Delayed-Onset Hypnopompic Visual Hallucinations 20 Years After Initiation of Propranolol Therapy for Systemic Hypertension: A Case Report.
The American journal of case reports July 25, 2024 Denise T M Au Eong, Ryan L J Chiew, Kah-Guan Au Eong
An 88-year-old woman began experiencing visual hallucinations 20 years after starting propranolol for hypertension, with symptoms persisting for 20 years. Hallucinations included plants, insects, and vivid human figures of various types, occurring daily upon awakening and lasting 10-20 seconds. After switching to atenolol, hallucinations became rare and non-frightening, indicating a drug-induced cause. This case highlights that iatrogenic causes should be considered even when hallucinations appear decades after starting a medication.