LO is in an assisted living home about an hour away an tonight I got a call from an attendant that she became agressive toward another resident an pushed her to the floor,when I questioned them about her meds weeks ago they assured me they had her under control,this is the list of meds that I recieved from a bill from pharmacy,I don't see anything here that would control her temper,maybe I'm missing something so I thought I would come to the experts Haldol 1 MG Hydrochlrothiazide 25 MG FamotId 20MG Exelon Patch 9.5 Citalopram 20MG Alprazollam 0.5 MG Lisinopril 10 MG Carvedilol 3.125 MG Vitamin D capsule 50,000 IU Estradiol 0.5 MG
They used Haldol for aggitation ---only thing is it works in reverse on him It's possible they'll need to adjust the meds or even change that out. There are many others.
after I done some checking I find out that Citalopram an Alprazolam both cause confusion, with Citalopram also suicidal thoughts an mood changes Alprazolam agressive behavior,mood changes,depression,an forgetfulness,an this place claims they specialize in memory care,when I called back tonight the girl I talked to told me she didn't know anything about the pills she just gave them out,I asked if she was a nurse an she told me no,wouldn't you think whoever is giving meds should be qualified?Wow instead of helping they're contributing to the problem
ol don-it is even more frightening when untrained aides give some meds "as needed". If they don't know what they do how can they decide when they are needed.
I'd take your list of drugs to your local pharmacist, whether you buy them there or not, and (mine did) she will put them into the computer and give you a print out about what they are for...and highlight if one might counteract another on the list. They don't have a "dog in your fight" so they are happy to help you. Then, knowing this, go to the nursing home and visit with the Director of Nurses and go over the list. You'll be informed and she'll help you. I wonder just HOW aggressive she was. Physical or just "leave me alone" unpleasant.
i know alot of these meds some take are life saving, but it seems that too many medications in our AD loved ones are not so well tolerated. sometimes less is more. just my experience and own observations. i agree you should go over medications with her dr and ask which are needed and how much an dif there are alternates if they arent working. divvi
Nancy I was just thinking about you this evening. I got a last minute invitation from a neighbor to join in a game of trivial persuit. Must be close to 30 years that I played it. We used to take the game on dive trips with our club when we lived in Mass. It would have so easy to politely decline and stay home. I forced myself to go and had a very enjoyable evening with real people It isn't easy yet to go out alone-but it is getting better.
I am sorry to report that in some Assisted Living Facilities, staff called "Medicine Technicians" dispense the pills. A "Med. Tech" is an aide who has been "trained" to give out medications. They know NOTHING about the medications. I had quite a run-in with one of them concerning my father's medications. She was absolutely clueless about what she was giving him or why. I do not know if this is standard procedure for ALL ALF's, nor do I know if the procedure is different in nursing homes. Once again, we must be vigilant and knowledgeable ourselves in order to protect our loved ones. I agree with Nancy B*. I would discuss all the medications with either a pharmacist or the doctor who prescribed them.
I was the one who insisted my father be taken off of one of his medications. I noticed that he became angry, aggressive, and completely confused (totally opposite of his normal personality) about a week after he started taking it. Within days of stopping it, he returned to normal.
Since my husband is home, I am the "Med Tech", and I have made it my business to find out all I can about the 14 different medications he takes.
You will all identify with this, I'm sure. The first time the Hospice Physician visited our house, he asked me to tell him about Foster and about his meds. I gave him a complete, but concise report. He asked me if I was a Medical Professional? I told him no, and why did he ask. He told me I definitely spoke like a medical professional. Well, there you go. We monitor them day after day, handle all the medications, discuss them regularly with the medical person in charge and make changes when needed. Perhaps I should have said, YES, I AM - we certainly become proficient in our work, and more often than not, we are as knowledgeable as anyone who is paid to monitor his health care.
Well as luck would have it when I went to ALH on tuesday the doctor was there making his monthly rounds,when I told him I was concerned about her agressive behavior that I thought was from the Citalopram(20MG) an the Alprazolam(0.5MG)she was taking he told me they MAYBE they should wean her off of it,told me we'd like to keep her here but if her agressiveness continues she'll have to go somewhere else????? What the hell is wrong here?I mistakenly thought that was his job to perscibe meds that would calm her down rather than cause aggression,an what do I do if they call an say hey come get your wife we can't keep her here any longer,sounds like its back to the psych hospital
Don, on the one hand, the doctor should at least try to adjust her meds. and find ones that will keep her more stable. That could take awhile and experimentation. On the one hand, it may not be the present medications but that the disease has got to the point where your wife needs more than the present Care Facility and medications can provide. Since one resident has already been pushed to the floor, the staff will be concerned to protect the other residents. I had a friend's father who had to be placed in a psych unit of the hospital because of his dementia, and it was essentially to protect himself and others. The staff there were specially trained, the area more secure, and the doctors more knowledgeable about what drugs to use. I know this is a shocking development for you, and I hope that the present doctor will do everything he can to adjust or change her present medications. He seems to be saying this. I guess you're going to have to keep a close eye on things; they don't always do what they say. Can you call in another doctor for a second opinion? I'm only glad that you have her already placed and that at least you're spared any aggression she might have directed at you. None of this disease is their fault, or our fault: we just have to play the cards we're dealt. Best of luck, Buddy.
Don, listen to what Nancy B said, it was very good advice. We caregivers need to educate ourselves. I found that towards the end stages less was better. Increasing Haldol and weaning off the other two meds may do the trick. Keep posting. We are here for you.
ol don--the med situation is a serious challenge. Haldol may calm some, butfor others, like my DH, it winds them up. When we had to change out one of 2 meds he'd been on for an extended time, one switch worked like clock work. We went through 4 changes to get an acceptable replacement for the other. Many swear by Seroquel forcalmig. It knocked my DH out . He'd wake up in time for the next dose. Learn about the meds they're using and the ones they propose to use. I'd also suggvest one change at a time. That m,ay take a little longer to resolve things, but in the long run it's much easier to evaluate the changes. It's a puzzle.
Haldol make my husband into a mess to behold! That was the only time he had serious incontinence problems, too. The day we stopped that was a good day for both of us. Like Carol said, what works for others, may not work for you. It's simply trial and error.