<p>I know of anecdotal evidence for the following drug-related side-effects:</p>

<ul>
<li>It can happen while getting used to a new drug, or when quitting a drug. Probably also some other situations.</li>
<li>The feeling lasts a split second.</li>
<li>All hearing disappears when it happens.</li>
<li>Before and after the hearing disappears, there is some sort of auditory noise that lasts about equally long.</li>
<li>It will feel like some sort of mental disconnection, as if you passed out for just a split second - except you don't lose physical control.</li>
<li>It can happen many times every day.</li>
<li>All cognitive and physical functions seem to work like normal.</li>
<li>It can happen with different medications, including Effexor/Venlafaxin and 5-htp.</li>
</ul>

<p><strong>What can this temporary black-out be? Does it have a scientific name (i.e., is it a known and recognized phenomenon?)</strong> </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-12-11T23:38:20.713Z
I added one of the related medications to the questions. I need to check up on the other one.
Also improved the wording for the duration of the effect.
Berit Larsen
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-12-12T14:00:57.793Z
You might want to look into absence seizures, which have a similar (although not identical, I think) profile.
Krysta
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-12-12T16:31:36.927Z
Doesn't look very much like it:
This phenomenon is much shorter and involves no movement while it happens.
Berit Larsen
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-12-12T18:08:26.763Z
Absence seizures can also be brief (although usually not split second, so you're right there), but they don't generally involve any movement.
Krysta
<consciousness><psychopharmacology><hearing>
What is a short, drug-induced "blackout" experience called?
Berit Larsen
# What is a short, drug-induced "blackout" experience called?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-12-11)

I know of anecdotal evidence for the following drug-related side-effects:

* It can happen while getting used to a new drug, or when quitting a drug. Probably also some other situations.
* The feeling lasts a split second.
* All hearing disappears when it happens.
* Before and after the hearing disappears, there is some sort of auditory noise that lasts about equally long.
* It will feel like some sort of mental disconnection, as if you passed out for just a split second - except you don't lose physical control.
* It can happen many times every day.
* All cognitive and physical functions seem to work like normal.
* It can happen with different medications, including Effexor/Venlafaxin and 5-htp.

**What can this temporary black-out be? Does it have a scientific name (i.e., is it a known and recognized phenomenon?)**

**Tags:** consciousness, psychopharmacology, hearing

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: I added one of the related medications to the questions. I need to check up on the other one. Also improved the wording for the duration of the effect.  
> **username_1**: You might want to look into absence seizures, which have a similar (although not identical, I think) profile.  
> **username_0**: Doesn't look very much like it: This phenomenon is much shorter and involves no movement while it happens.  
> **username_1**: Absence seizures can also be brief (although usually not split second, so you're right there), but they don't generally involve any movement.  

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## 0 answers

