My mother (see the Doppelganger thread in the Alzheimer's category) is now taking her meds. There are dosage and potency issues. Any advice?

To answer Caring Son: the UTI meds are Bactrim and Cipro. Very limited amount of each in the prescriptions. In fact she has finished with both. Also: Can you give me a concise definition of "sundowner"? (For the record, she took them consecutively, not at the same time.)

To answer Barb Brooklyn: She had been taking medications from vials on a corner shelf in the kitchen. After I realized she might have taken a second dose I put them on a higher shelf where she is not likely to see them.

Dougie you may have problems for several weeks as UTI meds can And often do cause memory issues. Also research Sundowners as I had the misconception that it only meant the elderly get their clock backwards and are up at night; NOT TRUE! Symptoms are not a pretty sight! You may be experiencing Sundowners also called Sundowning! I have been told that some doctors will treat Sundowners with high doses if Haldol and then ween the patient off for two to three weeks. Haldol is a pretty heavy duty antipsychotic drug. If it is Sundowners you will need one heck of a lot of patients as the patient can be the cruelest and most foul mouthed individual you have ever seen. Lots of luck!

Dougie; You said that you thought she might have taken an extra pill. How would she have gotten hold of an extra pill?

She was. Two doctors wrote prescriptions for the UTI. She has finished both--no refills indicated.
It's been a week or more since I got her to take the psychiatrist's medications. She has her next appointment with him Saturday after next--April 7. I regularly set the pills at the dinner table, next to a glass of water; I had impressed on her that the UTI pill had to be taken with water; after a while she got so she would insist on water with the pills.
Thanks for the info on potency... :)

I doubt they've lost potency since October, espcially if the expiriation date is next year.

But Dougie, why on earth does your mother have access to her meds? Aren't you the one giving them to her? A dementia patient should NOT be the one in charge of her medication, imho.

An antidepressant will take several weeks to kick in.  The one for mood swings; not knowing what it is, can't comment.  Isn't she also being treated for a UTI?