Overview
Medicines are generally used to treat, cure, and prevent various diseases, disorders, and health problems that can be either psychological or physical. Along with their benefits, most of the drugs carry a risk of undesirable effects as well. Therefore, it is advised to take a prescription from a physician before taking any drug to avoid side effects.
Hallucinations are one of the common adverse effects of drugs, mainly opioids or pain-relieving medications. It does not matter whether the pharmaceutical product is prescription or over-the-counter medicine, both types of medicines can hallucinate patients.
In this blog, we will discuss some pain meds that can cause hallucinations.
What are Pain medications?
Pain is a condition that affects one’s life in different ways as it can be acute or long-term. However, there are several methods to treat pain, but sometimes it requires taking an opioid to control this situation, depending on the intensity of the pain. Pain medicines are known to cause various side effects, including hallucinations, especially in high doses (larger amounts) or when mixed with alcohol or other opioid-interacting drugs.
Generally, pain meds do not hallucinate the patient as it is not a common condition, it usually occurs when the patient consumes a strong opioid or does not take it in a prescribed manner.
If someone experiences adverse effects like hallucinations, it should not be ignored, because hallucinations could be a sign of a serious interaction or reaction inside the body. Thus, it needs to be addressed by a doctor.
What is Hallucinations
Hallucinations is a misperception or false perception of objects or events that seem real, but they are not. False or perceptual experiences of hallucinations can manifest across any of the senses like sound, taste, sight, touch, and smell.
Opioids are known for their efficacy in controlling pain conditions, but these drugs can disrupt someone’s sleep patterns. It leads to a mental state called semi-consciousness, which contributes to hallucinatory experiences. Pain meds-caused hallucinations can be distressing for some patients who may require immediate medical help.
How Pain Relievers Cause Hallucinations in People
Most usually, the thought of being hallucinated is triggered by various chemical reactions (due to drug interactions) or abnormalities in the brain. Certain drugs, mainly opioids and analgesics can cause hallucinations as a side effect, usually at higher doses or when used for a long time.
As the mechanism of opioids directly affects the system of neurotransmitters in the brain, it can lead to altering one’s perception. Also, pain-relieving medications carry soothing effects like sedation and relaxation, making the brain system more susceptible to generating hallucinatory experiences.
Types of Hallucinations
There are various types of hallucinations as it affects different senses. A few types of hallucinations are listed below:
- Visual (sight) Hallucinations: It occurs when a person sees things that are not there.
- Olfactory (smell) Hallucinations: Hallucinations of smelling things that do not exist.
- Auditory (sound) Hallucinations: A type of hallucination that typically occurs in patients with mental diseases like schizophrenia, dementia, bipolar disorder, and so on.
- Tactile or Somatic (touch) Hallucinations: Hallucinations of touching, for example, may include feeling like an insect crawling on the skin or might make you feel like someone touched your hand or body, or might feel like internal organs are moving around.
- Gustatory (taste) Hallucinations: Hallucinations of unpleasant or strange taste including a metallic taste of food etc.
Other Known Hallucinations
- General Somatic Hallucinations: Fake perception of bodily sensation inside the body without any cause or problem.
- Presence Hallucinations: It makes an individual feel like someone is standing behind you or in the room with you.
- Hypnopompic Hallucinations: These hallucinations occur when someone wakes up from sleep.
- Hypnagogic Hallucinations: They happen when an individual is falling asleep.
- Pain Medicines that Cause Hallucinations in People
Here is a list of pain medicines that can lead to hallucination in an individual due to their adverse effects or interaction with other drugs, including:
Tramadol: Tramadol has an opioid action of binding with the mu receptor, as it carries anticholinergic effects. These effects work through muscarinic receptor antagonism and serotonin reuptake inhibition, which are assumed to cause hallucinations in people. It can cause hallucinations like seeing or hearing things that are not real or not there. The sudden stop of this drug is the most common reason behind hallucinations.
Codeine: Codeine pain medicine can cause hallucinations of seeing or hearing things that do not exist. When taken at a suggested dose, Codeine drug’s mechanism of action works by binding to mu receptors in the brain. But at a higher dose, it affects dopamine and serotonin neurotransmitters in the brain, which are implicated in hallucinations.
Demerol: Demerol itself does not cause hallucinations when taken in a lower or more suitable dose prescribed by the doctor. It interacts with specific opioid receptors in the brain. However, at a higher dosage, Demerol can interact with unnecessary neurotransmitter systems, including areas responsible for cognition and perception. Thus, in susceptible individuals Demerol pain medicine can cause hallucinations.
Oxycodone: When used for prolonged duration and at a higher dose, Oxycodone pain reliever can interact with Serotonin syndrome. Oxycodone causes hallucinations, and generally affects one’s auditory senses, contributing to sound hallucinations. In the case of Oxycodone, a sudden increment in dosage can also cause hallucinations in people.
Tapentadol: Tapentadol is known for its efficacy in treating pain. Besides pain relief, Tapentadol is also used for various psychotropic effects like relaxation, etc. But, at a higher dose, Tapentadol can affect certain neurotransmitters, which play a key role in cognition and perception. Thus, it results in hallucinatory experiences.
Other Pain-Reliving Drugs that Cause Hallucinations
- Fentanyl
- Methadone
- Hydromorphone
- Buprenorphine
- Pentazocine
Conclusion
Apart from the above-mentioned pain medicines, numerous drugs cause hallucinations. It is not possible to list them all, but an individual can consult with a doctor about the possibility of hallucinations after using any drug.
For this reason, one should be aware of why it is advised to take a prescription from a doctor before taking any medication. It can help to prevent unwanted effects like hallucinations in people.
