Need Advice on Medications - Alzheimer's Disease & Dementia Message Board

MaO3 · 04-19-2005, 10:18 AM

My FIL has been causing problems in the nursing home in which he resides. He is somewhere between stage 5 & 6. He is physically very strong and that's part of the problem. He has uncontrollable energy, he runs throught the halls, pushing other residents in wheelchairs up and down the halls -- at a dead run. The home has expressed concern about the safety of not only my FIL but the other residents. They insisted that he be put on some kind of medication to calm him down. We agreed to try Risperdal of 0.5mg 2x daily. That didn't help. The doctor tried Seroquel 25mg 2x daily -- that made him worse. Now they have put him on Haldol and we're not happy with it. Oh he's calmer alright, infact so calm that he doesn't get out of bed except to eat. He's so out of it, "stoned" I guess is the only word I can use. I had him back to the doctor yesterday and he took him off the Haldol for a few days until he becomes agitated again then he's to go back on it but at only 1 mg a day. Yesterday broke my heart, not only was he totally "stoned" but he was experencing tremmors as well.
Anyone have any advice ?

LuvMyLilDoggie · 04-19-2005, 12:44 PM

To be honest with you, I would be upset if that were my dad. Haldol is a drug that should be started at the lowest dose possible and increased as needed. They should NOT have started him at a higher dose. Tremors are a side affect of this drug. It's possible that the tremors were caused by too much Haldol. If they want to try it again, I would make certain that it is the smallest dose available. I would also instruct the nursing staff and his doctor that if the tremors should start again, they are to IMMEDIATELY STOP giving the medication and look into other meds to help him.

I understand that the nursing home doesn't want him or anyone else to get hurt. But I question the motive since they started him on a higher dose. Is is solely based on everyone's safety? Or is based more on making their job easier?

I hope they find something that works well for your FIL.

Barb

MaO3 · 04-19-2005, 02:43 PM

Thats exactly what I thought. The meds actually came from the doctor, but I think that the staff had really made his actions sound terrible. He thought that my FIL was uncontrollable and aggressive. He wasn't aggressive in the least. He just wants to run.

I don't like the meds at all, I would prefer that he wasn't on anything at all but in order to keep him in the home he must be on something because he's "a danger".

The haldol has been stopped for a few days then when he goes back on its to be 1mg 1x daily. I have told the home that I will not leave him on a medication that causes him to react like this. If the tremmors start again He will be off the medication.

I'm looking for advise on what other medications maybe available for Alz. patients.

BarbaraH · 04-19-2005, 03:20 PM

hi -

So sorry that this is such a problem. I have no experience with this since my mother was a tiny woman and she couldn't be much of a problem at her worst.

Is there a way to adjust the Haldol dose so he gets less? Maybe half the usual dose would have him alert and relaxed. Just a thought, but you might ask his doctor.

Wishing you well - Barbara

MC58 · 04-20-2005, 07:45 PM

When my Dad first went into the nursing home he wanted to escape (actually did a couple of times) and although he never got violent, he resisted anyone coming near him. They put him on Resperidol which calmed him down, but it also made him groggy too. We didn't like the idea of drugs either; once they gave him Haldol because they said he got defiant and punched the nurse in the stomach. We had a fit and told them to never give him that drug again without our permission. Talk to the doctors and nurses and follow through with your own research. It is a good idea to ask what meds are being administered and then find out if they are being administered properly.