“Are hallucinations serious?”

They can be. You need to get this evaluated.

It’s something that you need to discuss with your Primary Care, so you can be referred to a Psychiatrist to get a good history and evaluation and maybe medications.

Hallucinations are always serious. They indicate a serious malfunction in your brain's ability to process sensory input and tell the difference between reality and illusion. It is often due to mental illness such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. There are good treatments for these that a doctor can prescribe. Doing some street drugs such as methamphetamine or heroin or cocaine can also cause hallucinations. In any case, it is extremely important that you see a doctor right away. I would recommend going to an emergency room. I am an emergency doctor and can promise you that an emergency doctor will be able to help you to figure out the cause and refer you to the right specialist. One last thing. Hallucinations often get worse over time. I strongly urge you to seek immediate emergency medical care. Good Luck!

Stephen B. Cox MD BCEM txerdoc1@yahoo.com