Do you ever have one of those days where you just want to scream? Dumb question, I know the answer is yes. Last night was one of those for me. DH was having a tough week anyway. He is starting to have another downturn again. Yesterday, my SIL came over to take him to a movie and give me a break - he's great! I took my car into the shop for regular maintenance and went shopping with my DD and grandkids. When we got home, I made dinner. I can no longer give him a choice of 2 things anymore, I have to just make the decision for him. He's started getting more argumentative lately as well. So by the time last night came, I asked him if he took his pills and he said yes. Because I didn't seem him do it, I went to check and sure enough he did not take them. I got the pills and water and brought them to him to take. That's when he went bolistic. He was arguing with me from here to ernity. I know you can't argue with them but I did ask him if he thought I would lie to him and he said no. He took the pills under protest and then proceeded to look at his journal. I have to write everything down for him on a piece of paper so he knows what to do. That went on all night until bedtime. He then started confusing recycling with pills and ended up throwing two bottled waters at the mirror in our bathroom. At that point I was ready to scream. I asked him if he took all of his pills and he said no. I said he had one more and went and got his Zolpidem (for sleeping) and gave him one. It took awhile for him to settle down. He was rambling about what seemed to be hundreds of thoughts with no relationship at all. I feel bad for giving him the sleep aide but I was going crazy.
So sorry you had to go through that. Yes, we all feel like screaming at times. More times than not, probably. Don't feel guilty about the sleeping pill - we're learning to do what must be done to keep them calm and keep us sane.
I agree, give him a sleeping aide when he needs it, and you without guilt. this disease can drive us mad without using every resource given us including pharmaceuticals. divvi
Now that's interesting. I looked up zolpidem in Wikipedia. It's apparently the generic for AMBIEN. But more interestingly, giving it to people in a semi-vegetative state WAKES THEM UP!! It apparently stimulates the brain. Look at the article in Wikipedia - and let's talk about how you or your spouses react to it. I gather it does still let our AZ people sleep...
it wouldnt be the first medicine to produce a reverse reaction -there are dozens of stories here that we try a med for a specific need to find it does quite the opposite. like trying to squash aggressive behaviours with antipsychotics and it backfires-or a sleep aide that keeps them up.. must be the chemistry of the AD brain working in reverse or something. divvi
divvi you sure are right about drugs doing the opposite. My husband was placed on risperadal for his aggitation and general antsiness. It did the opposite and made him even more hyper.....switched to seroquel and so far that has helped.
It's not just with AD. I don't have AD, but when the doctor gave me Percocet for pain, it was supposed to take away the pain, and make me sleepy. It kind of took away the pain, but it kept me up all night. Eyes wide open every night I took it. No more Percoet for me.
Never can tell with medication what it is going to do or how one will react to it.
-try to keep bedtime rituals consistent -go to bed at similar times daily -close blinds to demonstrate differnences in light levels -keep lighting dim-use night lights where necessary -warm shower or bath prior to bed can promote sleep -less stimulation in the pm and soft musci or tv programs -hunger can awaken and cause restlessness. SNACK at bedtime can help stay asleep -restrict caffeine and excess fluids in the pm -check heat/cold in the room -discourage naps or limit times during the day -encourage exercise and stimulating activities to drain anxiety
on a personal note, just lately i have discovered giving a good snack at bedtime a (protein bar is good) has helped DH to stay asleep. maybe metabolic issues with this disease makes going overnite without food harder for them?. try giving a snack -divvi ps and for the caregiver once all these are in place, a nice stiff drink of your fav alcohol to mellow YOU out for the pm.. haha.ie courtesy of DONEIT..
Interesting on the Zolpidem. DH does start talking/rambling when he takes it. The first time I gave it to him it didn't make him sleep, he rambled and talked incoherently. I thought I gave him a double dose of another medication and freaked.
Well, wikipedia's getting a good bit better. I'd never act on something just because I read about it in W. but this was simply a reporting on some medical studies that had been done, full of citations to follow for further research. Family was over and we were looking at the W. entry on Susan BOyle, that singer on England's got Talent. There were (and this is within the last week!) 75 citations!!
We have a twenty pound very unsocialized cat - and we have to have the vet come to the house. We have to medicate her first with something the vet sends. It acts immediately and the cat becomes very lethargic, sleepy and calm. I am tempted to take the meds to my husbands doctors and ask if they have a human equivalent in gallon sizes. We do the Namenda, Celexa, Depakote, Xnax route as well.Oh well, just a thought :-)
Vicodin (hydrocodone) has been given to me following broken foot, oral surgeries, other surgeries, etc. I laugh because it does help with my pain, but gives me quite a "Buzz." It keeps me awake all night. Also, I turn into a Chatty Cathy, totally. YAK YAK YAK!!!!
Some may remember that my DH had a "new med" interaction that caused his once "Sanity Saving" Risperdal to have an opposing effect. Disasterous.