Fawkinchit

Just wanted to add more information that this condition is more than likely a neurotoxic effect. Using lithium toxicity as an example of what can occur with the brain and hyperintensities. Lithium toxicity presents a permanent duration of neuronal damage especially in the cerebellum. You can read this case study for an example of mistake by doctors prescribing to much lithium. Since its first use in 1947, lithium is now commonly used as a least expensive mood stabilizer. However, because lithium has a low therapeutic index, lithium-induced drug toxicity is frequently seen in clinical practice. Although most lithium-induced neurological side effects are reversible on discontinuation of the drug, there is evidence that lithium toxicity causes irreversible persistent neurologic disorders. We report a case of syndrome of irreversible lithium-effectuated neurotoxicity (SILENT), who recovered partially after extensive treatment. Case Report A 45-year-old Mr. S presented with a history of altered sensorium for the past 2 days. The patient had a history of five episodes of mania and two episodes of depression in the last 15 years. Six weeks ago he had an episode of mania, for which he was treated at a tertiary care center as inpatient and given a tablet each of olanzapine 20 mg, lithium 900 mg, and chlorpromazine 300 mg daily. A week after he was discharged from the center, while still on regular medication, he developed coarse tremors affecting the whole body and was unable to walk. When he was brought to the Accident and Emergency Department of our hospital, he was afebrile and was not responding to painful commands. His pulse rate was 105/min with exaggerated deep tendon reflexes. His investigations showed a raised serum lithium level of 3.9 mEq/L, creatinine of 1.8 mg/dl, and raised white blood cells of 24,800/μl. His liver function tests and sugar level were within the normal range. All his previous medications, including lithium were stopped, and he was treated with intravenous (IV) normal saline, IV ceftriaxone 2 g, and vancomycin 500 mg twice a day for 2 weeks. In order to rule out any infection, his blood was sent for culture, and a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis was done to rule out any neuro-infection. However, both blood culture and CSF results were found to be normal. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain showed T2 and flair hyperintensities in the bilateral parietal lobe and periventricular white matter changes, both suggestive of lithium toxicity [Figure 1]a. In view of his low Glasgow coma scale (8/15), the patient was intubated. Also, because of the severe lithium toxicity, hemodialysis was started. After two cycles of hemodialysis, the patient started responding to painful commands. His serum lithium level fell to 1.8 mEq/L. He was extubated on day 5 of admission. From day 6 onward, he started responding to oral commands, even though his speech was slurred. However, he had coarse tremors, truncal ataxia, and difficulty in deglutition. Subsequently, the patient was shifted to the psychiatry ward of our hospital for further management and for observation of manic symptoms. Physiotherapy was started, and within 2 weeks of intensive physiotherapy the patient started walking with support. His speech too improved. After 3 weeks, when his blood serum lithium level fell to 0.2 mEq/L, he started showing symptoms of mania. He was then treated with oral quetiapine, which was gradually increased to 300 mg/day. Thirty-six days after the first MRI, a second MRI was done. The second MRI showed up to 40% reduction in periventricular white matter hyperintensities in the bilateral parietal lobes [Figure 1]b. Even after about 6 months of follow-up the patient continues to have coarse tremors, dysarthria, and significant limb ataxia. Brain MRI showing hyperintensities. So even after 6 months he was showing symptoms, which clearly demonstrates damage to the neural tissue. There are multiple examples of this that can be found. I would assume that this is similar to HPPD, but rather effecting different areas of the brain.

While you may have been completely relieved of your symptoms, there may still be damage, in most cases the symptoms do lessen quite significantly over time, but most people do not see a complete remission of their symptoms, especially in the more severe cases. You probably may even still have symptoms but due to perceptive adjustments you may not be noticing them. I'm fairly certain however that in this condition neurons are destroyed, quickly and abruptly for most usually. Then you see the the stages of the brain doing its best for repair, but for the most part it can do very little to no regeneration. I dont understand your second question sorry.

Hey Umit, yes it does seem the activity is far less than it used to be. Glad that you are seeing improvement, in good time, the symptoms are greatly lessened thats for sure.

So everyone is gone at this point I guess.

Got some good news guys! Been reading all morning and im exhausted, but ill try and briefly sum up what I've found. Basically when nerve tissue, like in the brain and spinal cord are damaged, even severe damage like stab wounds, the tissue doesn't actually form scar tissue, but rather glial scarring, which are just astrocytes replicating and migrating to the area acting as a barrier. This is pretty good news, because if it were normal scarring(fibrin), the fibrous tissue would need to be removed. So realistically in this case, it seems that the nervous system just needs a push in the right direction for regeneration!! Which is remarkable! Ill add to that there was a study done where they removed the astrocyte formation(glial scar) and the neurons/axons didn't fill in to that area, so it shows that its more than likely that the astrocytes may be a preliminary function towards neuronal regrowth, which is very exciting! Essentially is all we need to do is find something that will give the neurons that push that they need. Also, if anyone is wondering if this condition is brought about by neuronal damage/death/apoptosis just read this. Amphetamine abuse – Drugs like Adderall are not likely going to cause any major brain damage or loss of neurons if used properly. However, if you abuse amphetamines, it can have detrimental effects on cognitive functioning even years after use. Amphetamines release large amounts of dopamine to help stimulate brain activity. A point of exitotoxicity may be reached if amphetamines are abused and you could lose brain cells. Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/692642.stm Antipsychotics – The class of drugs known as antipsychotics is documented as being linked to brain shrinkage as well as killing brain cells. This is a double whammy for people that already have a disease like psychosis or schizophrenia. Their disease is causing significant distress and functional problems, and the medication that they are taking is actually slowly damaging the brain. Source: http://www.nature.com/npp/journal/v32/n6/abs/1301233a.html Bath Salts – There is not much scientific information regarding bath salts. However, this popular drug containes substituted cathinones. Most types contain mephedrone or methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV). They cause major changes in brain activity and can certainly cause brain cell death. Elevated stress, paranoia, anger, stimulation, etc. are all side effects from this substance. By using bath salts you are likely going to get brain damage from the excessive stimulation and inability to wind down. Additionally, there may be chemicals in this drug that you are not aware of that may kill more brain cells. Benzodiazepine abuse – Should you end up abusing a benzodiazepine drug like Xanax or Valium over the long term, you put yourself at risk to lose brain cells as well as develop dementia. Although not everyone taking this drug will experience the negative side effects, it can lead to cognition problems in the long term. There are a lot of conflicting results from benzodiazepine studies, but in most the long term effects do not seem favorable. Cigarettes / tobacco products – A compound in tobacco products including cigarettes and chewing tobacco called NNK (procarcinogen) causes white blood cells in the body’s central nervous system (CNS) to attack healthy brain cells. Normally immune cells called “microglia” attack unhealthy and damaged cells in the brain to help promote healthy functioning. However the NNK causes the microglia to attack healthy cells. Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090623090400.htm Cocaine – Although using cocaine once or twice may not do much damage, there is significant evidence that cocaine use kills your brains pleasure cells. So the cells that allow you to get high off of cocaine are the very cells that become damaged and killed from the drug’s use. The cells that die from cocaine use are in your brain’s pleasure center, which help you feel good via the release of the neurotransmitter dopamine. Things that previously brought you pleasure may no longer bring you any pleasure due to all of the extinct pleasure neurons in the pleasure center. Source: http://online.sfsu.edu/rone/Buddhism/FivePrecepts/cocainekillsbraincells.html Ecstasy (MDMA) – One extreme myth regarding the popular rave drug ecstasy is that it will “put holes in your brain” – however, it does have the potential to kill brain cells – specifically ones that are of central importance to the serotonin system. Not only can it deplete natural stores of serotonin, it can damage axons and other nerve cells. Some researchers believe that the brain is not able to restore its axons. Read more about how ecstasy may cause brain damage if you are interested. Source: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0006899388913091 Inhalants – The poisons in inhalants can cause major problems in regards to brain functioning and can damage many brain cells. If you chronically sniff or huff things like paint and glue, you are risking your brain. Some people experience significant brain damage from years of huffing paint to get a high. Individuals that sniff paint are putting themselves at major risk for brain damage. Don’t huff paint or other inhalants as a way to get high – this is a surefire way to end up with brain problems. Ketamine – Prolonged exposure to ketamine has been linked to the death of neurons and neuronal toxicity. The death was found to have happened in the frontal cortex of monkeys. Ironically enough ketamine is currently being investigated as an alternative treatment for depression. Short term exposure was not associated with any adverse effects; you really have to abuse ketamine to kill brain cells. Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19580862 Methamphetamines – If you want to severely damage your overall brain functioning, consider meth. Over time, this is a sure-fire way to roast your brain cells and cause long term damage to many areas of the brain. What’s interesting is that chronic use of meth can cause changes to the brain similar to those found in patients with Alzheimer’s disease and stroke victims. Scientists have found that the more you use meth, the more damage your brain cells will incur. Nitrous Oxide – When used by a medical professional for anesthetic purposes, nitrous oxide is relatively safe – it will not damage the brain. However, when it is used recreationally in a repetitive manner to maintain a high, it can deplete oxygen levels may inhibit the uptake of vitamin B12. If you take “laughing gas” or “whippets” on the regular, you are putting your brain at risk for cell death – especially over the long term. PCP – This drug was found to cause lesions on the brain in rats. This does not necessarily mean that it applies to humans. However abuse of Phencyclidine could still lead to brain cell death in humans as well. There is no way of knowing unless studies are actually conducted. Abuse of this dissociative over time has been linked to causing brain damage. Steroids – Taking steroids can lead to elevated levels of testosterone which in turn can kill brain cells. It was determined that at high concentrations, cell viability decreases. It is believed that the excess testosterone is what plays a role in damaging and knocking neurons out of commission. If you are getting your muscle by taking steroids, you may want to think twice before you have to deal with some brain damage.

Hey guys! Came across something today and its something that we can try. Ill just brief it up as simple as I can. When I first started the thread the theory in my mind is that imbalance in the organs is essentially disease, however I was thinking more... physically rather that magnetically. Magnetically speaking though all organs in the body have their own resonances(you can think of it musically even if that helps, like a ringing, or instrument, and they all play together to make a symphony.), disease however, or dysfunction of a specific organ is simply just discordance in that organ on the magnetic level, which then drops down to the elemental level(bodies). Its most likely that in the tragic case of HPPD, the brain is what is brought in to discordance, to relegate that discordance we must find something with a same sympathy, to restore concordance with in the organ. Which is easy to do, but I'll withdraw from explaining. Thus, a plant that very well may restore concordance through sympathy should be spikenard, as according to Marsilio Ficino, "as the lodestone toward iron, rhubarb toward choler, saffron toward the heart, agrimony and spodium toward the liver, spikenard and musk toward the brain" Agrimony as well has been proven very effective in jaundice and liver ailments, a true cure due to its sympathetic virtues to the liver. Our doctors have forgot its power and force though. Adhering to the almighty pharmacorps and FDA who monopolize our health for power, and monetary gain. So spikenard may be our answer, not only that but it also has sedative type effects so could also help with anxiety along the way. It should be tried for I would say at least three months taken daily. Also it should be noted that spikenard may have been an old term for lavender as well, but im unsure as to that. EDIT: After a little more reading I'm almost certain hes referring to lavender, being that according to Nicholas Culpeper the oil extracted was referred to as oil of spike.

Annnd Im back with some new information. One thing that I always noticed about HPPD is that it has an impact on flight or fight type response, and I was thinking that if there were a way to inhibit that, it would probably significantly reduce the stress and anxiety induced on the body/mind. Today I was reading and found this little bit. "Many sympathetic hormones and neurotransmitters are based on the phenethylamine skeleton, and function generally in "fight or flight" type responses, such as increasing heart rate, blood pressure, dilating the pupils, increased energy, drying of mucous membranes, increased sweating, and a significant number of additional effects." Theres a possibility that HPPD may be a condition that stimulates the production of specific neurotransmitters in this area related to phenethylamine. One way to test this theory, would be something that reduces phenethalamine production, take it, and see if symptoms are lessened. IF this is the case and can be observed, we would have a potential trigger mechanism for the cause of HPPD. It also would give route for a potential method of treatment.

As I also listed, lemon balm.

The only other thing that I am aware of that doctors will prescribe are benzos. As for natural and something immediately go get some lemon balm, the dropper bottle one is good for dosage to your personal need so I recommend that.

HPPD does make external and environmental changes more difficult to endure, also yes I do agree that there is more impact than just DP/DR. The amount of stress that it puts your body in general causes certain changes hormonally as well, or so I speculate. With the tremendous continuous shock it has on your body, it will definitely make dealing with external things even more difficult. External changes can also definitely exasperate symptoms as well.

Any new medications? Supplements? Move recently? Something must have changed 2 months ago that would be causing it, especially if its as drastic as you say.

Theres generally always a cause, its highly improbable to assume that the state of the brain would worsen with out cause.

Like has been said, coming off TRT will drop test levels significantly and can take a week to get back to normal levels, there will be side effects to this. You also may have social anxiety, some people are just like that. Some are more social than others, some less. Also, 300 is a little low but its not detrimentally low technically, not that I would assume. It'll take a week or two for your body to readjust, also clomid has side effects as well. Did your doctor not explain all this??

LOL

Glad to hear!

No, thats highly unlikely if it was just cannabis.

no lol God gave us the ability to reason

Its definitely a possibility, as of right now with all the information that you have provided its the most probable cause. Only way to know for sure is to reduce/remove the injections and observe your symptoms. FYI going off test will make you pretty energy deficient for 4-7 days. What exactly were your test levels at naturally before the injections?

Hey Chris, from what I can gather, holding the tab in longer than usual may have cause the issue, but it could have been something as simple as the producer applying to high of a dose to the tab. Granted, you seem to have a pretty good comprehension of some things for only being 17. So, to set you on the right path, as far as I know, HPPD has not been proven to be caused by a dysfunction in serotonin levels, and to my knowledge, using medications that elevate serotonin levels tend to increase symptoms of HPPD, so lowered levels are most likely not a cause. Your heart is most likely unaffected and the rapid beats are due to panic response in the brain sending signals to the heart to speed up. This is a normal response to panic, unfortunately in HPPD it can be sustained due to abnormal brain function. Basically stay away from all drugs and stimulants. Things can be pretty harsh for quite some time but generally they have a tendency to get better. But you can not go back to using any of the drugs you have mentioned or their like as they will bring back the symptoms just like when you smoked weed.

Im a bit surprised at the amount of people on here that post about their HPPD being cause by cannabis, its really not as safe as many presume.

Generally something is triggering the heightened symptoms that you're experiencing. Generally just look back to around the time the increase in symptoms occurred and try to discern what changed that may effect it. It could even be something simple like drinking a new tea with specific stimulants etc. Hard to say anymore these days with all the different chemicals in everything.

Testosterone injections can definitely exasperate HPPD symptoms. When did you start the test injections? Was it around the same time that your symptoms began to return?

Hey guys! Long time! I think I may have found something that can help! I recently bought an herb that apparently was packing more punch than I thought. I was primarily getting it for memory increase, but starting doing some more reading about it. This is what I found "As people age, it’s common for age-related brain degradation to happen. The active compounds in Brahmi, known as bacosides, are beginning to be evaluated for their effects on the brain and human health. Some research has shown the compounds in Brahmi to positively influence brain cells that prompt the regeneration of brain tissue. [1] In one animal study, long-term supplementation with bacosides showed therapeutic value against therapid degeneration associated with Alzheimer’s disease. [2] Hopefully more will continue to explore its potential benefits for brain health." - http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/9-facts-brahmi-bacopa-monnieri/#1 Then I looked up the case study its a bit confusing but down at the bottom it lists the herb, bacopa monnieri Ayurveda is the oldest system of Medicine in the world, its antiquity going back to the Vedas. It adapts a unique holistic approach to the entire science of life, health and cure. The areas of special consideration in Ayurveda are geriatrics, rejuvenation, nutrition, immunology, genetics and higher consciousness. The Ayurvedic texts describe a set of rejuvenative measures to impart biological sustenance to the bodily tissues. These remedies are called Rasayana which are claimed to act as micronutrients. Some of these Rasayanas are organ and tissue specific. Those specific to brain tissue are called Medhya Rasayana. Such Rasayanas retard brain aging and help in regeneration of neural tissues besides producing antistress, adaptogenic and memory enhancing effect. In addition to the long tradition of textual and experience-based evidence for their efficacy, certain recent studies conducted on these traditional remedies on scientific parameters have shown promising results which have been reviewed in this paper for providing lead for further studies. The popular Medhya Rasayanas are Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera Dunal), Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri Linn), Mandukaparni (Centella asiatica Linn) and Sankhapuspi (Convolvulus pluricaulis Chois). - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18931935 So apparently we have an herb that can potentially, and maybe, rejuvenate brain cells, and brain cell function. Not sure how legit it is but its worth a try huh? Who wants to try it first??

it should help with magnesium being somewhat of a depressant/calmer, I cant specifically remember how but lol at magnesium oxide not being a good source of magnesium, thats laughable. It does help with the anxiety as well. Also lemon balm is good. also in response to the poster above me magnesium citrate and magnesium oxide are different compounds, just because they both have magnesium does not mean they will have similar effects.

thats good