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#142049 - 02/12/08 04:52 PM
Re: drugs and the elderly
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Registered: 08/22/07
Posts: 1761
Loc: Southern Maine, USA
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Dotsie, this is an excellent topic to bring up. In my work, I've seen this over and over. The elderly get hospitalized (drugs given by doctors upon discharge), then go into rehab (more drugs prescribed and some confusion as to what is to be taken at what dose), and then home. Time and time again I've seen an intelligent physician finally step in after some concern of a caregiver or family, remove all drugs and start over. The patient gets better, gains weight and is more lucid. This should always be a consideration first if a loved one is failing.
_________________________
If we couldn't laugh we would all go insane ~ Jimmy Buffett
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#142050 - 02/12/08 06:02 PM
Re: drugs and the elderly
[Re: ladyjane]
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Member
Registered: 01/16/07
Posts: 3404
Loc: USA
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But how do you find the doctor that has the sense to do this? As you probably know from what I've shared in the past, my mom didn't have a doctor before 2007. She is now on four medications, and under the care of the facility doctor. The neurologist I took her to a few weeks ago recommended that the facility reduce doses for two of the medications, but the facility doctor has yet to do it. We are going into the third week since the neurologist visit. I spoke again to the facility case worker yesterday. She said the doctor is sick, and that she'd look into it herself. I'm a bit peeved.
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#142053 - 02/13/08 06:53 AM
Re: drugs and the elderly
[Re: jabber]
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Member
Registered: 01/16/07
Posts: 3404
Loc: USA
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oh, jabber, I think you are so right... My syster worked in geriatrics for part of her nursing career. She calls it warehousing... putting them away in a controlled environment to wait for their deaths. They had my mom on a hefty daily dose of Depakote (mind altering), on top of her daily doses of Seroquel (another mind altering drug). When I'd visit, she wasn't even able to keep her eyes open. With the neurologist to back me, I requested they at least reduce her daily dose of Depakote by the 500 mg application in the afternoon. I've recently found out there are major health/death risks with Seroquel, so that's my next target. I realize she will die eventually, but to kill her slowly by damaging her organs one by one is just not right.
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#142055 - 02/15/08 04:36 PM
Re: drugs and the elderly
[Re: jabber]
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Member
Registered: 12/30/05
Posts: 3027
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Different problem here. Medication is sourced for cost and certain generic medicine used.This varies and although the same may look different (packaging and colour and shape.)So poor old mum or dad get confused.Even for myself ongoing medication prescribed may have the same clinical name but due to different manufacturers have similar but different name.
How we treat our elderly tells a lot about our society. MA
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