CNS Disease from Toxins, Alcohol, and Cannabis: Effects on Sleep

Sleep is affected by multiple environmental factors, but specific industrial and biologic toxins produce changes in the sleep–wake functions of humans. Mercury poisoning, trypanosomiasis, and endotoxins are examples that can alter sleep. 1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine produces a parkinsonian syndrome with significant sleep effects. Alcohol also affects sleep, especially altering hypoxic and hypercapnic drive, and increasing upper airway resistance. Lastly, cannabis tends to induce sleep, but a cannabis withdrawal syndrome has been described in which sleep worsens.