Odd, Curious, and Rare

Abnormal reactions to prescription meds.

Jerome Litt, M.D. is Assistant Clinical Professor at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. See full bio

November 3, 2009

Formication

Formication, essentially a tactile hallucination, is an abnormal skin sensation similar to that of insects crawling over or within the skin. From the Latin formicare meaning to creep like an ant, (not to be confused with fornication!), formication was described in 1890: "A variety of itching, often encountered in the eczema of elderly people. Read More

October 27, 2009

Sleepers, Awake!

Sleepwalking (somnambulism) is a series of complex behaviors that are initiated during slow wave -- deep -- sleep where the sufferer engages in activities that are normally associated with wakefulness while he or she is asleep or in a sleeplike state. Read More

October 14, 2009

Heads I Win; Tails You Lose

COMPULSIVE GAMBLING

"One of the healthiest ways to gamble is
with a spade and a package of garden seeds."
Dan Bennett

Compulsive or pathologic gambling is the addiction marked by a nagging inability to resist the temptation to gamble. Read More

September 14, 2009

Are You Hearing Voices?

Auditory hallucinations, the false or distorted perceptions of sound, music, noises, or voices “are one of the most awe-inspiring, terrifying, and ill-understood tricks the human psyche is capable of." The voices may tell the person to perform an act (commonly referred to as a "command hallucination"). Read More

September 7, 2009

Oniomaniacs Unite!

Between 80 and 95 percent of shopaholics are women. Read More

Books by Jerome Litt, M.D.

Curious Odd Rare and Abnormal Reactions to Medications

Litt's Drug Eruption Reference Manual Including Drug Interactions, 15th Edition

Integrative Medicine Basics

Integrative or complementary medicine combines the best of standard medical treatment with holistic approaches including dietary changes, supplements, acupuncture and a focus on how one's mood and outlook impact physical well-being. Visit our Alternative Health Center for more information. &n

Go to the Integrative Medicine Basics page for more on Integrative Medicine including:

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