ASOCIACION DE ALZHEIMER DE PUERTO RICO

MEDICATIONS

As a caregiver, you need to understand the use of medications and be alert over the possible overdoses and adverse reactions of the combinations of medicines..

No medicine will prevent or cure Alzheimer's disease.

Doctors use several medications to control illusions, hallucinations, depression, agitation, or lack of sleep.

These medicines may manifest specific symptoms of the disease and help to control them. However, they could produce other effects, such as agitation, dry mouth, problems in walking, shakes, falls and constipation.

It is possible to prescribe medications for a limited time, but sometimes, it could take up to four weeks for them to be eliminated from the patient's system. After that, they are discontinued.

Some medications can cause secondary effects in the Alzheimer patient and can provoke other symptoms.

For example, a person starts to take medication for high blood pressure or heart problems, they can seem to be more confused than even before taking the medication.

Las llamadas drogas anti-colinérgicos pueden también bloquear la producción de la acetylcolina, alterando la memoria del paciente.

The so called anti-cholinergics can also block the production of acetylcholine, altering the patient's memory.

To understand the effects of medications and how to manage their use, consider the following points:

STEPS TO FOLLOW

CONSULT A PHYSICIAN.

Take precaution in giving any medications, either prescription or non-prescription.

Start by asking the doctor to revise all the medications, so that he can investigate any possible interreaction between them.

Assure that each of the doctors involved in the patient's care, knows about all the prescribed medications.

Investigate all that is possible about each of the medications including their name, purpose, dose, frequency and possible adverse side-effects. If the medications cause serious side-effects report them immediately to the doctor.

BE PRUDENT

Under no circumstance should you change the dosage without first consulting with the physician. In addition, resist the temptation to exaggerate or over report symptoms to make the doctor prescribe a new medicine, or to increase the dosage of the patient. Do not share medications with other caregivers nor save medications from old prescriptions.

COUNT ON THE INFORMATION OF THE PHARMACIST.

The pharmacist can be another source of information and can also evaluate interreations between medications. Remember that they cannot prescribe medications or alter the dose.

CONSERVE CORRECT AND CONTINUOS DATA.

Maintain a list of all the actual medications, including the name, dose, frequency and the start date.

Keep a copy of this list in your wallet at all times. The data will be useful, in case there is a serious interreaction or overdose.

SPEAK CLEARLY AND DIRECTLY TO THE PATIENT.

Help the patient understand the types of medications he is taking and why. Offer clear instructions such as: "Here is your blood pressure pill, put it in your mouth and drink a little water". Speak to them in clear and simple language.

DEVELOP A ROUTINE TO ADMINISTER THE MEDICATIONS.

Giving medications routinely and at a specific time, will help reduce conflicts. However, if the person refuses to take them, stop and try later.

Don't assume that the individual will take medications on his own. Possibly, it will be necessary to evaluate to see if the individual has forgotten or has taken them. At some point in the development of the disease, you will need to accept the responsibility of giving medications.

MANTAIN ORGANIZED.

Separate the pills in a plastic container with small compartments, and indicate on the label the day and time (night, Monday, Tuesday, Wed, etc..) This will help to maintain control and sequence to the medications.

Other caregivers find it useful to give medications in individual dosages, or maintain a calendar and revise each dose according to when they take them.

ADAPT TO THE PERSON.

If the patient has problems in swallowing or spits out the pills, you could try mashing them and mix them with their food. Find out if some of these medications can be obtain in liquid form.

TAKE SECURITY PRECAUTIONS.

Place a lock in the medicine cabinet or save the medications in a closed box. If the person spits out the pills, assure that they don't pick up the pills again or that children or pets don't swallow them.

Avoid leaving the person alone in the room with the pill bottle and make sure that you dispose of all old medications.

BE PREPARED FOR EMERGENCIES.

Investigate the names and telephone numbers of pharmacies or services that can deliver medications.

Also, investigate the names of pharmacies that are open on Sundays, week ends and/or 24 hours a day.

IN CASE OF POISONING OR EMERGENCY.

Keep on hand the address and telephone numbers of the Health Clinics in case of an emergency or poisoning.

Si usted sospecha de una sobredosis de medicamentos, llame al número telefónico antes de provocar el vómito, o hacer otra cosa.

If you suspect an overdose of medications, call the telephone number before invoking vomiting or doing anything else.

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