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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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How Can Anxiety In An Elderly Woman Be Treated?

My mom is 89 and has Afib, She has a DNR and wants to die at home. There could be other issues as she will not be tested. My question is she is having a lot of anxiety, The Hospice nurse gave her Xanax but it seems to only work for a short time. SHE weighs 98
Tue, 5 Mar 2019
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hi,

Either the Xanax can be scheduled on a continuous basis (such as twice or three times per day) or a very low dose of antipsychotic (I realize she is not psychotic) can be used as an antianxiety medicine.

A fib can cause anxiety, but it sounds from your description like the anxiety may be related to her worries about dying perhaps? Having her talk with a counselor or spiritual/clergy person may be helpful to discuss the things weighing on her.

Finally, if the anxiety seems to have come from nowhere, testing her thyroid (a blood test: TSH and T4) may be useful.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Regards,
Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh,
General & Family Physician
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How Can Anxiety In An Elderly Woman Be Treated?

Hi, Either the Xanax can be scheduled on a continuous basis (such as twice or three times per day) or a very low dose of antipsychotic (I realize she is not psychotic) can be used as an antianxiety medicine. A fib can cause anxiety, but it sounds from your description like the anxiety may be related to her worries about dying perhaps? Having her talk with a counselor or spiritual/clergy person may be helpful to discuss the things weighing on her. Finally, if the anxiety seems to have come from nowhere, testing her thyroid (a blood test: TSH and T4) may be useful. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further. Regards, Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, General & Family Physician