dex2379: Perhaps the Trazadone is no longer as effective as it once was. Also that dosage is very high. She needs to see her physician and possibly a sleep specialist, e.g. sleep study.
Ask her doctor for a referral to a sleep specialist. She may have sleep apnea or an undiagnosed problem that keeps her from falling asleep or staying asleep. A sleep study - without any medications - can help diagnose her problem. A qualified sleep specialist - a doctor - can then help her with the right treatments without the risk of death.
If she is not willing to get evaluated and continues her self-treatment - and is mentally competent - then be prepared for some near death experiences.
Long term use of OTC sleep aides by the elderly has been linked to dementia. The active ingredients in these OTCs are antihistamines. Most contain diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or doxylamine (Tylenol PM, ZZZquil, Unisom, Advil PM, Aleve PM and many others) that prevents or reduces the formation of the chemical acetylcholine which is necessary for proper brain function. You say she already exhibits some cognitive decline. Taking OTC sleep aides will only exacerbate her cognitive decline.
Since she is living with you you are in a great position to monitor the medications both OTC and RX that she is taking. Have the doctor review the medication and the correct dose. Make sure she is not taking more than needed. (I am unfamiliar with this medication but enough people below have commented that the dose she is taking is probably higher than necessary for what she is taking it for.) *Often medications are prescribed for "off label usage" so it is good to double and triple check what is being taken and why. So many people particularly Seniors are over medicated because a medication may change and the doctor does not discontinue it so the pharmacy adds the new medication to what has been previously been prescribed*
Next thing to do is go through her medications and remove any that are not prescribed. Any that she should not currently be taking. This includes RX as well as OTC.
She may have real problems sleeping as the medications leave her system. You might even want to ask at the pharmacy if any need to be titrated down so she does not have more problems.
A sleep study might be good to have done I know around here you do not have to go to a facility you can bring the equipment home then return it and they will notify the doctor of the results.
Basic answer to your question though is ..if she is of sound mind you can not "force her" to discontinue a medication that she wants to use. You can however make it difficult for her to obtain it if you do the shopping for her.
How is she getting the prescription medications? Quite honestly, if your Mom chooses to take a medications she likely will take it. There isn't a whole lot you can do about it while she does her own shopping and is in charge of her own intake.
First off, Trazadone is an antidepressant but has been found to help insomnia in low doses of 25-100 mgs or even less for many people. Your mother is no longer PROPERLY using Trazodone by taking 300mgs which is way too high a dose for insomnia and probably WHY it's no longer working. Her doctor should know this. Is he aware of how much shes taking, assuming shes taking it as a sleep aid and not as an antidepressant? I took it in a low dose as a sleep aid years ago and it made me SO groggy the next day that I couldn't function, so I stopped.
Since you say both mom and her doctor both KNOW she's taking OTC sleep aids in addition to Trazodone, and that it's dangerous to do so, my question is, WHY does her doctor continue prescribing Trazodone???? He needs to cut her off immediately, knowing she's abusing sleep aids! 🤐
The whole situation with this doctor sounds wonky to me, to be honest. He knows the combination of pills she's taking can cause death, yet he's still prescribing? If so, he's an unethical doctor and should be reported to the State Medical Board and fired by your mother or her POA.
If she is not willing to get evaluated and continues her self-treatment - and is mentally competent - then be prepared for some near death experiences.
Have the doctor review the medication and the correct dose. Make sure she is not taking more than needed. (I am unfamiliar with this medication but enough people below have commented that the dose she is taking is probably higher than necessary for what she is taking it for.) *Often medications are prescribed for "off label usage" so it is good to double and triple check what is being taken and why. So many people particularly Seniors are over medicated because a medication may change and the doctor does not discontinue it so the pharmacy adds the new medication to what has been previously been prescribed*
Next thing to do is go through her medications and remove any that are not prescribed.
Any that she should not currently be taking. This includes RX as well as OTC.
She may have real problems sleeping as the medications leave her system. You might even want to ask at the pharmacy if any need to be titrated down so she does not have more problems.
A sleep study might be good to have done I know around here you do not have to go to a facility you can bring the equipment home then return it and they will notify the doctor of the results.
Basic answer to your question though is ..if she is of sound mind you can not "force her" to discontinue a medication that she wants to use. You can however make it difficult for her to obtain it if you do the shopping for her.
BUT it’s not, right?
Maybe she needs a sleep study. Maybe she needs a doc who listens?
Quite honestly, if your Mom chooses to take a medications she likely will take it. There isn't a whole lot you can do about it while she does her own shopping and is in charge of her own intake.
Since you say both mom and her doctor both KNOW she's taking OTC sleep aids in addition to Trazodone, and that it's dangerous to do so, my question is, WHY does her doctor continue prescribing Trazodone???? He needs to cut her off immediately, knowing she's abusing sleep aids! 🤐
The whole situation with this doctor sounds wonky to me, to be honest. He knows the combination of pills she's taking can cause death, yet he's still prescribing? If so, he's an unethical doctor and should be reported to the State Medical Board and fired by your mother or her POA.
I think sometimes seniors decide the risk is worth a good nights sleep or to no have pain for a bit.
All you can do is tell her doctor she is having trouble and help her burn enough energy everyday to be tired.
Her doctor needs to know that she’s supplementing with otcs. Surely there is a better way.
https://www.consumerreports.org/drugs/over-the-counter-sleep-aids-can-you-get-hooked