Has anyone had a problem with giving your spouse the drug oxybutynin for incontinence? Urologist prescribed it for my azhusband to help with incontinence and had been increasing dosage every two months from 5mg, to 10mg t0 15 mg and then 20mg. Since he's been on the 20 mg (2 weeks now) I think it is causing him to hallucinate, more confusion, sometimes weaker when walking with his walker and needing help. I have not had much sleep in last 5 days. He was at respite care at va for week before that. Awake a lot during night and confused as to how to get to bathroom, where he would sleep. At first I thought it was just from changing back from va to home but he is seeing things not there and talking to imaginary people and making me very afraid this is a new phase. Perhaps someone of you have had some experience like this with this drug. He is also on other meds but has been on those for a long time, although doctor took him off of Lantus insulin a month ago. Would appreciate any input. Thanks.
As I understand it, the medication you mentioned belongs to a drug category called anticholinergics that should not be used for people with AD. They reduce the amount of a substance in the brain called acetylcholine, which is already lacking in AD patients. The reason medications such as Aricept can help AD suffers is because it puts some of that acetylcholine back into the brain. This is why anticholinergics are contraindicated for AD patients--they make an already bad situation worse.
If your husband has an AD diagnosis, unfortunately, incontinence is one of the symptoms. I have never heard of anyone being medicated with anything to "help" with it--could you please explain further?
My husband's urologist put him on Avodart for an enlarged prostate (which also should not be used for AD patients)and the result was delirium. Based on that, I realized that urologists aren't familiar with the do's and don'ts when it comes to a dementia patient; I switched him to a geriatrician and had better results.
"Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur when using Oxybutynin:
Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty swallowing or breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, throat, or tongue; unusual hoarseness); confusion; difficult or painful urination; fast or irregular heartbeat; fever; hallucinations; mental or mood changes (eg, agitation); seizures; swelling of the hands, ankles, or feet; vision problems."
Psychiatric side effects including hallucinations (2% to less than 5%) have been reported during worldwide postmarketing experience. Cognitive and mental status changes in elderly patients receiving oxybutynin have been reported."
This is a good object lesson for all. Prior to starting a LO on ANY new med, Google the "name of the drug use in Alzheimer's". A search for "oxybutynin use in Alzheimer's" pops up numerous articles, most in layman's terms, offering all the warnings stated here. Be an informed caregiver!
Thank you everyone. I contacted the doctor and his nurse got back to me with advice to cut back on dosage. I think I will not give it to him at all, and see where it goes from here. I realize that not all things are good for one with az but thought this dr ( a urologist) would know that, wrong. I was hopeful that we wouldn't have so much urine in the depends and wouldn't have all the arguments on if they needed to be changed. If they weren't dripping wet they were ok. He just didn't get it that they were leaking all over bed, chairs, etc. but that wasn't nearly as bad as seeing things that aren't there and hearing noises that aren't there. Also his blood sugar is running about 200 or so since being off the insulin and he can get goofy when sugar is high (200 is first in morning). It probably is higher later in day but he resists testing it. This is so hard as all of you already know and are living it too. I guess I can do pee better than being up all night dealing with the bizarre.
dorieIMI--there are many old threads regarding use of incontinence products, the different brands, layering them and using extra disposable guards, waterproof mattress covers and pads, etc. I agree that it would probably be easier to experiment with different products than to keep him on that medication. I was told to try to keep my husband on a 2-hour toileting schedule to prevent accidents. It worked well, but it did seem like we were constantly in the bathroom!