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What Causes Insomnia, Breathing Difficulties And Anxiety In Elderly?
This an is to a Physician,
my father aged 92 is unable to sleep well at night. He complains of breathing difficulties. When I give him half a tablet- sleep aid which I use to overcome jetlag, he sleeps well. He has relocated to Bangalore a month ago.
He has allergic bronchitis for many decades.
He shows symptoms of anxiety when it gets dark and all go to sleep at home.
my father aged 92 is unable to sleep well at night. He complains of breathing difficulties. When I give him half a tablet- sleep aid which I use to overcome jetlag, he sleeps well. He has relocated to Bangalore a month ago.
He has allergic bronchitis for many decades.
He shows symptoms of anxiety when it gets dark and all go to sleep at home.
Mon, 25 May 2015
Hello thanks for asking from HCM for your health related queries
I can understand your concern. A lot of elderly persona at this age develop loss of sleep. It is normal to have reduced duration of sleep with advancing age but if loss of sleep starts to result in development of anxiety then consultation of a doctor is required. Conventional sleep aids can't be used in elderly because of associated risk of worsening of memory, increased risk of fall etc. Still for primary insomnia very low dose of benzodiazepines can be used. Medicines like Mirtazapine, Amitryptiline etc can be used as sleep aid at his age. These medicines will also relieve the associated anxiety he is having. Please take him to a psychiatrist and consult about these medicines and treatment.
Thanks, Hope this helps you. Take care.
Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi
MD Psychiatry
I can understand your concern. A lot of elderly persona at this age develop loss of sleep. It is normal to have reduced duration of sleep with advancing age but if loss of sleep starts to result in development of anxiety then consultation of a doctor is required. Conventional sleep aids can't be used in elderly because of associated risk of worsening of memory, increased risk of fall etc. Still for primary insomnia very low dose of benzodiazepines can be used. Medicines like Mirtazapine, Amitryptiline etc can be used as sleep aid at his age. These medicines will also relieve the associated anxiety he is having. Please take him to a psychiatrist and consult about these medicines and treatment.
Thanks, Hope this helps you. Take care.
Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi
MD Psychiatry
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