Taking 30 meds, way too much. Any advice?

I agree with reviewing with one doctor - but if you have to wait for an appointment there are also a couple of things you can do while you wait. You can go to your local pharmacist and ask them for a few minutes to review the list. They are experts in medication interactions and over-medication as well.

Most of our medications are through a mail order pharmacy. Just recently my DH started on a new medication, in addition to two other very powerful seizure medications, all three of which can have respiratory depressing side effects. In most cases it isn't recommended that patients take more than one, two is uncommon and three is pretty much discouraged. So when the pharmacist saw that he was starting on his third they called before they even considered filling it. They called DH first and when he explained why his doctor prescribed it, they called his doctor and talked through everything before agreeing that the dosages were safe (even still I spent quite a few sleepless nights when he first started on the third).

So pharmacists are an excellent resource if you are concerned about the number of medications - and potential interactions.

30 medications is a lot. My FIL I think we counted something like 38 at one point. It was just ridiculous. He had 9 doctors on a regular basis and I think 12 at the height. And the unreal thing was that you would see things like one pill to help him urinate and then another to help him NOT urinate (that one I still can't wrap my head around). We used to joke that it might be easier to tell someone what medications he WASN'T on!

Since he has been in the care facility - I think they have weaned him off of a number of those medications. I don't know exactly how many yet - he's only been there for two weeks - but he is seeing ONE doctor who is treating the whole body - and then if he needs a specialist - that one doctor is still monitoring that as well - that way everything is still under one umbrella. It certainly makes things easier to have one person overseeing everything.

The other thing you could potentially do for peace of mind is take the list of medications and go to a site like drugs.com and use the medication interactions tool. You can make a full list of the medications and it will tell you which ones have potential interactions, what they are, and how potentially dangerous they might be. This would give you a place to start with the doctor or pharmacist to ask questions.

That being said - be careful not to go too far down the rabbit hole. The internet has a wealth of knowledge but there is no replacement for well trained medical professionals.

Your profile says that your mom has Parkinson’s disease, arthritis, diabetes and sleep disorder.

My gosh, I doubt that she needs 30 meds!

My mom also had Parkinson’s disease, arthritis and trouble sleeping, no diabetes. She certainly didn’t take 30 different medications.

Even if some are supplements, that’s just crazy. Make a list of everything and discuss with her neurologist and primary care doctor.

Many years ago
my allergist had me on too many meds for my allergies and asthma and I felt like I was on speed. I felt like I was going to jump out of my skin. I went to another doctor and he reduced my meds. I wasn’t jittery anymore and could rest.

Please check with one doc as has been suggested.

The number of meds and supplements my mom was about the same number, but she started rebelling taking them as so many tasted horrible when they had to be crushed due to her dysphagia.

Also wondering if these are vitamin supplements, if one multivitamin would do the trick.

Good luck!

Look at what they are, many may be supplements. Get with the parents primary physician and have her review. My husband and I use the primary for refills. If my husband has a specialist change one we let the primary know.

I assume these were prescribed by multiple doctors. Review the meds with ONE doctor. I'm sure some are redundant and can be eliminated.

I'm of the opinion that at some point multiple specialists are not useful, because they don't communicate with each other properly and overprescribe meds just like this.

I agree as well

I agree