Drug-induced musical hallucination.
Frontiers in pharmacology January 1, 2024 Brock Bakewell, Michael Johnson, Madison Lee et al. 4 citations
Drug-induced musical hallucinations—hearing music without external sound—are rare but can be triggered by medications such as antidepressants, opioids, anti-Parkinson drugs, ketamine, and voriconazole. A review of 27 cases (average age 58.3 years, 67.9% female) found that common underlying conditions included hearing impairments, psychiatric disorders, cancers, and neurodegenerative diseases. Six patients also experienced visual hallucinations. Onset varied from 75 minutes to 240 days. In 24 of 27 patients (88.9%), hallucinations completely resolved after stopping or adjusting the trigger drug, changing its route or formula, or adding sedatives or antipsychotics. The mechanism likely involves altered neurotransmitter balance and interactions between the drug and the patient's condition.