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[Recurrent cortical blindness after LSD-intake].

M K Bernhard¹, K Ulrich

¹Universitätsklinik und Poliklinik für Kinder und Jugendliche, Liebigstrasse 20a, Leipzig. Matthias.Bernhard@medizin.uni-leipzig.de

Fortschritte Der Neurologie-Psychiatrie

|February 18, 2009

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

A teenage migraine patient experienced prolonged visual disturbances, including temporary blindness, after LSD use. This suggests LSD may trigger cortical dysfunction in individuals with pre-existing migraine conditions.

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Area of Science:

Neurology
Toxicology

Background:

Migraine is characterized by recurrent headaches and visual disturbances.
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is a potent psychedelic drug with potential neurological effects.

Observation:

A 15-year-old female with common migraine reported headache and nausea five days post-LSD intake.
This was followed by sudden, complete bilateral blindness lasting 48 hours, consistent with cortical blindness.
She experienced three additional episodes of temporary blindness (12-36 hours) over three months.

Findings:

Brain MRI, MR-angiography, CSF analysis, and thrombophilia screening were normal.
Electroencephalogram (EEG) revealed persistent bilateral symmetrical delta wave slowing in occipital areas for 18 months.
Extended diagnostic tests, including blood pressure monitoring, Doppler sonography, and visual evoked potentials, yielded normal results.

Implications:

The prolonged and severe visual episodes suggest a potential link between LSD use and visual disturbances beyond typical migraine complications.
LSD may act as a trigger for localized cortical dysfunction, particularly in the occipital regions, in patients with pre-existing migraine.
This case highlights the possibility of LSD-induced "flashbacks" manifesting as temporary cortical blindness in susceptible individuals.