Re: Re: My First LBD Conscious Healthcare Milestone/Joan-HALDOL

March 22, 2008

Ditto response from my mom. All the more reason to get whichever MD we can rely

on to sign an " allergic to " document. We recommend at the senior care center

where I work that such a note be carried around with our LOs key documents a

hospital, hospice, ER, etc. would want on admission, and keep one ourselves.

Clinicians often won't listen to family, but they DO pay attention when there's

an order from a colleague that shows up when the patient comes in.

A peaceful week-end to everyone.

Lin

Adrienne Mills wrote:

Haldol worked for my dad too .... initially. He even seemed more alert and

cognizant. However, he developed many problems from it including dramatically

increased confusion, extreme BP fluctuation, Parkinsonian problems he didn't

have before, inability to talk and after a short time, increased agitation with

each dose. In fact, Haldol and Ativan for dad were like spinach for Popeye. He

was unbelievably strong and mean when he was high on that stuff so they would

keep shooting him up with it until he passed out. When the high wore off, he was

a crippled basket case. He couldn't even figure out how to roll over in bed. I

had to stay with him in the hospitals because the nurses and docs on duty WILL

administer it as often as they see fit regardless of what you or other doctors

have said. Also, he had some pretty scary hallucinations on Haldol, Ativan and

Buspar (sp?). It's really bad stuff in the long run. Even the manufacturers say

it's not for elderly dementia

patients. It took about a month for him to get his motor skills together after

the really high doses and it really accelerated his downhill slide.

The doctors and nurses know this stuff but since they don't have to live with

the consequences, they'll do what makes their job easier which means keeping

dementia patients sedated.

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