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Q. I read in your column a while back that a person heard music after taking the antidepressant amitriptyline. My urologist prescribed a similar drug (imipramine) for a mild urinary problem. After a few days, I too started hearing music. My music was a wonderful male chorus each evening. After I pinned the music down to that antidepressant drug I quit taking it. I did miss that wonderful male chorus, though!
A. Drug-induced auditory hallucinations are rare but documented in the medical literature. The person you refer to taking amitriptyline reported: “I hear music all day, both classical and rap.” When the drug was discontinued the music faded away.
One person taking an antidepressant heard a full orchestra playing dramatic classical music: “The final straw came when I was riding my motorcycle (not a quiet machine) and couldn't hear the sound of the engine and wind over the orchestra playing in my head! I took myself off the antidepressant, and the hallucinations disappeared.”
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I read your article "Medicine triggers musical phantoms" and I too have a vocalist that has taken over my left ear 24 hours 7 days. My doctor said it is Tinnitus and he tried a anti-biotic but I had no infection. The recording sounds like a tenor or classical type opera singer with high and low pitches that are not distinguishable or clear enough.
It started about three weeks ago and now I have to stuff my left ear with cotton gauze to keep the sound as low as possible. It is more active when I finish eating. I sleep on my left ear and it stays quiet during the night when I get about six hours sleep. I am taking Norvasc l 5mg replaced by the generic Amlodipine one a day, plus Cumendin generic Warfarin 2.5 mg. My question is, "Since these medications are not listed in your column can they be the cause of the Tinnitus as I have been taking them since 2003."
I am currently reading a very interesting book on this subject, Musicophilia - tales of music & the brain - by Oliver Sachs. Highly recommended if anyone is seeking further information...
I have been experiencing musical hallucinations intermittently over a number of years. I am a well educated, intelligent middle age woman and am a clinical social worker. Initially I thought that these musical hallucinations were caused by prolonged stress in my professional life, as they would tend to disappear when the stress let up.
However, lately I have noticed that they seem to occur with episodes of tinnitis, that irritating but common hissing in the ear. I have consulted with several doctors, had a battery of tests and have been told there were no abnormalities in my brain.
I recently read that these musical hallucinations may be a form of tinnitis but I have not found anything more on it.
I have taken amitrptyline in the past for pain management (fibromyalgia) and recently started it again for same. I have heard Michael Jackson, Phil Collins, and Paul MC Cartney in that ipod in my brain, as well as America the Beautiful and many Christmas songs. Even as I write this, I can hear what sounds like a men's chorus chanting Oh God with a drumroll.
It is driving me crazy as you can imagine. I don't find putting anything on in the background such as other music helps. Even though it is a great relief to be reading this column and seeing the exact same things with others, I find it embarrassing to talk about with most people. I hope my posting will also help others find they are not alone!
I am so happy to read this! I thought I was just nuts because I frequently hear, albeit lovely, a Gregorian chant at bedtime. Initially, I blamed it on my neighbors but I soon discovered that even with my fingers stuck in my ears I still hear it. I tried listening to music via ear-phones but that didn't work. I find that it's the loudest and most bothersome when I am overly-tired or if I have consumed too much sugar and caffeine during the day.
I experienced music from the 70's playing in my head after starting Paxil, but it only lasted for a few days.
I, too, have musical hallucinations 24/7 since February. I hear what sounds like Monks chanting, and sometimes America The Beautiful, but don't think there are any words. I have been on Sertraline (generic form of Zoloft) for about a year and a half because my husband has Alzheimer's, and that is very stressful. The doctor just says it is Tinnitis, but offers no help.
I wear hearing aids but the sound/volume does not change whether they are in or out. The chanting is pretty, always with me, but tiring. I wake up with a buzzing noise and then that goes into the chanting. Any clues???