Quote from Sandyspen:

Hi Barb,

.

I guess my question is; Should I look for another home that has more activities, look for a better anti-depressant, or is this just a stage that she will pass through eventually.

I just don't know which way to turn.

Sorry to be so long............

My FIL went through a raging stage, although it was directed at other residents and nursing staff. He is extremely calm right now, maybe a little too calm.

Anyway, these are the drugs he is currently on and being weaned from little by little. buspirone (anti-anxiety), temazepam (sleep aid) lorazepam (anti-anxiety), Zoloft (anti-depressant), seroquel (anti-psychotic) and depakote sprinkles (for manic behavior).

His raging has stopped, but he was extremely lethargic until they started weaning him off some of them in the past few months. He is 85 years old and was fairly strong when he first went into the AD unit a year ago. He has become so much weaker that even if he would start raging again I don't think he could actually hit someone.

You may ask her doctor if some of the other drugs could calm her. I have read a few places that some of the drugs to relieve anxiety can actually work in the opposite way, depending upon the dosage and the patient. Maybe her present drug regimen is working against her.

Jane

Hi Angel,

Actually, that is what I thought they were doing. A couple months ago, she was calmer and relativley happy there. You could tell when she'd taken her medication because her eyes were calmer and peaceful. I think it was after Depakote. The dose wasn't large enough to make her sleepy or dopey. She was just content and happy.

Now, when you go in (no matter the time of day) her eyes are angry and dark and mean. She doesn't appear to be on any medication at all. I know she is, I'm there when they give it to her, but it just doesn't seem to have an affect.

Barb, yes, she did get her check up and was checked for UTI. But, I know when she stayed here, she would stay awake all night and sleep all day. So there very well might be a sleeping issue going on. I think they give her lorazepam at night, but I'm not there then, so not sure.

I think I will make an appt with her doc. Just for myself, to talk to him about her state of mind.