Ramona Lamascola thought she was losing her eighty-eight-year-old mother, Theresa to dementia. Instead, she was losing her to overmedication.
Last fall, Theresa Lamascola was suffering from anxiety and confusion. She was then put on the antipsychotic drug Risperdal. When Theresa started having trouble walking, she was admitted to a nursing home facility, but her problems were just beginning. Ramona recalls, “[her] mother was screaming and out of it, drooling on herself and twitching.” The psychiatrist in the nursing home then stopped the Risperdal, which can cause twitching and vocal tics. He then prescribed a sedative and two other antipsychotic medications. Ramona was convinced that the medications were the problem, so she ordered the psychiatrist to “stop the medications and stay away from [her] Mom.”
It was not until Ramona Lamascola got a second opinion from another doctor who suggested stopping Theresa’s antipsychotic medications and sedatives and prescribed Aricept instead– which is a drug used for people suffering from mild to moderate dementia caused by Alzheimer’s disease. It improves the function of nerve cells in the brain which is important for memory. After being taken off the antipsychotic medications, Theresa’s quality of life improved. While she still has dementia, she went from confinement in a wheelchair - unable to sit still and screaming out in fear – to being able to walk with help, sit peacefully, have some memory and ability to communicate, and even make jokes. Ramona finally got her mother back!
There are other ways to help manage the behavior of a person suffering from dementia that does not include heavy medication and sedation. Some nursing homes are trying environmental intervention which consists of:
-Reducing boredom
-Providing intellectual and physical stimulation
-Exercise and calming music
-Bringing in pets for therapy and
-Improving how the staff approaches and talks to dementia patients
Unfortunately, research still shows that about a third off all nursing home patients have been given antipsychotic drugs without even trying these other methods. Why? The drugs are a quick fix as opposed to putting in a little extra time with the patients.
The Food and Drug Administration has ordered that the newer drugs carry a “black box” label warning of an increased risk of death. A similar precaution is now being taken with the older antipsychotic medications, as well.
Doctors are strongly encouraged to conduct a thorough assessment of the patient and only as a last resort turn to prescribing antipsychotic medication. If medications are necessary, a family member should communicate with the prescribing doctor, learn the goal of each medication, and be involved in making the decision. If still you’re not satisfied then seek out another doctor for another opinion.
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