Dose is 2x a day dose of .5mg. Guilt takes over because it’s sad to see her just there. Or I could skip dosages and within 48-72 hours I’m back to dealing with her dementia induced agitation, restlessness, combativeness, delirium and I get no sleep for 2-3 days. It’s prescribed as needed but then I read so many side effects. I know it helps me when she’s on it, but I feel selfish because I’ve made it about me and not her.
Be careful with Ativan as it has a tendency to "backfire"--it can cause an elderly person to become MORE agitated and restless. I had one resident who took Ativan and was "bouncing of the walls" literally. We couldn't keep her in bed!:)
My husband's geriatrician said she wished that drug were taken off the market. She didn't think it was ever justified.
If it worked, perhaps it would be justified on hospice. I don't know. But in this case it isn't working!
Regarding someone’s use of Ativan. Please check the outcomes with dimentia patients. It is generally not good for most folks.
I think many of the answers here don't realize that your mother is on hospice. I don't think you need to find a geriatrician or a new doctor or a psychiatrist, etc. Talk to the hospice nurse.
After much experimentation over about a (6) month period we found that her level of good results was 100mg twice per day. It does not make her drowsy but just more in control of herself. She sleeps like a baby at night and her agitation has virtually disappeared. I tried to cut back to 50mg 2x/day and she became agitated in the evenings again. She is also on donepezil and namenda since diagnosis (8) years ago , but those had no effect on diminishing her agitation.
UTI can be checked by obtaining sterile sample cups from your doctor and using a simple toilet seat plastic funnel available at most pharmacies or heath stores. The sample can then be delivered to your Dr’s office for analysis. Plenty of constant hydration with sugar free flavored waters, caffeine free tea with a little artificial sweetener, anythingbyhat they really like has worked for us against UTI’s. We have only had one in the last (5) years. I’ll take luck over skill any day 😁
I know it's hard personally to deal with these situations, but you got to save yourself and as well as quiet the patient down. There are after-effects on all medications and some of them are very scary.
Has your Grandma been checked for an Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) or a Respiratory Infection? In the elderly, symptoms of UTI include: agitation, restlessness, combativeness, and delirium or other mental changes or physical decline. If the doctor’s office is unable to get a urine sample in a cup, then ask that they perform a straight-catheterization to obtain a urine sample.
I think that you need to talk to your Grandma's doctor or whoever prescribed the Haldol for your Grandma--a Primary Care Physician (PCP) or a Geriatric Doctor or Geriatric Psychiatrist or a Geriatric Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner? If your Grandma hasn't been seen by someone who specializes in geriatrics (the elderly) or psychiatry, then I think that she needs to. There are so many better drugs than Haldol to treat dementia.
NEVER SKIP A DOSAGE of any drug unless the doctor has told you that you can and told you in which situation(s) you can skip a dosage.
Prior to giving your Grandma any other Over-The-Counter (OTC) medication/drug or any Herbal medication/drug, you need to talk with your Grandma's doctor to make sure that the OTC or herbal medication/drug you plan to give your Grandma will not interfere with or interact adversely/badly with the other medications that your Grandma is taking.
"A DRUG is a medicine or other substance which has a physiological effect (on the body) when ingested or otherwise introduced into the body." {Oxford Dictionaries}
SO: MELATONIN IS A DRUG—see websites listed below.
drugs.com/melatonin.html
emedicinehealth.com/drug-melatonin/article_em.htm
medicinenet.com/melatonin-oral/article.htm#what_is_melatonin-oral,_and_how_does_it_work_(mechanism_of_action)?
herbsaredrugs.com/
familydoctor.org/melatonin/?adfree=true
nccih.nih.gov/health/alzheimer/ataglance
Let us know what happens at the doctor’s appointment. God Bless.
Personally, I only give my mother Melatonin. 5 Mg when I see her "about" to start getting agitated before it escalates and 10mg every night to get her to sleep. All natural and works great.
GM doesn't enjoy agitation, restlessness, etc. either, so finding something that can decrease those feelings and behaviors without knocking her out is for her benefit, too.
I would say haldol is not working. It is not the only drug used for this purpose. Talk to the doctor about trying something else. What kind of doctor prescribed it, by the way?
I am sorry for your situation. First of all, I want to say that having to medicate your grandma so that she is not so agitated and you get some much needed sleep is good for the both of you. You are a very important part of this relationship and your needs must be addressed also.
My mother was given Haldol many years ago as part of her Bipolar medication and she did not do well on it either. Perhaps others on this website could give you their experience with the level of dementia you are describing. In any case, if your grandmother is so lethargic that she is non-functional, perhaps you could report this to her doctor and they could try something else.
I have seen my mother so over-medicated in attempts to regulate her moods that she was unable to feed herself, or carry on a conversation. This did not last long as we would advocate for her and tell the doctor so her medication could be adjusted. I have seen amazing changes within a day when the proper medication and dosage was given.
Your health is important too, but your grandmother’s medicine might need to be changed or adjusted. I pray you sleep well tonight. Tomorrow, call her doctor or geriatric psychiatrist. You did not cause her dementia, and I know you are doing the best you can to care for her and stay healthy yourself.