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Medically Reviewed

What is Drug-Induced Psychosis and What Substances Cause it?

- 6 sections

Medically Verified: October 27, 2024

Medical Reviewer:

Sahil Talwar, PA-C, MBA

medically-verified

All of the information on this page has been reviewed and verified by a certified addiction professional.

Substance abuse can cause a wide range of adverse effects, from social isolation and financial strain to dangerous physical health conditions and psychological issues. If you have underlying mental health conditions, abusing certain drugs can trigger your symptoms to worsen. For example, people with psychotic disorders can experience psychosis when they abuse specific drugs.

Psychosis is a mental health emergency that causes a detachment from reality, hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, and more. When a substance triggers you to experience psychosis, that is referred to as a substance-induced psychotic disorder. This usually only occurs among people with underlying mental health conditions like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and schizoaffective disorder.

Drugs like cannabis, amphetamines, methamphetamine, cocaine, and even alcohol can lead to substance-induced psychosis. Additionally, certain medications can cause you to experience psychotic symptoms. If you experience a psychotic episode after abusing a drug, you should seek help from a dual-diagnosis rehab program.

What you will learn:

  • What is drug-induced psychosis
  • What drugs cause substance-induced psychosis
  • Can medications cause a psychotic episode
  • How long does drug-induced psychosis last

What is Substance-Induced Psychosis?

Substance-induced psychosis is a psychotic episode that is triggered by the use of drugs or alcohol. The symptoms might begin while you are intoxicated and last for days, weeks, or months after you stop taking the medication. Usually, experiencing drug-induced psychosis means you have an underlying mental illness you were not aware of.

Sometimes, drug-induced psychosis emerges and fades away quickly. It could also go away and come back on its own. Unfortunately, it can trigger a long-term disorder like schizophrenia.

Substance-induced psychosis symptoms include:[1]

  • Disconnection from reality
  • Disorganized or jumbled thoughts
  • Intense feelings of confusion, fear, or agitation
  • Loss of interest in activities
  • Delusions and paranoia
  • Visual and auditory hallucinations

When you are experiencing a psychotic episode, you will notice behavioral changes. You might struggle to maintain conversations or remember things. It is also common to struggle with self-care or hygiene and experience extreme shifts in mood.

If you have developed psychotic symptoms, you should seek professional mental health services. Dealing with psychosis increases the risk of impulsive behaviors, self-harm, and danger to others around you. Psychosis usually requires hospitalization to recover from the side effects.

Which Substances Cause Drug-Induced Psychosis?

Substance-induced psychosis is caused by a variety of drugs, including alcohol. It occurs because the substance disrupts the normal functioning of your brain and body. If you have an underlying disorder that can lead to psychotic symptoms, taking a drug could trigger your condition to begin affecting you.

Some of the drugs that can lead to substance-induced psychosis include:[2]

Substance abuse is more common among individuals with underlying mental health conditions like schizophrenia. For example, nearly 50% of people with schizophrenia have a history of drug abuse.[3] This could explain why substance-induced psychosis is becoming common among individuals who abuse drugs or alcohol.

Can Medications Trigger Psychosis?

It is also possible for you to develop psychosis after taking medication. In other words, drug-induced psychosis does not have to stem from substance abuse. You could simply take a new medication and experience psychotic symptoms if you have an underlying disorder.

Some of the medications associated with drug-induced psychosis include:

  • Pain relievers like ibuprofen
  • Heart medications like beta-blockers or ACE inhibitors
  • Medications for Parkinson’s disease
  • Corticosteroids
  • Certain antibiotics
  • Antihistamines

It is crucial to have your mental health assessed by a professional. Doing so could allow you to spot underlying mental health conditions before you trigger them by taking medications or abusing drugs. Once you are diagnosed with a psychotic disorder, your doctor can warn you about the substances that could trigger your symptoms to worsen.

How Long Does Substance-Induced Psychosis Last?

Substance-induced psychotic disorder can last anywhere from a few hours to several months. It simply depends on how your brain and body react to the medication and the severity of your underlying mental illness. Your symptoms might wear off after the drug leaves your system or persist until you receive mental health treatment.

According to the National Library of Medicine (NLM), “Drug-induced psychosis is expected to resolve after 30 days of sobriety.”[4]

Because drug-induced psychosis can last for up to 30 days in many cases, you should seek treatment. Substance-induced psychosis treatment can take place in a dual-diagnosis rehab. Since this condition is high risk, you should be in an inpatient facility where you can receive 24/7 care, support, and monitoring.

Find Help for Addiction and Mental Health

If you or a loved one struggles with co-occurring addiction and psychosis, it’s time to consider your treatment options. At The South Carolina Addiction Treatment Center, we offer dual diagnosis services to all of our patients. We will help you overcome your addiction while stabilizing you on a medication that treats your psychotic symptoms.

Contact us today for more information on our dual diagnosis rehab center.

References:

  1. Taylor and Francis Online: Focus on Psychosis
  2. Merck Manual: Substance-/Medication-Induced Psychotic Disorder
  3. Science Direct: Prevalence of psychotic symptoms in substance users: a comparison across substances
  4. The National Library of Medicine (NLM): Managing drug-induced psychosis

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