Suggest Treatment For Insomnia In An Elderly Person

Posted on Fri, 3 Jul 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Fri, 3 Jul 2015 Answered on

Mon, 20 Jul 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : I have 90 yr old great aunt that for the last 6 weeks has been getting up all night every hr and 45 mins all night long she is not sleeping in the day time .
her dr. has gave her meds. but they make it worse

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Is she obese?

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your aunt 's situation and problem.
She is having insomnia. Now insomnia has broadly two causes.
1. Psychological
2. Organic like obstructive sleep apnea.
She is taking anti psychotic and sedative drugs.
But still she is not improving.
So please let me know
1. Had she consulted psychiatrist? Had she undergone counselling sessions?
2. Since how many days she is taking all these drugs?
3. What are her height, weight? This is to rule out obstructive sleep apnea.
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wishing good health to your aunt.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (3 hours later)

No she is now down to 98 labs. This all started in April, her son put her in a home. She was there 5 days and fell. Fell again 4 days after that and again 3 days after that she was then in the hospital with head cut bleeding on and around the brain for six days. Moved to a rehabilitation were she fell again and broke hip back to hospital and when into another rehabilitation was there 10 days and fell every day. Now she is back with me. Which she was with me about 14hrs a day and did not fall at any time in the 4 yrs. All at once she can not stop falling she also has dementia. Yes has been seeing psychiatrist for years. She is 5ft4and was 130 2mths ago when this started. Now 98 labs. All these meds she has taken oft the last 2mths.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (10 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
She needs additional sedative drugs.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on HCM.
I can understand her condition.
She is having dementia with psychosis.
And needs thorough counselling with psychiatrist.
She needs additional sedative and anti depressant drugs also.
So better to consult good psychiatrist and get done counseling sessions. Try to identify stressor in her life.
Hope I have solved your query.
If you are not having further queries, then please close the conversation and rate my answer.
You can ask me directly on bit.ly/askdrkaushalbhavsar.
Wishing good health to your aunt.
Thanks.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar