Please help. Mother on many drugs and attempted suicide

Snooks · 03-27-2004, 08:58 PM

My dad and I just placed my mother in assisted living in PA last week and within the week she attempted to cut her wrists. She is now in a psych hospital undergoing a week of testing. She is on aricept, memantine (new), seroquel, and clomipramine. She is totally unable to relate, thinks she's in her 20's, thinks there's two of me, two of my father. We are so distraught and don't know what to do, what to think. The AL home thinks she may come back and that with an adjustment in her meds may be able to adjust there. I want the best care for her and I am so concerned about the number of meds she's been on that have changed so many times. Does anyone have any advice, suggestions, resources for NE Pennsylvania. I am the only child in MA. My dad is 82 and alone now and amazingly strong with all of this. Thank you.

BarbaraH · 03-27-2004, 09:13 PM

Hi,

Bless your hearts - I know this is hard as my mother is in end stage Alzheimers.

Is there any chance that your mother gave herself her own meds while in the AL facility? If so, she could have overdosed or underdoesd herself totally by accident. My mother could not give herself her medicines because she lost the awareness of time early on in the decline.

In addition to the psych evaluation, she needs to have the blood levels of all her meds checked. A pharmacy consult about drug interaction and bad side effects might help, too.

Now is also the time to get all of the legal paperwork for Durable Power of Attorney for both your mother and your father in place. An elder care lawyer can help with that. My mother gave me power of attorney for her and had the legal forms done 10 years before I needed to step in to help her, pay her bills, etc. Having that ready ahead of time was incredibly helpful.

I, too, am an only child. You're not alone on this unwelcome road.

I wish you well - Barbara

careercounselor · 03-28-2004, 02:36 AM

Hi Snooks,

Depression with Alzheimer's disease is quite common, and the change to Assisted Living is very hard on loved ones.

Unfortunately, being on so medications is pretty common for Alzheimer's patients. My mom was also on multiple meds.

I agree with the other person, is she administering her own meds? Does the ALF have a nurse to administer meds? If not, you or Dad may have to visit daily to ensure her meds are taken, and to ensure she doesn't take too much.

If mom takes her own meds, does mom have one of those talking pill boxes? They have a new timed pill box that prevents overdosing that some insurance covers because it allows seniors to stay in the home but ensures they get their meds.

Sharon

Snooks · 03-28-2004, 09:43 AM

Sharon and Barbara - Thank you both for your replies. My mother broke her coffee mug in her room and tried to cut her wrists. Meds are carefully administered at the AL facility. Meds have been changed as of yesterday (at the psychiatric hospital) to increase seroquel, eliminate the OCD med, add an antidepressant, and take her off Namenda (which she just started a week ago). It's all pretty confusing and unfortunately I know little about meds. She is angry and hangs up on me, very confused, wants to die, just keeps saying it. Nurses say no change since she was admitted, that it may take 2 weeks before anti-depressant kicks in. I am so discouraged that the meds keep changing. Is there some way to know you have the right doctors? We have an attorney and dad has poa so I think we're set in that regard. Thank you again. What would I do without this board.

Snooks · 03-28-2004, 08:20 PM

I have another question in relation to my mother's eval. Does anyone know what a psych assessment would include? I forgot to mention that I think the suggeston to get a pharmacy consult re drug interaction and bad side effects is a great suggestion. Thank you again.