Thanks, Grandma1954! The Hospice nurse is tweeking her meds today, Seraquil that's she's been refusing and discontinuing as-needed-when-disruptive Ativan. She thinks the patch can be placed on her midback so she cannot remove it. We shall see. She's pretty smart in spite of dementia and being 92 years young. She pulled the fire alarm yesterday so we're desperate. She cannot afford Memory Care and NH will probably keep her drugged even more. So sad.
Benzodiazepine tranquilizers can't be given to patients who suffer from COPD, because they depress breathing and may cause poor oxygenation or respiratory arrest. Another unwanted side effect is making memory bad. Yes, they are more benign than anti-psychotics and are commonly used in the elder population with caution, to avoid creating dependence or over-sedation. They might be too weak to control agitation. They have no anti-psychotic effect. Benzo-addiction is not the main concern in a controlled environment. The problem is developing tolerance requiring increased doses with time. However, Benzos are used a lot in institutions that treat old people, because they are better tolerated and cause no cerebro-vascular accidents like anti-psychotics.
Klonopin (Clonazepam) is an anticonvulsant and anxiolytic medication of the Benzodiazepine family. It has no effect in treating dementia, but it's used sometimes to control anxiety. Long acting formulation is convenient, once the patient has responded favorably and has shown no intolerance with the pill form. Repeat, it's only a tranquilizer with habit-forming properties, like Xanax, Ativan, Valium or Librium.
Honestly the benzo class is a lot less harsh and more effective than the antipsychotics or mid 1980s antiepiltics and antidepressants. And at this pt in their illness who cares about addiction.
There are too many low life so called caregivers who steal that sorta thing that’s why
As long as there are no indications that it would not be safe (preexisting conditions, allergies...)I would think the patch would be a very effective way to administer any medication. The important thing would be to : Make sure one is removed before another is put on. If it is not there search the body as patches can slip down and move around. Make sure it is placed in a location on her body that she can not reach.
Check the Beer's List for medications not suitable for elderly.
There are too many low life so called caregivers who steal that sorta thing that’s why
The important thing would be to :
Make sure one is removed before another is put on. If it is not there search the body as patches can slip down and move around.
Make sure it is placed in a location on her body that she can not reach.