Suggest Treatment For Visual Hallucinations

Posted on Tue, 2 Dec 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 3 Dec 2014 Answered on

Tue, 30 Dec 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : my mom is 83 years old she is seeing people and hearing them at night they come through the doors and just stand there when she puts the flashlight on them she hollers they leave in big hurry.They scare her death. She started to leave the lights on at night so the come come in.One time she woke up they were right in her face. that was the worst time. She said that they make noise in the kitchen at night too. she is very scared. don't know what to do.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Chintan Solanki (7 hours later)

Brief Answer:
She needs antipsychotic medicines

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Thanks for writing to us.

I can understand your concern.Your mother is aged. She has symptoms of visual hallucinations.Reason for this can be one of the following:

There may be recent infarct in brain and may cause such symptom. Neurologist opinion and MRI brain needed after clinical examination.

It can be also feature of vascular dementia and similar approach needed as I mentioned above.

It can be due to some physical problem like subclinical infection, high blood pressure, electrolyte imbalance etc. For this physical examination is needed and accordingly blood investigation decided by examining doctor.

And it can be sole feature without any finding due to aging.In that case opinion of psychiatrist is needed.

Whatever the reason is there, her symptom can be treated with low dose antipsychotic like haloperidol or olanazapine. Lorazepam in low dose also can be added for sound sleep.And if specific cause is found out, treatment for the same should be done.

So at first just take her to your family doctor for examination and get symptomatic treatment and later do accordingly what your doctor suggests for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Hope I have answered your query, I will be happy to answer more.

Regards,
Dr.Chintan Solanki.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D