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Are there certain pills that are only available for 'commercial' use? The reason I ask is when I go to a nursing home all the patients seem to be very docile, happy and quietly looking into space, not like my wife with ALZ, who I am caring for at home, who is violent, combative and/or crying, Her Doc has her on Seroquel XR 50mg one at bedtime and Lorazepam 1mg as needed up to 3 per day. Does anyone know of any other drugs that might work better or are stronger, more for 'commercial' heavy-duty use?

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Warren sorry about the PCP, I too have trouble with the abbreviations but thought most people knew that one.
If your wife is as unaware as you describe it really does not matter where you take her but a direct admission will be easier and quicker for you both.
Have you discussed with her Dr the possibility of changing some medications she is already taking so the changeover can be done at home. Be aware that more medication, although they may control troubling behavior will also possibly make her very sedated.
Do you have or have you considered getting hospice involved?
As you have been dealing with this you must be completely exhausted so maybe at least a few days in the hospital would give you a much needed break and allow you to prepare for what lies ahead.
This is such a heart wrenching situation but be comforted that many people here will be praying for you both and wishing you peace.
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Warren, I believe PCP means her primary care physician. I think Veronica meant that you should maybe have a chat with her doctor before you take your wife for a geriatric psych workup. That way you all are on the same page and her doctor is alerted. So many abbreviations these days can be difficult. I truly wish you and your wife a very good outcome!
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I doubt she will have a fit, She was at the ER for a bad UTI last week. She is at stage 6 or 7, She is passed knowing where she is or what is going on.
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So many new words...what is a PCP?
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zytrhr, That wasn't very encouraging. That said, IF she has a fit that's what the professionals at the hospital are skilled and equipped to handle. An evaluation and adjustment of Warren's wife's meds will more than likely be helpful for the both of them.
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She is going to "have a fit" if she is admitted to the hospital.
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Warren this is so hard for you but I think you have made the right decision to take your wife to the ER.
Before you do that and subject her to the chaos of the ER talk to her PCP and see if he/she can arrange a direct admission which will be a much calmer experience for her.Whatever you do the admission will be distressing for her and her behavior may be very agitated because of the strangeness of everything.
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When I said 'better' I mean stronger and more effective than the ones I am giving my wife. I don't mean cheaper or a different brand. I don't care about the cost for my wife.
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geriatric psych ward - that seems like the answer. Thank you Angelkw!
I have read about everything about ALZ but I never saw anything about geriatric psych wards. Our local hospital has one so when my wife starts acting up and becoming violent I will take her, however she is dressed, to the ER and have them evaluate her. They said they can determine the meds and timing she needs to stabalize her. I hate it when she crys. I feel so sorry for her and she can't speak anymore. Thanks again Angelkw!
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Warren, I believe that various nursing homes have their own suppliers. Perhaps they get a discount for buying in bulk; perhaps there are other arrangements.

Individuals have choices as to where we buy our medicines. After a lot of research on safety of meds, I chose a pharmacy that will always tell me the source of the med and whether it's made in an industrialized, post industrialized or emerging market country. I avoid the latter.

At a nursing home, you don't have a choice of manufacturers for meds. There's no guarantee that some haven't come from emerging markets and perhaps are of lesser quality.
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The meds are not different. There is no such thing as a commercial use drug. The difference that you are noticing is that patients in a nursing home are getting 24 hour supervision, which means that their medication treatments can be adjusted as needed on a daily basis to find the proper mix of medications that makes them calm and reduces anxiety. Your wife could benefit from a stay in a geriatric psych ward to get her meds adjusted. This stay could be temporary just until her meds are adjusted properly.

Angel
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