Hallucinations not unusual with antifungal therapy

September 22, 2007

September 21, 2007

Scientific American

By Deborah

http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?alias=hallucinations-not-

unusua & chanId=sa003 & modsrc=reuters

CHICAGO (Reuters Health) - Physicians, nurses and other health care

providers should be aware that patients receiving intravenous

treatment with the antifungal drug voriconazole may develop a range

of neurological side effects, including auditory and visual

hallucinations, according to a report presented at the 47th annual

Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.

Voriconazole, sold under the trade name Vfend, is a relatively new

drug used to treat serious fungus infections, such as invasive mold

infections and invasive candidiasis. Many of these patients are

extremely ill and are receiving several different drugs, which makes

it difficult to distinguish the side effects of specific drugs from

the symptoms of the underlying illness.

To estimate the frequency and seriousness of voriconazole side

effects, Dr. Dimitrios Zonios and colleagues at the National

Institutes of Health in Bethesda, land, evaluated patients in an

ongoing prospective study that was assessing voriconazole toxicity.

The researchers focused on side effects of the central nervous

system, which are not well characterized for the drug.

Between March 2006 and June 2007, the researchers evaluated 66

cancer patients who were being treated with intravenous voriconazole

at their institution. Careful interviews and toxicity evaluations

were conducted for each patient.

Zonios's group identified eight patients who experienced

hallucinations. All of these patients had visual hallucinations and

four also had auditory hallucinations. In six patients the

hallucinations began within 24 hours of receiving the drug, and

after 1 and 2 weeks of treatment in the other two patients.

The hallucinations quickly disappeared after the drug was stopped in

six patients and after the dosage was reduced in the other two. No

residual effects were noted.

The visual hallucinations frequently consisted of seeing people or

scenes. One patient reported seeing flying objects, another saw

scenes of Montana and New York City, and a third patient saw a

giant " Wookie " from the movie Star Wars bending over his bed.

The auditory hallucinations often consisted of hearing voices and

music, and one patient reported hearing TV commercials.

All of the patients remained oriented, alert, and understood that

the hallucinations were not real.

The researchers were not able to identify any other drugs that were

likely to have caused the hallucinations and none of the other drugs

interacted voriconazole to cause an increase in blood levels of the

antifungal drug. Drug levels were within the dose recommendations in

all eight patients when symptoms began.

Other neurological effects seen in the group as a whole included

visual disturbances, such as blurry vision, in 15 patients;

sensitivity to light in 10; and a decreased ability to concentrate

in 2 patients. Another 5 developed signs of liver damage.

Zonios and colleagues conclude that visual and auditory

hallucinations are " not uncommon " side effects of voriconazole and

suggest that health care professionals offer reassurance to

patients, should this complication occur.

The possible association between voriconazole-related hallucinations

and high blood levels of the drug is currently being investigated,

the investigators added.

September 22, 2007

Haven't some people had hallucinations because of their exposure to toxic mold?

tigerpaw2c <tigerpaw2c@...> wrote: September 21, 2007

Hallucinations not unusual with antifungal therapy

Scientific American

By Deborah

http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?alias=hallucinations-not-

unusua & chanId=sa003 & modsrc=reuters

September 22, 2007

My feeling excactly! I never told anybody this but I would constantly hear my

phone ring. The music my cell would play. I changed the ring so after that if

I heard it I knew it was somthing else. Thank god it wasn't long after that I

left what was making me sick.

Brown <charlesb35@...> wrote: Haven't some people had

hallucinations because of their exposure to toxic mold?

tigerpaw2c <tigerpaw2c@...> wrote: September 21, 2007

Hallucinations not unusual with antifungal therapy

Scientific American

By Deborah

http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?alias=hallucinations-not-

unusua & chanId=sa003 & modsrc=reuters

---------------------------------

Moody friends. Drama queens. Your life? Nope! - their life, your story.

Play Sims Stories at Games.

September 22, 2007

Haven't some people had hallucinations from using mushrooms?

What It Is

Several species of mushrooms can produce hallucinations, about a dozen of which

grow wild. The most common is the Liberty Cap (or Psilocibe Semilanceata) which

contain the hallucinogenic chemicals psilocybin and psilocin. They can be eaten

fresh or cooked and can be preserved by drying. Distinguishing hallucinogenic

mushrooms from poisonous and sometimes deadly ones can be very difficult and

sometimes almost impossible

Street Names

Magic Mushrooms 'Shrooms, Mushies, Psilocybe mushrooms

How It Is Taken

A small piece of the dried mushroom is eaten.

What It Does

Mushroom users have experiences similar to a mild LSD trip but may also have

feelings of euphoria and bodily excitement. At low doses euphoria and detachment

occur. At high doses visual distortions and vivid hallucinations occur.Possible

reactions to hallucinogenic mushrooms include vomiting, nausea and stomach

pains. As with other hallucinogenic drugs 'bad trips' can also occur and may

develop into a brief psychotic episode.The greatest danger is mistaking

poisonous mushrooms for " magic mushrooms " .(Source:

http://www.puberty101.com/d_mushrooms.shtml)

In the Middle Ages, outbreaks of ergotism caused by ergot alkaloids from

Claviceps purpurea reached epidemic proportions, mutilating and killing

thousands of people in Europe. Ergotism was also known as ignis sacer (sacred

fire) or St 's fire, because at the time it was thought that a pilgrimage

to the shrine of St. would bring relief from the intense burning

sensation experienced. The victims of ergotism were exposed to lysergic acid

diethylamide (LSD), a hallucinogen, produced during the baking of bread made

with ergot-contaminated wheat, as well as to other ergot toxins and

hallucinogens, as well as belladonna alkaloids from mandragora apple, which was

used to treat ergotism. While ergotism no longer has such important implications

for public health, recent reports indicate that outbreaks of human mycotoxicoses

are still possible.

(Source: http://www.mold-survivor.com/diseases_caused_by_molds_in_huma.html)

Hope this answers your question as to whether some molds/mycotoxins can cause

hallucinations. That is why all of these so called " medical professionals " WHO

DO NOT SUPPORT THE FACT fact that people suffering with depression, neural

disorders, etc., after long-term or high levels of unhealthy environmental

exposures to molds/mycotoxins need to go back to medical school and take up

current research into Medical Mycology. The fact is that most doctors (even

those practicing Environmental and Occupational medicine) have received

virtually little or no training enough to be making critical decisions as to

what illnesses are being caused as a result of such exposures. And for this they

get paid the big bucks!

Doug Haney

EnviroHealth Research & Consulting, Inc.

Email: _Haney52@...

@...: charlesb35@...: Sat, 22 Sep

2007 07:22:30 -0700Subject: Re: [] Hallucinations not unusual with

antifungal therapy

Haven't some people had hallucinations because of their exposure to toxic

mold?tigerpaw2c <tigerpaw2c@...> wrote: September 21, 2007 Hallucinations

not unusual with antifungal therapyScientific AmericanBy Deborah

http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?alias=hallucinations-not-unusua & chanId=\

sa003 & modsrc=reuters

_________________________________________________________________

Kick back and relax with hot games and cool activities at the Messenger Café.

http://www.cafemessenger.com?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_SeptWLtagline

September 22, 2007

When I was living in a moldy building my whole body felt different. It does

cut off something, maybe blood or fluid balance? Also often at night when I

closed my eyes I saw something that was not black. I wouldn't go so far as

to call it hallucinations, just a lightness of optical background maybe with

some color, like tv static, that should NOT have been there.

September 22, 2007

I still get both visual and audio when sinus and/or lung infections go

to my head.it's pretty scary.

>

> When I was living in a moldy building my whole body felt different.

It does

> cut off something, maybe blood or fluid balance? Also often at night

when I

> closed my eyes I saw something that was not black. I wouldn't go so

far as

> to call it hallucinations, just a lightness of optical background

maybe with

> some color, like tv static, that should NOT have been there.

>

September 22, 2007

I think I am sick from mold or mycotoxins, but according to tests so

FAR I'm not allergic to it. I'm still was concerned about taking it

regularly since I wanted to follow the mold_survivor protocol.

However the supplement probably is an extract of some sort and maybe

doesn't count as eating mushrooms, but don't know. Just wanted to

share the info on the studies going on with a couple types of

mushrooms.

>

> If your allergic to mold, why would you take that chance? Are you

going to take under it the supervision of your Dr. Literally in her

office and supervise you to see if you react.

September 22, 2007

Well aren't you lucky. Not to be sick but not to be allergic to it. Just the

thought of any mushroom makes me want to run for cover. I am now reacting to my

husband. How does that work anyway? Not to be allergic to it I mean? If you

don't mind me asking?

barb1283 <barb1283@...> wrote: I think I am sick from mold or

mycotoxins, but according to tests so

FAR I'm not allergic to it. I'm still was concerned about taking it

regularly since I wanted to follow the mold_survivor protocol.

However the supplement probably is an extract of some sort and maybe

doesn't count as eating mushrooms, but don't know. Just wanted to

share the info on the studies going on with a couple types of

mushrooms.

>

> If your allergic to mold, why would you take that chance? Are you

going to take under it the supervision of your Dr. Literally in her

office and supervise you to see if you react.

---------------------------------

Moody friends. Drama queens. Your life? Nope! - their life, your story.

Play Sims Stories at Games.

September 22, 2007

OK, guys, we need a wee bit o'science here, and I'm just the gal to get the gist

of it and then botch all the facts, so here goes...

First, lets not confuse mold with mycotoxins - I know practically nothing about

the former, other than that I really like portabellas sauteed in butter and

enjoyed with a glass of wine, and less than that about the latter, other than

that they can kill you as they did my neighbor. (WAIT, did I say WINE? Alcohol

has had fermentation happen... doesn't THAT have a connection to fungus among

us?!)

Let's start here with a primer on what mold and mycotoxins can do to you:

http://zed.alaw.org/asthma/ames/pdfs/amesMold_Guide_Health_Professionals_modifie\

d09-30-2004.pdf

Scroll to p. 33 (actual text page 21, but p. 33 of the document) to the chapter

called Health Effects of Fungi and Mycotoxins .

I do know that you don't have to be allergic to mold for a mycotoxin to wreak

havoc with your system.

Dr. Haney posted an earlier note about some mushrooms being edible and some

mushrooms will make you taller. Wait, I'm confusing Dr. Haney with Alice. It's

a good idea not to confuse one with the other, of course, but if you have the

'good' kind, most people do fine. I don't know that it follows that problems

with mold will necessarily make you prone to reactions to all fungus - they're

are just too damn many kinds of them.

Same thing with mycotoxins. Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites (meaning they

don't do anything to help the non-plant/non-animal creature stay alive, they are

there to fight off potentially space-invading interlopers for which humans

apparently get confused, as it were). SOME secondary metabolites are arguably

GOOD for us such as Penicillin, and OTHERS will kill you for having the temerity

to inhale when they're around, such as weaponized Trichothecene - ok, I don't

know of anyone who has simply dropped dead from a whiff or two, but it did kill

my neighbor after he lived with it for a couple years in our apartment building.

I see evidence of what neurotoxins have done to me in my day-to-day life in

peripheral neuropathy and with what have been called seizures, but I still take

antibiotics when I have my teeth cleaned (on a prophylactic basis because of my

artificial heart valve) - and SO FAR I'm alive.

Now I wouldn't take any of the powdered mushroom stuff you're talking about, but

that's because my mother shoved waaay too many funky things down my throat in

the early 70s and they all tasted bad. But there are people out there who

actually know the answers to what we're speculating about here, and they can

probably be tracked down and consulted.

~Haley

barb1283 <barb1283@...> wrote: I think I am

sick from mold or mycotoxins, but according to tests so

FAR I'm not allergic to it. I'm still was concerned about taking it

regularly since I wanted to follow the mold_survivor protocol.

However the supplement probably is an extract of some sort and maybe

doesn't count as eating mushrooms, but don't know. Just wanted to

share the info on the studies going on with a couple types of

mushrooms.

>

> If your allergic to mold, why would you take that chance? Are you

going to take under it the supervision of your Dr. Literally in her

office and supervise you to see if you react.

September 23, 2007

I don't think I'm lucky. I'm very sick. Can hardly function. If I

was allergic to it, maybe I would sense it more quickly but I'm

allergic to practically everything else: cats, dogs, weeds, trees,

dust, many foods. I don't know how that works actually. When doctor

pricked my skin with mold, I got no welt, but I had welts from

everything else all over my arm. He asked his assistant to help him

come in and measure all the welts and said he couldn't believe I had

so many allergies and didn't know it. I felt bad but didn't know I

had allergies. Went in to get tested for cat allergy since someone

had kittens to give away but I thought I was allergic to them and so

wanted to see. I really think with increased exposure sometimes you

get 'used' to something and don't react, since I was more allergic to

dogs than cats when usually cats carry more dander. However I've

never had a dog but had cats all my life. I decided I might be

allergic to cats when my last cat died and I discovered the next Fall

I made it through allergy season much, much easier and felt better.

Then I started to suspect cat allergy. I told him I didn't sneeze

much around cat. He said some people feel fatigued by allergies or

have other symptoms. Sneezing isn't the response in everyone. I

imagine if I was away from mold for a long time and got better,

perhaps I would respond with allergy to it but probably been around it

too long.

I am sick from mold or

mycotoxins, but according to tests so

> FAR I'm not allergic to it.

September 23, 2007

I thought that Doug Haney's posting of Harriet Ammann's quote a few days ago

was very good:

" Noted environmental research scientist Harriet Ammann, Ph.D., D.A.B.T., a

Sr. Toxicologist with the State of Washington, explains in her article about

cytotoxic microfungi and their secondary mycotoxins, " Is Indoor Mold

Contamination a Threat to Health? " (Ammann, 2001) "

" Mycotoxins. are not essential to maintaining the life of the mold cell in a

primary way (at least in a friendly world), such as obtaining energy or

synthesizing structural components, informational molecules or enzymes. "

" They are products whose function seems to be to give molds a competitive

advantage over other mold species and bacteria. Mycotoxins are nearly all

cytotoxic, {i.e., poisonous to cells} disrupting various cellular structures

such as membranes, and interfering with vital cellular processes such as

protein, RNA and DNA synthesis. Of course they are also toxic to the cells

of higher plants and animals, including humans. Mycotoxins vary in

specificity and potency for their target cells, cell structures or cell

processes by species and strain of the mold that produces them. Higher

organisms are not specifically targeted by mycotoxins, but seem to be caught

in the crossfire of the biochemical warfare among mold species and molds and

bacteria vying for the same ecological niche. "

September 23, 2007

LS, I agree and I don't understand why anyone would see it any

different. He is definately one of a kind and only has one agenda

and that is to help those that have been affected by this

environmental disaster and to educate others, including our

policymakers.

KC

--- In , LiveSimply <quackadillian@...>

wrote:

>

> I thought that Doug Haney's posting of Harriet Ammann's quote a

few days ago

> was very good:

>

> " Noted environmental research scientist Harriet Ammann, Ph.D.,

D.A.B.T., a

> Sr. Toxicologist with the State of Washington, explains in her

article about

> cytotoxic microfungi and their secondary mycotoxins, " Is Indoor

Mold

> Contamination a Threat to Health? " (Ammann, 2001) "

>

> " Mycotoxins. are not essential to maintaining the life of the mold

cell in a

> primary way (at least in a friendly world), such as obtaining

energy or

> synthesizing structural components, informational molecules or

enzymes. "

>

> " They are products whose function seems to be to give molds a

competitive

> advantage over other mold species and bacteria. Mycotoxins are

nearly all

> cytotoxic, {i.e., poisonous to cells} disrupting various cellular

structures

> such as membranes, and interfering with vital cellular processes

such as

> protein, RNA and DNA synthesis. Of course they are also toxic to

the cells

> of higher plants and animals, including humans. Mycotoxins vary in

> specificity and potency for their target cells, cell structures or

cell

> processes by species and strain of the mold that produces them.

Higher

> organisms are not specifically targeted by mycotoxins, but seem to

be caught

> in the crossfire of the biochemical warfare among mold species and

molds and

> bacteria vying for the same ecological niche. "

>

September 23, 2007

a,

This is where sometimes the terminology can become confusing between

an allergic reaction, a toxic reaction or being hypersensitive. I

think some use the word allergic believing that is the reaction they

are having in reality the majority of us know it is a toxic

reaction. In my wife's case she is not allergic to mold at all and

her tests showed that. So what is the correct term? A toxic reaction

or hypersensitivity? Or are they both correct? Anyone that's been

exposed to these microbes in any form, that have had a mild or

severe reaction that is continuously effecting their normal life, I

would not consider them being lucky. Either way, and yes, I know,

some are worse than others, it is never an easy condition to deal

with.

As far as adding mushrooms to your diet, this brings fear to myself

also. By just knowing the capability of some of these toxins they

may carry and of course the damage they have already caused. There

is research that is ongoing claiming that they are using mushrooms

to help build the immune system and to destroy cancer. But what type

of patients are they testing these on? Again, everyone may react

differently. Wouldn't this be the same thing as using anti-snake

venom for a snake bite and without it you would die? It's along the

same line. Aren't antibodics made from mold and antifungals are just

a stronger fungi? This is where it gets very confusing and what is

healthy and what isn't when it comes to our treatment.

Let's not forget, we are all here for the same reason, offering our

opinions, discovering new research, offering support, just trying to

get through to the next day and to lift our hopes for a brighter

tomorrow.

I remember reading on another board from one of our critics, and

this is not directed at anyone, first we question and we may

disagree and attack the messenger and when they disappear (our

skeptics) then we attack each other. This has happened many times in

the past. We can offer our opinions and make many statements in

disagreement, but this can be done diplomatically to where it does

not seem confrontational. I think at one time we all have been

quilty of this, including myself, because of sheer frustation,

anger, denial, lack of acknowledgement and the loss of the life that

we once knew. As difficult as it may be at times let's try and be a

bit more compassionate and understanding towards others. I do

realize and sometimes it's very difficult, what one may type may not

come out the way it was meant.

We are making headway and have accomplished alot in the last 5

years, if we are going to buttheads make sure it is in the right

direction and not at one another.

KC

>

> Well aren't you lucky. Not to be sick but not to be allergic to

it. Just the thought of any mushroom makes me want to run for cover.

I am now reacting to my husband. How does that work anyway? Not

to be allergic to it I mean? If you don't mind me asking?

>

September 23, 2007

Could this be " unmasking " at work. The way I understand it it is not

uncommon for the body to sort of hide one's sensitivity until they

are away from the allergen. The constant attack on the immune system

causes the body to adapt. That's what happened to me. I didn't

exhibit " classic " mold allergy symptoms until we left our house. When

I tried to return I started to itch, couldn't breathe, etc. I have

also become very allergic to all pollens, dogs, cats, foods.

This link helps to explain it:

http://www.acupuncturetoday.com/archives2003/aug/08hawkins.html

>

> I don't think I'm lucky. I'm very sick. Can hardly function. If

I

> was allergic to it, maybe I would sense it more quickly but I'm

> allergic to practically everything else: cats, dogs, weeds, trees,

> dust, many foods. I don't know how that works actually. When

doctor

> pricked my skin with mold, I got no welt, but I had welts from

> everything else all over my arm. He asked his assistant to help

him

> come in and measure all the welts and said he couldn't believe I

had

> so many allergies and didn't know it.

September 23, 2007

My apologies,I didn't mean to come across so flipant. It sounds like my

reactions make me feel the way you do all the time. I'm sure that would not

feel good or lucky.

I will watch what I say from now on.

Sorry

a

barb1283 <barb1283@...> wrote: