the detection in body as well the dose of marijuana smoked. Like I mentioned in my last reply, the symptoms can continue from few hours to upto even a month. There is no way that the exact duration can be predicated. Since you are having symptoms of distorted vision and headache even now, it will be better that you are started on treatment for the same.
You will benefited by benzodiazepines like tablet clonazepam which can be taken at 0.5 mg twice a day and gradually tapered off depending on response to the medicine. Clonazepam is a prescription medicine and will not be available to you as over the counter medicine. So, you will have to be prescribed the drug in person. For headaches right now, you can take tablet diclofenac 50 mg stat which can be available over the counter.
In addition, as I advised in last reply, wear dark glasses for a few days till your perceptual disturbances go off. That will help.
Hope I was able to answer your query. Please don't hesitate to ask any further query that you might have.
Wish you speedy recovery,
Best wishes,
Dr. Sunil Gupta
Please see details below.
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
Thanks for following up. It was nice to know that you felt reassured with my reply.
You are right in mentioning at the effect is due to psychoactive THC. The presence of Marijuana can be detected in body even upto a month in some tissues like hair in single time users (can be more in chronic users). However, the effects of marijuana can be completely independent of the detection in body as well the dose of marijuana smoked. Like I mentioned in my last reply, the symptoms can continue from few hours to upto even a month. There is no way that the exact duration can be predicated. Since you are having symptoms of distorted vision and headache even now, it will be better that you are started on treatment for the same.
You will benefited by benzodiazepines like tablet clonazepam which can be taken at 0.5 mg twice a day and gradually tapered off depending on response to the medicine. Clonazepam is a prescription medicine and will not be available to you as over the counter medicine. So, you will have to be prescribed the drug in person. For headaches right now, you can take tablet diclofenac 50 mg stat which can be available over the counter.
In addition, as I advised in last reply, wear dark glasses for a few days till your perceptual disturbances go off. That will help.
Hope I was able to answer your query. Please don't hesitate to ask any further query that you might have.
Wish you speedy recovery,
Best wishes,
Dr. Sunil Gupta
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hello Dr XXXXXXX
I will do as prescribed by you,
also, i would like to mention that i am not able to function normally and the visual disturbances are still present.
I this a sign of drug induced psychosis ? if it is then please tell me how can i recover from this ?
also the surroundings are seeming much brighter than normal and I'm wearing dark glasses as prescribed by you. its been almost 6 days now and still I'm not recovering. understandably I'm freaking out. and i need your help.
also I've read of something called depersonalisation/derealisation, and want to know if this is my condition, and what to do if it is ?
Please help me sir.
thanks
XXXX
I will do as prescribed by you,
also, i would like to mention that i am not able to function normally and the visual disturbances are still present.
I this a sign of drug induced psychosis ? if it is then please tell me how can i recover from this ?
also the surroundings are seeming much brighter than normal and I'm wearing dark glasses as prescribed by you. its been almost 6 days now and still I'm not recovering. understandably I'm freaking out. and i need your help.
also I've read of something called depersonalisation/derealisation, and want to know if this is my condition, and what to do if it is ?
Please help me sir.
thanks
XXXX
Brief Answer:
You are having cannabis induced anxiety.
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
Thanks for following up. I am completely able to understand that you are duly worried about your symptoms.
Regarding your persisting symptoms of visual disturbances and dysfunction, I would suggest that you should start treatment without any further delay. Since, it is almost a week now and your symptoms are persisting, you would need treatment with clonazepam as mentioned in my last reply. In view of persisting symptoms, I would also suggest adding a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor like paroxetine. It will help in reducing your distress and improve long term functionality.
As for drug induced psychosis, I don't think you are suffering from that. In psychosis, a person starts having hallucinations and delusions and none of what that you have mentioned fits that description. You are having a condition termed cannabis induced anxiety disorder. As I have mentioned before, the symptoms in certain cases lasts even upto a month. So, it needs to be managed as advised and medication should be started without further delay. Of course, you will need to be prescribed the medicines in person by a physician/psychiatrist.
Regarding depersonalisation/ derealisation, it is a condition where one feels as if he is cut off from himself or the rest of the environment. It lasts for small periods of time (minutes to hours) and occurs in episodes. It can occur as a part on anxiety itself or even in depression or as an independent disorder. None of the symptoms that you have mentioned is suggestive of this symptoms. Even if it happens, it is nothing to worry about as it can occur as part of anxiety disorder.
I do hope that answers your queries. In case of any more, please feel free. I will be glad to offer my help. In case you decide to close the discussion, please do rate the answer.
Wishing you a speedy recovery,
Dr. Sunil Gupta
You are having cannabis induced anxiety.
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
Thanks for following up. I am completely able to understand that you are duly worried about your symptoms.
Regarding your persisting symptoms of visual disturbances and dysfunction, I would suggest that you should start treatment without any further delay. Since, it is almost a week now and your symptoms are persisting, you would need treatment with clonazepam as mentioned in my last reply. In view of persisting symptoms, I would also suggest adding a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor like paroxetine. It will help in reducing your distress and improve long term functionality.
As for drug induced psychosis, I don't think you are suffering from that. In psychosis, a person starts having hallucinations and delusions and none of what that you have mentioned fits that description. You are having a condition termed cannabis induced anxiety disorder. As I have mentioned before, the symptoms in certain cases lasts even upto a month. So, it needs to be managed as advised and medication should be started without further delay. Of course, you will need to be prescribed the medicines in person by a physician/psychiatrist.
Regarding depersonalisation/ derealisation, it is a condition where one feels as if he is cut off from himself or the rest of the environment. It lasts for small periods of time (minutes to hours) and occurs in episodes. It can occur as a part on anxiety itself or even in depression or as an independent disorder. None of the symptoms that you have mentioned is suggestive of this symptoms. Even if it happens, it is nothing to worry about as it can occur as part of anxiety disorder.
I do hope that answers your queries. In case of any more, please feel free. I will be glad to offer my help. In case you decide to close the discussion, please do rate the answer.
Wishing you a speedy recovery,
Dr. Sunil Gupta
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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