title: Late brain recovery processes after drug overdose.
abstract: Though recovery of consciousness after drug overdose may occur within a day or two, the drug itself may not finally leave the brain for another one to three weeks, and at this late time a withdrawal syndrome can occur, with insomnia, restlessness, raised paradoxical (R.E.M.) sleep, epileptic phenomena, and even delirium. It is proposed that a high degree of drug-tolerance and dependence can be rapidly acquired after overdose.Abnormal sleep features of 10 patients resolved only slowly over a period of up to two months after overdose. The data support the view that R.E.M. sleep is concerned with processes of brain repair.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001552:Benzazepines / Q000506:poisoning; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D003693:Delirium / Q000209:etiology; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000378:metabolism; D008702:Methaqualone / Q000378:metabolism / Q000506:poisoning; D008875:Middle Aged; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000506:poisoning; D011041:Poisoning; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D012895:Sleep, REM; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D014474:Unconsciousness
chemical_list: D001552:Benzazepines; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D008702:Methaqualone; D010634:Phenobarbital