Question 1

what causes elderly people to have visual hallucinations?

Accepted Answer

Meds, sensory loss: Older people are more sensitive to medication side-effects; many can cause sensory disturbances.  Common culprits are antihistamine or anticholinergic meds taken for cold symptoms or to sleep.  Also, loss of hearing and/or vision can render older people confused and apparently "demented" when all they really need is a hearing aid or glasses.  Drug or alcohol withdrawal is another possibility.

Question 2

please tell me what can cause hallucinations in the elderly?

Accepted Answer

Many possibilities : The patient needs a careful examination ; possibly additional tests, as there are many possibilities.  These include medication side-effects, systemic infection, stroke, seizure, head injury, brain tumor, sensory deprivation (from poor eyesight and hearing), some dementias, and others.

Question 3

help docs! i'm trying to find out what causes hallucinations in the elderly?

Accepted Answer

Hallucinations : Causes of hallucinations in elderly are:
dementia, 
alzheimer's disease, 
side effects of medications 
psychosis
stroke
trauma to the brain

please see your physician for diagnosis of hallucinations and consultation with neurologist and psychiatrist.

Question 4

what causes hallucinations in elderly and how to deal with it?

Accepted Answer

Many causes: There are many causes in the elderly. The most important and potentially-treatable are medication related. Some causes of dementia may also result in hallucinations. See your neurologist to get a thorough evaluation to identify the precise cause.

Question 5

please answer! what would cause an elderly woman to have morbid hallucinations?

Accepted Answer

Many things: A complete medical evaluation is essential. Is there dementia? Medication review is important. Is she depressed ? Psychotic depression is not uncommon I the elderly. Have her see a Geriatrician or a good internist for a full exam.

Question 6

what are some reasons why visual and auditory hallucinations would start suddenly in an elderly person?

Accepted Answer

Delirium: Delirium is a medical emergency associated w/high mortality if underlying cause is not treated. It is defined by sudden onset of hallucinations (audio, visual or both) & delusions w/fluctuating states of consciousness & awareness. In other words, patient all of a sudden starts acting crazy. This can be due to pain, low oxygen, drugs, salt/mineral imbalance, kidney/ liver failure, heart attack, etc.

Question 7

can bupropion(wellbutrin) cause long term or permanant side effects like hallucinations and delusions in elderly patients?

Accepted Answer

: Use of bupropion in the elderly population will have potential to cause adverse effects while using, but these induced events should mollify in a few weeks after cessation.   Permanent brain damage such as a stroke or persistent chemical alteration has never been convincingly proven.

Question 8

what part of the brain is affected if visual and auditory hallucinations and delusions appear in an elderly person?

Accepted Answer

If part of psychosis: That is a symptom of dementia due to alzheimer's disease or many small brain infarctions (multi-infarct dementia), there exists death of brain cells in many areas of the brain, but areas where cells are replaced by 'amyloid plaques and tangles' are usually concentrated in an area of the brain called the hippocampus. Once judgment, behavior, psychosis, hallucinations occur, it has spread to cortex.

Question 9

can antipsycotics like abilify and risperdal cause or increase auditory hallucinations and delusions in elderly people?

Accepted Answer

: Antipsychotic medications are used to treat various psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. There is a concern that these medications may cause or worsen certain symptoms, such as auditory hallucinations and delusions, particularly in elderly patients. Several studies have investigated this issue, and the results have been mixed. Some suggest increased symptoms.

Question 10

can antipsychotics like abilify and risperdal actually increase or cause auditory hallucinations and delusions in elderly patients ? can antipsychotics make things worse in elderly patients suffering from delirium due to a possible uti?

Accepted Answer

: Yes, treat the infection is the therapy of choice for infection-induced delirium in the elders, not using the antipsychotics. Take care.

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Doctor answers about:

Causes of visual hallucinations in the elderly

A member asked:

What causes elderly people to have visual hallucinations?

A member asked:

Please tell me what can cause hallucinations in the elderly?

A member asked:

Help docs! i'm trying to find out what causes hallucinations in the elderly?

A member asked:

What causes hallucinations in elderly and how to deal with it?

A member asked:

Please answer! what would cause an elderly woman to have morbid hallucinations?

A member asked:

What are some reasons why visual and auditory hallucinations would start suddenly in an elderly person?

A member asked:

Can bupropion(wellbutrin) cause long term or permanant side effects like hallucinations and delusions in elderly patients?

A member asked:

What part of the brain is affected if visual and auditory hallucinations and delusions appear in an elderly person?

A member asked:

Can antipsycotics like abilify and risperdal cause or increase auditory hallucinations and delusions in elderly people?

A member asked:

Can antipsychotics like abilify and risperdal actually increase or cause auditory hallucinations and delusions in elderly patients ? can antipsychotics make things worse in elderly patients suffering from delirium due to a possible uti?

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