QUESTION: Can the dullness we see in our mother, who is now in a nursing home, be due to the medication she is receiving? We saw the nurse give her 5 different pills all at the same time and got to wondering.
We hope you can answer this for us in the paper.
ANSWER: Yes, unfortunately.
Some drugs or drug combinations can cause what appears to be senility, depression, anxiety, or delirium in the elderly. Actually, many medications can have an effect on anyone's ability to think, but these effects are more frequently seen in the elderly since older people are more susceptible to the action of drugs and they get more prescriptions than younger individuals.
In addition, because many elderly take several medications for different problems, there may be adverse interactions between drugs that affect thinking. Before an elderly patient is diagnosed as having any mental impairment, a complete evaluation of their medications including what nonprescription drugs they use should be done by their physician.
Only medications that are absolutely necessary should be prescribed.
In some patients, the signs of mental illness or impaired thinking will go away if drug dosages are reduced or other drugs substituted.
The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace the counsel and advice of your personal physician.
Promptly consulting your doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical problem.
