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Takes blood pressure med in morning, Alzheimer's med in morning, Zoloft in morning, and just now started taking trazadone 50 mg 2 DAYS ago to help with sleeping because she doesn't sleep much at all at night. She hallucinates and hears things that are not there...help!!

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Ask her pharmacist or doctor imo.
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I would give the trazadone more time to see if it was working before adding in anything else. And if after a few weeks it is still doing nothing ask about discontinuing it not just adding on another med.
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I vote for the "switch to evening bp meds with her doctor's approval" option. And while you're speaking to the doctor, report the hallucinations.

How mobile is she? How active during the day?
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Melatonin is okay - but Benadryl is NOT. It can have psychological side effects in many people - but especially in the elderly.

The trazadone may take some time to "kick in" her system. But it's a fairly sedating drug, so this might be enough to help her sleep.

I disagree with some others who said to switch her BP med to the evening. It all depends on which BP med she is taking, and if she is taking a few different ones. Sometimes they must be taken at certain times of the day to achieve good BP control.

At any rate, all of this should be "run by" her primary care MD.
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Do not give Benadryl. It, along with most OTC antihistamines products and sleep aids contain diphenhydramine. It has been linked to dementia when taken long term. For those already living with dementia, it can exacerbate the problems.

Sundowning, sleepnessness and hallucinations are all common with Alzheimer's. Grandma1954 offers some great advice for sundowning. Her comment about Benadryl "fogginess" is right on, even for a healthy person. When you're with g'ma, walk. Eliminate naps as much as possible.
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Aadkins, at one time I use to take blood pressure meds in the morning, but found it made me very tired. So I starting take the pill in the evening. What a difference.

Check with your Grandmother's cardiologist to see if it is ok to switch taking the pill in the evenings.
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Agree that anything you add to your grandmother's regimen needs to be passed by her doctor first. Melatonin does not make you sleep like a sleeping pill. Melatonin's main job in the body is to regulate night and day cycles or sleep-wake cycles. Darkness causes the body to produce more melatonin, which signals the body to prepare for sleep. Light decreases melatonin production and signals the body to prepare for being awake. Your body associates it with sleep, so it is just giving a signal that it's time to sleep. I hope you can find a solution that works.
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What would the Benedryl be for?  

I took it once decades ago, and had double vision problems.   I took no other medication at that time, so the double vision had to be Benadryl induced.   I never took it again.

Try giving her turkey for dinner.   It contains tryptophan, which is sleep inducing.   (Think of how many people nap after Thanksgiving dinner!)

In addition, if she's a coffee drinker, don't serve coffee, or any other stimulant, in the evening.

And I agree that I wouldn't add anything w/o checking with her doctor.
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ArtistDaughter Apr 2020
Yes, turkey, banana, yogurt, and milk will all help sleep. And nothing after noon with any caffien, including chocolate.
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AAdkins38,
You may need some overall advice about your grandmother with Alzheimer's, and I see that you might be very busy from your profile.
Please help yourself to the topics right here on the website.
Always check with her doctor.

Additionally, Dr. Kernistan, a geriatric specialist, has given good advice on this forum.
She covers the specifics of many medications for the sleep issues and Sundowners Syndrome. Dr. K can be found at:
https://betterhealthwhileaging.net/medications-to-treat-difficult-alzheimers-behaviors/

There are other ways to approach her symptoms in addition to medication.
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The trazadone may take a little while to take effect. Prior to giving any over the counter medication, I would speak with her physician. Benadryl may not be a good idea for an older adult with dementia. Have you tried a diffuser with lavender? That often is soothing for older adults. Have you considered having her evaluated by a geriatric psychiatrist for medication management? Sleepy time tea or warm milk may help too. Additionally, as best as you can, try initiating a sleep schedule. (same bedtime and arising time). Good luck.
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