Effects of Medication on the Elderly

I agree with those who are concerned about the effect of medications on the elderly. They just do not metabolize meds the same way younger people do, and unfortunately some physicians overmedicate. Anesthetics, and the shock to the body of surgery can cause confusion and other behaviors associated with sundowners. I am concerned about the lack of education people are getting regarding their elderly, especially as it seems people have not been told that an infection in an elderly person can cause temporary dementia-like symptoms. In regard to behaviors worsening when they are moved about, yes another downer to getting old…a move to a new place can cause confusion/disorientation. Check with your provider regarding the long time use of meds like Ativan..they can lose their effectiveness after even 2 weeks. To all of you who are caretakers, do take care of yourselves..if it seems impossible, find a way..that is extremely important

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I refuse to continue all 12 meds

March 22, 2010

Susan commented on http://sundownerfacts.com/sundowners-syndrome/ My aunt is 82. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s several years ago. I personally didn’t notice it until a couple of years ago when she started hallucinating. I was told by her social worker and doctor that it was no longer safe for her to live alone because of the disease. [...]

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Medically Prolonging Life

March 18, 2010

Susan commented on http://sundownerfacts.com/sundowners-syndrome/ Anyone who has gone through the trauma of surgery can develop sundowners. My husband at age 47 had it within days of a complicated emergency open heart surgery. He truly believed that at night that they were kidnapping him and holding him against his will. It cleared up when I just [...]

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