Is it safe for a women 85 years old in a nursing home to take 10 mgs. Virginia has some dementia and depression could be nursing home induced? I have refused any and all antipsychotic drugs. I have been googleing it but still cannot make up my mind to ok this drug as her primary health care person or not.Virginia has been getting better after 60 days in a nursing home but is restless and could use some relief. An ok drug for a 85 year old nursing home women or has anyone experenced bad side effect and not an ok drug?
I myself also take from time to time although not on a daily basis. I take because of relationship issues. It does seem to help get me out of my want to cry spell and helps to lift my spirit. Of course I do other stuff to help as well.
The turn around on the DNA test is a couple of weeks. Then my doctor gave me samples of one drug to take, the lowest dosage available, and had me cut that dosage in half to start off with. Such drugs usually take 4 to 6 weeks to work.
I can equate the shouting match to Virginia's loud talking and hollering when her trigger points are happening like the hoyer used to hoist her in and out of the wheelchair and bed.Glad to hear they work for you and your parents thats a plus on the side of Citalopram.
*It takes some weeks for the effects to show: you don't just pop a pill in her mouth and magic her back to her normal happy self. Allow a month at least, after which you should see the edge come off her anxiety and bleak misery without any obvious "doping up."
The DNA is great idea i may try that one seems like that way the right choice will be made.I like the idea of cutting the dose in half too!
This sounds good: "after which you should see the edge come off her anxiety and bleak misery without any obvious "doping up". She needs relief other wise i am totally against drugs i am getting some insight in a difficult decision of a loved one. Thank you.
Liver or kidney disorders, heart condition or irregular heartbeat, epilepsy, diabetes, glaucoma, bleeding disorder, manic episodes, any previous allergic reactions to any meds, getting ECT, taking MOA (which doesn't seem to apply here), and/or any other med ( which also doesn't seem to apply, OTC and/or herbal supplements.
I don't know if Tylenol is one of the OTC meds (or even if it's an OTC med at that dose) is one with which it might interact.
I always also check to determine if there are any class action suits against the manufacturer; if there are, that's a red flag as class actions suits require a significant number of people who've suffered a reaction, and last I checked (it's been awhile) must be certified to be a class action suit.
They're not random suits in which someone feels a drug may have caused a certain reaction or side effect, but reflect that significant number of people believe they have suffered from the drug.
Apparently Citalopram is the generic name for Celexa. I also did a quick check for class action lawsuits and PM'ed the links to you.
I think FF's doctor is way ahead of the curve in doing the genetic testing and definitely would consider that before trying a new drug such as Celexa.
However, she could be weaned off the drug when she no longer needed it.
But I'm wondering if there are other methods? Music and art therapy are noted for their ability to be mood stimulants, and they don't have side effects. Have you tried bringing CDs (or whatever music medium you use) of her favorite music? Coloring? Can she work large piece puzzles?
We played Kate Smith CDs for my mother; my father enjoys Mexican music b/c he was stationed close to Texas in WWII, He also loves polkas. They really gets his feet tapping in time to the music!
Other music, such as harp music, can induce relaxation. During my sister's last battle with cancer, we generally played mood music or light classical at night so we both could sleep.
A few weeks ago I was watching a PBS special on folk songs, during one of their marathon fundraisers. Those old songs were so meaningful, and were so powerful in inducing either calm, peace, recollection or just plain relaxation.
Are there any music programs with visiting musicians in the facility where Virginia currently is? If so, take her to them. Some of the old post WWII songs generate enthusiasm as well.
Once I took my music, brought my mother and an acquaintance she made at the rehab facility, and we went downstairs to where the baby grand was. There were just 2 of patients at that time, but after playing awhile, other people began rolling themselves in in their wheelchairs. It was really a touching moment to see how music affected them.
There's also pet therapy; they have the power to induce relaxation, and can easily cheer someone up in ways that medication can't.
Yes, there are tranquilizers to take for just anxiety, the pills from ages ago one eventually would need to also take an anti-depressant.
I read all the links about Celexa (Citalopram being the generic name for Celexa) They are informative and i am forming an opinion on what to do about the decision i have to make for Virginia. Your post is full of information so it tool me awhile to post back ty for you for your research.
Exactly what we will do once Virginia is home. She likes to paint and we both like classic oldies i have a ton of oldies from 1920 to 2000.Lots of free time together will also help. Music does help we are in a exercise class in the nursing home and Virginia looks forward to it.
Yes thats the word i remember back in the 50's and 60's i think. I was thinking something like that no need for the depression part that whats scares me the sucisides that have ocured with antidepression drugs. TY
Citalopram works by regulating the amount of a specific brain chemical called serotonin which is an important factor in controlling mood. It is one of a family of drugs called Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, SSRIs. It is a safe, clean and effective medication in extremely widespread use across the whole population, young and old; and it would probably help Virginia. But if she and her doctors and you felt it wasn't helping, it could be withdrawn safely. It isn't addictive, in that you don't need more and more of it to work and you wouldn't get withdrawal symptoms. The reason it shouldn't be stopped suddenly - cold turkey, if you like - is that the level of serotonin in the brain would plummet if you did that, and abrupt changes aren't what you want. But it wouldn't take long to withdraw a 10mg daily dose in any case.
I think it is difficult to separate out anxiety and depression. I've never found it a very helpful distinction. The person feels wretched - is that because she is anxious, depressed, or both? It's a bit like asking someone to describe physical pain - is it stabbing, wrenching, aching, shooting... It just hurts!
You describe Virginia talking loudly and trying to get the aides' attention because she can't go anywhere without help. You think it's a feeling of being trapped. Is she doing that while you're there? Does she appreciate that you're there? It's just that I'm trying to visualise what you describe, and it's a picture that could fit with dementia.
What was the crisis that took Virginia to the hospital? And was she living with you and your son at the time? - in her home or yours?
But it doesn't have to be the end of the world, you know. She is extremely lucky that she can continue to enjoy your companionship and a good range of activities, but in a setting where she has the professional health care team she needs now.
Also, it's early days; and as she becomes more settled in the NH she may well begin to feel better - all that disruption on top of convalescence from a nasty infection (by the sound of it, that is) is bound to have been a setback for her. So why not ask her doctors - next week is it? - if they don't think it a good idea to wait and see before they prescribe.
The Haldol on that one upsetting occasion will have been given to make her easier to manage - but for the very good reason that the paramedics' job was to get her safely and rapidly to hospital and they couldn't take the risk that she might freak out on them en route. I appreciate that it's a shocking thing to see a drug whacked into someone you care about, willy-nilly like that; but it was the safe course of action.
I wanted to tell you that I'm concerned about the staffing level, the bedsores, the absence of the primary care doctor, and what plans were made to address the ADL issue when they rejected your plan.
I'm not getting the impression this place offers the greatest level of care. Are YOU satisfied with it?
If you're not, make it obvious by taking notes on everything that you're documenting. They won't know why, but word will get passed around that you are. I've overheard staff commenting when I take notes; the tone of voice suggested some concern.
I've also found that if I don't document and don't address issues right away, problems can occur more easily, meds that are unnecessary or inappropriate are given, and it's harder to reverse than having meetings with staff right away and setting the standards (i.e., in our case, NO substitutions for meds prescribed by the regular treating physicians).
Well i did find out that Virginia was laboring more than usual and did make an appointment to see a Doctor earlier but was canceled because Virginia did not want to see this Primary Doctor anymore so i looked for a different Doctor and found one that would see her May 10th i thought it was ok to waitt but she got suddenly worse on April 10 and this all started. I do take the blame for a very bad decision to wait.One i have learned from and will continue to go forward to help Virginia best i can. Haldol in my opinion is never the first choice for an 85 year old women. ty for your comment.
If her "trigger points" are when the Hoyer is used to transfer her from bed to chair and back this could be the result of several things.
1. Does the staff take the time to explain to Virginia what they are doing.
2. Do they take their time so the explanation has a few moments to sink in?
3. Is it possible that she is scared during the transfers that she may fall?
4. Is she in actual pain during the movements?
Any or all of these could cause her to yell out.
I do realize in a Re-Hab facility they can not take a very long time due to the number of residents and the limited number of staff. But if they would realize that if you quietly and gently talk to someone while you are doing what needs to be done often the quiet voice and gentle touch can do much more than drugs.
This is not to say drugs will not help but it is possible that a much lower dose could be used along with kindness and understanding.
I know I would not like it if 2 people came at me rolled me to one side, slipped a sling under me, rolled me again and pulled the sling then hooded me up to a big scary metal bar then all of a sudden I am being lifted off my safe comfortable bed or out of my chair. I just might feel safer if someone told me what was going on. Doing this is just as important if the person has dementia. I find my husband is much less fearful when I am telling him what I am doing while I am doing it. I get much less resistance and SURPRISE..that makes my job easier! Win-Win!!