Aspirin-Induced Musical Hallucinations
A 1985 letter in the New England Journal of Medicine reported the unusual case of a 70-year-old woman who kept hearing music playing in her head, particularly the song "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling." After ruling out other possible causes, her doctor eventually suspected the music might be due to the high doses of aspirin she was taking. And sure enough, when she reduced her aspirin intake, the music stopped.
I would never have thought that aspirin could cause musical hallucinations!
The letter itself is behind a paywall, but I was able to find a brief article that the woman's doctor (James R. Allen) wrote about the case in the magazine of the Minnesota Medical Association.
I would never have thought that aspirin could cause musical hallucinations!
Tampa Bay Times - Apr 2, 1986
The letter itself is behind a paywall, but I was able to find a brief article that the woman's doctor (James R. Allen) wrote about the case in the magazine of the Minnesota Medical Association.
Minnesota Medicine - Nov 2008
Comments
I live on aspirin! My go-to is "Bayer Back & Body" -- 500 mg tablets. It's usually about six weeks to empty a 200 count bottle.
I have noticed my tinnitus seems a bit more active when I've been max-dosing for a few days, but I've never kept track of variations in severity, so I can't claim a direct cause-and-effect.
Fortunately, my tinnitus doesn't produce music. During the day, it's usually just a mixture of high-pitched tones. At night, it's like there's a radio in the next room, and it's tuned to a talk show -- that distinctive dull monotone, too soft to quite make out what they're saying, but it follows the rhythm of human speech.
I have noticed my tinnitus seems a bit more active when I've been max-dosing for a few days, but I've never kept track of variations in severity, so I can't claim a direct cause-and-effect.
Fortunately, my tinnitus doesn't produce music. During the day, it's usually just a mixture of high-pitched tones. At night, it's like there's a radio in the next room, and it's tuned to a talk show -- that distinctive dull monotone, too soft to quite make out what they're saying, but it follows the rhythm of human speech.
Posted by Phideaux on 05/01/24 at 11:49 PM
I'd much prefer music to that annoying "eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee" you hear with regular tinnitus. I wonder if you could change your aspirin to ibuprofen or Tylenol. Six 500 mg Aspirin a day must make it real hard to heal when you cut yourself.
Posted by Yudith on 05/03/24 at 08:05 AM
For me, ibuprofen is an excellent emetic -- within twenty minutes of taking it, I'll be seriously vomiting.
The last time I had Tylenol was in the hospital. Doctor prescribed a painkiller with acetaminophen mixed in with it. The electronic gizmo monitoring my O2 stat, pulse, and BP showed my pressure dropped from a fairly consistent 150/95 to 75/50 from one reading to the next. (It isn't usually so extreme, but it does always make me feel light-headed.)
The last time I had Tylenol was in the hospital. Doctor prescribed a painkiller with acetaminophen mixed in with it. The electronic gizmo monitoring my O2 stat, pulse, and BP showed my pressure dropped from a fairly consistent 150/95 to 75/50 from one reading to the next. (It isn't usually so extreme, but it does always make me feel light-headed.)
Posted by Phideaux on 05/04/24 at 12:19 AM
I call, if not shenanigans, then shillelaghs. None of this washes.
And that goes for your Merkin obsessions with the brands and types of your analgesics, too. The only explanation for your symptoms is that you're taking about four times as many as the approved dose - so don't blame that on the medicine, blame it on your refusal to read the instructions.
And that goes for your Merkin obsessions with the brands and types of your analgesics, too. The only explanation for your symptoms is that you're taking about four times as many as the approved dose - so don't blame that on the medicine, blame it on your refusal to read the instructions.
Posted by Richard Bos on 05/04/24 at 03:50 PM
The effect I mentioned was from a dose administered by a nurse in a hospital. It was 10mg hydrocodone and 325mg acetaminophen (that's equivalent to a single regular-strength Tylenol tablet). They put it into my IV at approximately 8:45am. Time stamps on the printout showed normal BP at 08:42 and down through the floor at 08:56.
I have never had side effects from hydrocodone (or morphine, percodan, codeine, etc.). I always have lightheadedness and a bit of vertigo from a normal dose of Tylenol. and those are clearly listed as known common side effects. My PCP ventured that the reaction I had was because being injected increased its bioavailability, meaning it hit stronger and faster than a pill would.
I have never had side effects from hydrocodone (or morphine, percodan, codeine, etc.). I always have lightheadedness and a bit of vertigo from a normal dose of Tylenol. and those are clearly listed as known common side effects. My PCP ventured that the reaction I had was because being injected increased its bioavailability, meaning it hit stronger and faster than a pill would.
Posted by Phideaux on 05/06/24 at 12:21 AM
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Category: Medicine | Music | Psychology