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How Can Dementia In An Elderly Person Be Treated?
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Dr. XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Dr. XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Psychiatrist
User Selected Specialty : Psychiatrist
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Patient Profile
Gender: Female
Age: 86
Visited a Doctor: Yes
Medications Tried: Haloperidol and Valproic ACD, see dosage changes in description above
Hi! My mom is 96 years old and she has dementia,
About two weeks ago, she was in the hospital, where she was admitted because she had shaking / tremor hands and legs.
Psychiatrist in the hospital has prescribed Haloperidol 1mg and Valproic ACD 1 tea spoon 2 times per day.
these medications have made her very sleepy and weak.
per her doctor's advice, we have reduced the dose of Haloperidol to 0.5 mg.
she was sleepy despite of reducing the dosage.
after that we have decided to reduce the dosage of Haloperidol to 0.25 mg. my mom had sleep a bit less,but the hands and legs have started to shake again.
please advise how to adjust medication somewhere in between (so hand shaking and sleep due to drowsiness are balanced), or should we change the medication
Dr. XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Dr. XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Psychiatrist
User Selected Specialty : Psychiatrist
Upload New Reports »
Patient Profile
Gender: Female
Age: 86
Visited a Doctor: Yes
Medications Tried: Haloperidol and Valproic ACD, see dosage changes in description above
Hi! My mom is 96 years old and she has dementia,
About two weeks ago, she was in the hospital, where she was admitted because she had shaking / tremor hands and legs.
Psychiatrist in the hospital has prescribed Haloperidol 1mg and Valproic ACD 1 tea spoon 2 times per day.
these medications have made her very sleepy and weak.
per her doctor's advice, we have reduced the dose of Haloperidol to 0.5 mg.
she was sleepy despite of reducing the dosage.
after that we have decided to reduce the dosage of Haloperidol to 0.25 mg. my mom had sleep a bit less,but the hands and legs have started to shake again.
please advise how to adjust medication somewhere in between (so hand shaking and sleep due to drowsiness are balanced), or should we change the medication
Brief Answer:
PROPRANOLOL IS AN OPTION
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for using Healthcare Magic for posting your query.
I have gone through your question in detail and I can understand what you are going through.
I understand that your mother has been started on valproate and haloperidol for behavioral problems associated with dementia. Both meds are good but tremors are the side effect if both the medicines. Reducing the doses of haloperidol as has been attempted shoukd have been the first step.. And was right. Now that the tremors are still there a good thing to do woukd be to add up propranolol to the combination. This medicine works good for reducing tremors. It's a good medicine and the onky major contraindication is history of asthma.. Usually I start my clients on 20 mg of propranolol.
I would suggest that yiy should discuss this option with your treating psychiatrist and get her started on propranolol.
Hope this helps
If you have any questions do let me know.
Kind regards
Dr. Srikanth Reddy MD
PROPRANOLOL IS AN OPTION
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for using Healthcare Magic for posting your query.
I have gone through your question in detail and I can understand what you are going through.
I understand that your mother has been started on valproate and haloperidol for behavioral problems associated with dementia. Both meds are good but tremors are the side effect if both the medicines. Reducing the doses of haloperidol as has been attempted shoukd have been the first step.. And was right. Now that the tremors are still there a good thing to do woukd be to add up propranolol to the combination. This medicine works good for reducing tremors. It's a good medicine and the onky major contraindication is history of asthma.. Usually I start my clients on 20 mg of propranolol.
I would suggest that yiy should discuss this option with your treating psychiatrist and get her started on propranolol.
Hope this helps
If you have any questions do let me know.
Kind regards
Dr. Srikanth Reddy MD
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